The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-02

messenger held on his way unharmed.
however, and she thought to herself
mat the alarm was a false one. raised
10 excite her fears. and overcome her
resolution. just. however. as the
chiio : reached 3 hollow spot in the next
neid-the channel of a natural drain.
lneh ory with the heats of summer
sue saw another ruffian start up from
.he oed OF the drain. and catching him
~ ms arms, hasten toward the mill. in
sccoruance with the directions of his
aecouapAce. In moment she per-
ceNeo her danger, and in moment
uaore she formed her future plan of
paao hetreatlng into the mill,
sue ooooIS locked and bolted the door
.tns only apparent entrance to the
eeihee, every other means of obvious
access TO the interior being barred by
means of strong iron graiinrs fxed
against all the windows: aud then
took her post at an upper easement.
determined to await patiently either
her masters return, and her conse-
qnent delivery from tLat dangerous
position, or her own death, if il were
inevitable.
Never. said she to herself, ''neyer
shail leave my masters house prey
10 such villains, or permit his property
to be carried off before nv ewes nv
them, while l have life and strength
TO defend it
She had barely time to secure her
self within. when the ruftian from with
out, holding the hapleSs child in one
hand, and a long sharp knife in the
other. assalled the door with kicks.
and curses, and imprecations of the
most dreadful character.
''Confound theei' he cried, applv-
ing The foulest epithets OF which the
tree-speaking Teutonic languages are
SO copiousi open the door, or TN
break II in on yei'
III you can, you NAV" was all the
noble girl replied. God is greater
than you. and IN him l put my trust"
Cut the brat's throaI!' roared the
imprisoned ruffian above; ..that will
bring her to reason"
Stout-hearted as poor Hannehen
was, she quailed at this cruel sugres-
uon- For moment her resoluti5n
waveredi but it was only for mo-
ment Sue saw that her own death
was certain if she admitted the assail-
ant. and she knew that her master
would be robbed. She had no reason
TO nope that even the life of the in
iant would be spared by her compli-
ance. Ii was to risk all against moth
ing. Like discreet girl. she conse-
quently held fast in her resolve to
aolde as she was while life remained,
| or until assistance could reach her.
An ye open not the door," shouted
the villain from without accompany
ing his words with the vilest abuse,
and the hercest imprecations. "liu
| hack this whelp's limbs to pieces with
my knife. and then burn the mill over
your head. Twill be merry blaze, /
| trow."
II put my trust in God" replied the
| dauntless girl; never shall We set foot
within these walls whilst l have lie to
prevent ye."
The ruffian laid the infant for mo-
ment on the sward as he sought about
| for combustibles wherewith to execute
| his latter threat In this search he es-
pied. perhaps. the only possible clan
destine entrance to the building. Ii
was large aperture in the wall. COM
municating with the great wheel and
the other machinery of the mill. and
was point entirely unprotected, for
the reason that the simple occupants
had never supposed it feasible for any
q
| dangerous inlet. Elated with his dis
| covery, the ruflian returned to the in
FAINT, and, tving the hands and feet of
the little innocent, threw it on the
ground even as butcher will fling
lamb destined for the slaughter. to
await his time for staying. He then
stole back to the aperture. by which
be hoped to effect an entrance. All
| bx-t hn irl
within.
In the meantime her mind was bus
led with a thousand cogitations. She
clearly perceived that no means would
be left untried to effect an entrance.
and she knew that on the exclusion of
her foe depended her own existence.
A thought struck her.
1T is Sunday" she said to herself;
''the mill never works on the Sabbath;
suppose set it agoing nowP 1t can be
seen afar off; and haply my master. or
some of his neighbors, wondering at
the sight, may hasten hither to know
the cause. A lucky thought, she ex-
claimed; ''tis God sent it to mer
No sooner said than done. Being all
her life accustomed to mlll-gear. it was
but the work of moment for her to
oCb hnO III ~ OAiSA
breeze which sprang up. as it were by
a special interposition of Providence,
at once set the sails flying The arms
of the huge engine whirled round with
fearful rapidity; the great wheel slow
ly revolved on its axle; the smaller
gear turned, and creaked. and groan-
ed, according as they came into action;
the mill was in full operation.
or Src hot ho
ruffian Diether had succeeded in
squeezing himself through the apert-
ure in the wall. and getting safely
lodged in the interior of the great
drum wheel His dismay. however,
was indescribable when he began to be
whirled about with its rotation, and
found that all his efforts to put a stop
to the powerful machinery which set it
in motion, or to extricate himself from
his perilous situation. were fruitless.
His cries were most appalling; his
shrieks were truly fearful; his curses
and imprecations were horrible to hear.
Hannchan hastened to the spot, and
saw him caught. like the reptile as he
was, in his own trap. 1t need not be
added that she did not liberate him.
She knew that he would be more
I
his rotatory prison; and she knew, al
SO, that unless he attempted to escape.
there was no danger of his falling out
of it, even though he were insensible
and inanimate all the while. In the
meantime, the wheel went round and
round with its steady, unceasing mo-
ton; and round aud round went the
ruffian along with it, steadily and un-
ceasingly, too. In vain did he promise
the stout-hearted girl to work her nc
harm; in vain did he implore her pity
on his hapless condition; in vain did
he pray to all the powers of heaven.
and adjure all the powers of darkness
to his aid. She would not hear nor
heed him; and, unheard and unhee ded
OF them likewise, muttering curses, he
was whirled round and round in the
untiring wheel, until at last feeling
and perception failed him. and he saw
and heard no more. He fell sense
less on the bottom of the engine, but
even then his inanimate body contin-
ued to be whirled round, and round.
and round as before; tue brave girl
not daring to trust to appearances in
connection with such villain, and be-
ing, therefore, afraid to suspend the
working OF the machinery, or stop the
miII-gear and Ia skle from running at
their fullest speed
A loud knocking at the door WAS
shortly after heard. and sne fastened
thither. IL was her master and his
family, accompanied by several of
their ueighbors The unaccustomed
appearance of the mill-saiIs in full
swing on the Sunday, had. as she an
-. ,l attrapfaA THAR nftant1On-