Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-05-19
4 PLUCKY GIRL.

| Malchen r said QUO Won Polheim to his eld.
est daughter one Sunday in December
mo, father, Dorothea can go in my stead
and will keep house."
keep the house alone? No. Twill leave
Hans to protect thee, and the manse, too"
II would rather not have Hans, said Nal
| chen, with a little pout
Then thou shalt not have Karl, " grumbled
old Polheim, speaking rather to himself than
to the girl.
| The household came clattering down stairs
"a large and rather noisy troupe. Otto Won
Polheim was a land owner on a small scale,
and had family of ten sons and daughters,
without counting two servants and a couple
Of laborers. The eldest of these two laborers.
named Karl, had shown signs of late of being
"a bit soft" about Fraulein Malchen, and this
dlspleased her father, for though he was
kind master he had 'squires pride.
Now, come, come, let's be off," repeated
old Polheim impatiently; ''you, Hans, take
one of the lanterns, and you, Karl lead the
way with tho other"
Karl skunk out looking sheepish but scarce.
| ly had he got into the open air before the
candle in his lantern was blown out and he
ran back to get another. Malchen was stand
ing in the hall.
It's a cold night to go out in, faltered
she
And don't like leaving you alone, whis-
| pered Karl. IL think l shall steal out of
church and come back and see if you are
safe"
''No, no, the doors will be barred, " exclaim.
| cd Malchen in a hutter
Then I'll climb over the orchard wall, " an
swered Karl, and he executed wink as he
went forth in the cold.
How very audacious he is becoming, -
muttered Malchen TO herself; but she ap-
Nl.. Il. A L -
il Karl meant to get over the garden wall, SO
simply shut it, and turned back to spend her
evening in the kitchen.
Herr Won Polheim's farm stood in lonely
part of the country, about two miles from
| r., in Bavaria. 1t had once been a castle.
and all the rooms on the ground floor were
| large, windy apartments, with wainscotted
walls and old oaken furniture. There were
two arm chairs under the bulging mantel on
either side of the andirons and in one of
these Malchen took her seat. She began to
knit but soon her work subsidized into her
lap, and she began to stare at the fire in a
soft reverie.
Malchen, far from being romantic, was a
bold girl, and felt no fear at being alone in
the big house on a winters evening; but Nal
| chen gave slight start, for she heard foot
steps, and thought it was the never-to- -be-suf-
ficiently- blamed Karl, who played truant from
church, faithful TO his impudent promise.
She waited two or three minutes without
hearing the door open yet there were steps
| outside. Now that her ears were strained she
heard voices. Her relatives had gone for an
hour, SO it was not likely they could have re-
turned so soon. Whose then could those steps
and voices be?
The kitchen had high window, seven feet
above the floor, and it was closed with shut
| ters. But in the shutters lozenge apertures
were cut. Malchen climbed on the dresser
| under the window and looked out. What she
saw would have made most timid girls Jump
down squealing and run away half dead with
| terror.
Nine men-not one less-with black masks
on their faces, and dhousebreaking implements
in their hands, had entered the farmyard,
and were evidently holding a council as to
how they should begin their attack on the
house.
Malchen remembered having heard that
brigands had been infesting some of the dis
tricts in an adjoining parish aud she saw that
! il she hesitated to act she would be lost
| There hung over the mantle shelf two doub-
| le-barrelled fowling pieces and horse pistol,
which were always kept loaded. Malchen
| had the same horror of fire arms as most 9TH
er girls; but at this moment her blood revolt
ed at the idea of leaving the farm to be plum
dered without striking q blow for it, Won
Polheim owned a good deal of silver plate,
and was accustomed to keep pretty large
sums of money within the oaken chest in his
| bedroom.
She ran to the chimney and unlocked the
arms, then swiftly climbed on the table egain.
The little lattice outside the aperture in the
| shutters was open so Malchen could thrust
out the barrels of her weapons and fire at the
malefactors. But doing so, however, she put
a coin into her mouth to alter the ring of the
voice, and, making a horn of both hands,
shouted, in tone which sounded like mans,
"Who goes there ?"
No answer. The burglars stared at one an.
other in astonishment, and were fairly dismay.
ed whom they heard the next exclamation,
''Now, then, my men, when give the word
ERE sharp and aim straight Fire !"
Two reports instantly followed this com
mand and then came two others. When the
smoke had cleared away, Malchen, who had
looked out with haggard eyes, her heart
humping awfully the while, saw q mRu
stretched out upon .he snow, and nothing
else. 1t was too dreadful she could moi
bear the sight of the man, killed by her hand
But he suddenly moved aud tried to rise tC
his knees. Immediately the sentimental Nal
chen aimed her pistol, to give him his quietus
but luckily for himself the man roared out
ooh, Malehen! help! 'Tis Karl !"
Karl" exclaimed the girl, Karl, is il
thou ?"
Eyes, and am wounded. 1 am dying,
sobbed the luckless fellow. "And it is all fo
thee"
Malchen tottered, and might have fallen of
the table had there been any one to catch he
in his arms One moments hesitation anC
she touched the door handle, but she sur
mounted it and went out In another momen
she could Judge with her own eyes of th'
murderous efforts of her volley upon Karl {
slug had cleared a slice of part Of his righ
ear and cheek, so he bled like a pig, but h.
was otherwise unhurt.
"Oh Karl, how oamest thou bither in sucl
company 2" exclaimed Malohen, as she tor
of her apron TO staunch his wound.
"Mein Gott, it was thee" snivelled the un
happy Karl "These men are my friends
we had all come for lark, and had meant l.
carry you of for hoped thy too obstinate
father would consent of necessity TO our mar
riage. Oh, Oh my earl"
"Peace Karl but oh, how foolish o
thee !" said Malohen. "How could'st tho
think that nine men we're required to carr
me off ?"
''Msin Gott thought you was romantic
was all that Karl could say between tw
squeaks, caused by the anguish in his ear.
The attitude of poor Malohen had been 5
heroical that King Louis II sent for her +
/ Munich, and having decorated her with tn
} Cross of Civil Merit, asked what he could d
TO please her.
pardon my Karl, and give him dover
marry me, prayed the faithful maiden, sol
bing.