The Placer herald., 1868-12-19
THREE BRAVE MEN.

"But they do not suit" said Barbara, cool,
y tying back her curIs before the mirror.
"Why noll'
! u want to marry man who is brave,
equal to any emergency. If give up my
liberty, l wantit taken care of"
"SilIy child what is the matter with Big
Barney, the blacksmith 2"
"He is big, but never heard that he was
brave"
"Apd you never heard that he was not
What is the matter with Ernest, the gum
smilhg"
He is placid as woc,'s milk"
"That is 20 sign that be is coward
There is little Fritz, the tanner: he is quar-
rssome enough for you, surely 7"
"Hs is no bigger than bantam cock. 1t
is little good he can do, if the house was set
upon by robbers"
ut is not always strenth that wins fight,
girl, it takes brains as well as Drawn. Come,
now, Barbara, give these three young fellows
fair trial"
Barbara turned her face before the mirror,
letting down one raven tress aud looping up
another.
II will, mother" she said at last.
That evening Ernest the gunsmilh knock
ed at the door.
"You sent for me, Barbara9" he said, 90
ing to the girl, who stood upon the hearth
coqnettishy warming ons pretty foot and
then the other.
"Yes, Ernest" she replied, ave been think.
ing on what you said the other night when
you were here"
"WelI, Barbara?"
Ernest spoke quietly, but his dark blue
eyes flashed, and he looked at her intently.
III want to test you"
"How!"
II want to see if you dare to do a very
dsagreeabe thing"
"What is i!"
There Is an old coffin up stairs. Itsmslls
moudy. They say Redmond the murderer
was buried in it; but the devil came for bis
body and left the coffin empty at the end of
a week; aud i. was finally taken from the
tomb. 1t is up stairs in the room grand
father died in, and they say grandsre does
not rest easy in his grave for some reasons
though that know nothing about. Dare
youmake that coffiu your bed to.night"
Ernest laughed,
us that all? | will do that and sleep
soundy. Why pretty one did you think l
had weak nerves?'
"Your nerves will have good proof if you
undertake it. Remember no one sleeps n
that wing of the house."
Il shall sleep the sounder."
"Good night, then. will send you lad
to show you the chamber. If you stay ill
morning." said the imperious Miss Barbara,
with snod of her pretty head, I'll marry you
you vow III"
Esoest turned straight away and followed
the lad in waiting through dim rooms and
passages, up echoing stairs, along narrow
damp ways, where rats scutled before to "A
low chamber. The lad looked pale aud
scared, and evidently wanted to hurry away
but Ernest made him wait till he took sur
vey by the aid of bis lamp 1t was very large
and full of recesses, which had been barred
across. lie remembered that old graDdsire
Fe!ros had been insane several years before
bis death, so that this precaution bad been
necessary for the safety of himself and 9TH
ers. In the center of the room stood cof
fin, beside it was placed chair The room
was otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself out in the coffin.
"Be kind emo ID gh to tell Miss barbara it is
a very good flt," be said.
The lad went out and shut the door, eav.
ing the young gunsmith alone in the dark.
Meanwhile, Barbara was talking with the
big blacksmith in the sitting room.
Barney" said she pulling her hand away
NJ h,v l.
her, ave test to put you to before give you
any answer. There is corpse lying in the
chamber where my grandsrs died, in the
untenanted wing of the house. II you dare
sit with it all night and lot nothing drive you
away from your post you will not ask again
in vain"
you'll give me light and bottle Of
wine and a book to readl'
Nothing"
"Are these all the conditions you offer me,
Bafbara9
"AlI. And if you are frightened, you
need never look me in the face again"
So Barney was conducted to bis post by
the lad, who had been instructed into the !
secret. and whose involuntary start at Ernest's
placid face as he lay n the coffin, was at.
lribu,ed by Barney 10 the natural awe of
corpse lie took his seat and the boy left
him alone in the darkness, the rats and the
coffin.
Soon after, young Fritz, the tanner arrived,
flatered and hopeful. from the fact that Bar.
bara had sent for him.
"Havs you changed your mind, Barbaral'
be asked.
mo; and shall not until l know that
you can do really brave thing"
"What shall it bsl swear to satisfy
you, Barbara"
II have a proposal to make to you. My
plan requires skill as we'll as courage"
"Tsll mel"
swell, 10 this house there is man watch
ing a corpse. lie is sworn not to leave bis
post till morning. If you can make him do
it, l shall be satisfed that you are as smart
and As brave as require husband to b."