Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-11-28
THE A1lLLER,s MAID.

There is q lonely mill. close beside
tho little hamlet Of Udorf, near the
Rhine shore. between the villages of
llersel aad Crscl. on the left bank be-
low Bonu. This mill il said to have
been the scene of the following story:
1t was on u Sunday morning, cages
long ago, that the miller of this mill,
and his whole family, went forth to
hear the holy mass ut the nearest
church. in the village Of Hersel. The
mill, which was also his residence,
was left in charge of ~ scrvant-girl
named Hanncben. pr Jenny, y stout
hearted lass, who had long lived with
him in that capacity. An infant child,
Of an ago unfit for church. was left in
her charge likewise.
The girl was busi!y employed in pre-
pairing dinner for III. return of
her master and his family. hen who
should enter all of Il sudden but IN old
sweetheart Of hers, named Heinrich
Eoiteior. lie Was an idle, ~graccless
fellow, whom The miller had forbidden
mis- house, but whom Jenny, with the
amiab:c pervcrsi;y peculiar 10 her Sex.
only liked, perhaps. all the better be-
cause others gave him no c~ountenance.
She was glad to see him, and she told
him so, TOO; and although in the midst
OF her work, she nol only got him
something to cat ut ouc., but aisu
found time to 81! down with him and
have Il gossip. wl,''c lie dispatched the
10 ID she set before HIM. As he ate,
however. he act fail his kniic.
Pick that VI. NY lass" said he, in
q jok.ng WY to the ~gpod-naturcd girl.
May. A.:inrich,' sue rcpi,cu. '.your
back should be o supp.e than mine.
for you have lcss ~orH to maze il stiff.
1 labor AL day long. aud you DO
nothing. Bus, never mimi! 'twOuld
70 n:rd with me an l refused to do
more than nat Tor you. Dad though
YOU uc."
luis was spoken half sportively, and
half in good earnest; for, k%iud-hearted
rs tue g.rl was. and much Us she liked
the sc.pograce. she VAS too honest
aud industrious herself 10 encourage or
approve of id.cness and = suspicious
course OF life in anyone else, however
dear to he.. She stopped down. &C.
cordingly, to pick up the knife. AS
she was in the actcf rising. however.
the %treacherons villain drew dagger
from under his coat, and caught her
BY the napc Of tho neck. gripping her
throat firmly with his fingers to pre-
vent her screaming tho while.
Now. Lass lie said. swearing cut
a bad oath at the SANS time. "where
is your masters money? Ill have
that or your life; so take your choice
The terrified girl would fain have
'parleycd with the r%utiian. but he woald
hear nothing she could say.
- Your masters money or Your life.
F1ass!' was all tho answer lie vouch-
'safed to her cntrcuties and a%djura.ions.
Choose ut once" WAS the only al
..tcrnativc he offered her; ''tho grave or
the gold!'
she saw that there was no hope OF
mercy at his hands; and, Us she saw
il, her native resolution awokc in her
bosom. Like the generality of her
Sex. she was timid at %trif1es; q scratch
was a subject Of fear to her; a drop OF
blood caused her to faint; an unwont-
cd sound filed her soul with fear in
tho night. But when her energies
were aroused BY an adequate cause,
she proved, AS her sex has ever done,
that in courage. in endurance, in pres
ence of mind, and in resources for
every emergency, she far surpassed
the bravest aid coolest man.
"Well. well. Heinrich!" sho said, re,
siguedly, AWhat is to bc. must bo.
But il you take the money. l shall even
10 along with &c. This will be no
home for mo any more. But east your
grip Of my neck a little-don't-squcezc
20 hard; | can't move. you hug inc SO
tight. And ii l can't stir. you can't
get the money; that's clear, you know.
Besides, time presses; and il it be
donc at all. it must BE- done quickly.
MS tho household will shortly he back
from Hersel."
The rufian relaxed his grip and fin.
ally let go his hold. Her reasons were
all cogcut with his cupidity.
Come" she said; .'qu elk! quick
NJ delay. the money is in masters
bedroom"
She tripped upstairs, gaily as a lark;
lie followed closely at her heels. She
led the way into her masters bedroom,
and pointed out the Golfer in which his
money was secured.
Here" she said. reaching him an
axe which lay in u oi the room.
'this will wronch it open at once; and
while you are tying it up. l shall just
step upstairs to my " apartment.
and got . few things ready for our
flight. us we'll as my own little savings
for tho last five years."
The rufian was thrown OF his guard
by her opcnness aud apparent anxiety
to accompany him. Like all cyclists.
he deceived himself, when scll-lecei,
was most certain TO be his destruction.
&c, lass was all he said; ''but ue
noelong. This job will be done in a
twinkilug."
She disappeared at the words He
Immediately broke open the chest, aud
was soon engaged in rummaging its
contents.
A he WAS thus employed. however,
absorbed in the contemplation Of Ills
prey. aud eagerly occupied iu securing
!. on his person. the bravc-hearted girl
stole down the stairs on tip-toe. Creep.
ing softly along tho passages. she
speedily gained The door Of the cham
Der unseen By him. and likewise uu.
heard. 1t was but the work OF a mo-
mont for hor to urn the key in the
wards aud lock him in. This done,
she rushed forth to tho outer door -ol
the mill and gave the alarm.
Ely! dyI" she shriel;od to the child,
hor masters little boy. an infant i've
years old. the only GUS within sight OF
sound OF her. Fly! hy to father! dy
on your life! Tell him we shall all b
nnrdarad an he haste not back! Fly,