The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-11-07
Three Brave Men.

4
why are you so stubborn, Barbara 2"
she asked, 'syou have plenty Of lovers L
know"
"'}ut they do not suit mo-" said Barbara,
cody tying back her curls before the mirror.
'Why not 2" t.ls
| "l want, when marry, a man who is brave,
equal to any emergency. If give up my
liberty, want to be taken care of" j,
"Silly child! what is the matter with big
Barney, the blacksmith !?
Gle is big, but never learned that he was
brave" Sr 1<lT
Sand you never heard that he was not.
What is the matter with Earnest, the gun
smith ?'
Hes as placid as goats milk"
"Ihat is no sign that he is u coward There
is little Fritz, the tanner he is quarrclsomc
enough for you, surely
Gle is no bigger than bantam cock It
is little he could do if the house was set upon
by robbers"
cts not always strength that wins fight
my girl. 1t takes brains as we'll as brawn.-
Come, now, Barbara, give these young fellows
fair trial"
Barbara turned her face before the mirror,
letting down one raven trcss and looping up
another
81 will, mother" said she at last
That evening, Earnest, the gunsnlitl knock
cd early at the door.
eYou sent for Inc Barbara" lie said going
to the girl who stood upon the hearth, coquct-
tishly warming one pretty foot and then the
"Ycs, Earnest" she replied. "I've been
thinking Of what you said the other night
1-sHvli s@Jfo nero: : = =
"Wcll Barbara." x
Earnest spoke quietly, but his dark blue
eyes flashed, and he looked at her ntcntly
81 want to test you" H. ar
GLOW ?"
81 want to see if you dare do very dsa.
grccablc thing" ~
| "What is it -
"Thcrc is an old coffin up stairs 1t smells
of mold They say Redmond, the murderer,
was buried in it; but the devil camo for his
body aud left the coffin empty at the end Of il
week; aud it was finally taken from tho tomb
Il is up stairs in the room my grandsire, jiea,
iii, and they say grandsire docs not rest cas-;
in his grave for some reason, though that !
know nothing about. Dare you make tlat
coffin your bed tonight" 2" ~
Earnest laughed. .
'Is that all will that, and sleep sound
ly. Why, pretty one, did you think l had
weak ncrvcs%'
"Your nerves will have good proof if you
undertake it. Remember, no one sleeps in
that wing Of the house" IrH
81 shall sleep the soundcr I will send a
lad to show you the chamber. If you stay un-
til morning." said impcrious Miss Barbara,
with nod Of her pretty head, II will marry
you"
| "You vow it?"
Earnest turned straightway and followed
the lad in waiting through dim rooms and
passages, up cchoingstairs, along narrow, damp
ways, whore rats scatter before them, to low
chamber. The boy looked pale and scared.
and evidently wanted to hurry away; but
Earnest made him wait until he took survey
of the room by the aid Of his lamp 1t
was very large and full Of reccsses, with high
windows i'll them, which were barred across.
lie remembered that old Grandsirc Ferros had
been insane for several years before his death,
so that this precaution had bccd necessary for
the safety OF himself and others In the cen
tire of the room stood coffin; beside it was
placed chair. The room was otherwise per
icctly empty.
Earnest stretched himself in the coffin.
"I'c kind enough to tell Miss Barbara that
it's very good fit" he said.
The boy went out and shut the door, lcav-
ing tho young Sunslnith alone in the dark.
| Meanwhile, Barbara was talking with tho
big blacksmith in the kccping-room. So
Barney" said she, pulling hcr hands away
from his grasp when he would have kissed
her, I've a test to put to you before | give
you any answer. There is corpse lying in
tho untcnantcd wing of the house If you
dare sit with it there all night, and let
nothing drive you from your post, you will not
| IL,