Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-11-04
THREE BRAVE MEN.

Nhv are you stubborn, barbara
she asked. "You have plenty OF lovers.
"But they do not suit" said Barbara
cody tying back her curls before the mr.
! Tor.
"Why mott"
! Il want 10 marry mau who is brave
equal 20 any emergency. If / give ~
nv liberty, | want it taken care off,
SILLY chi what is the matter will
Biz Barney, the blacksmith 2"
"lle is big, but never heard that he
was brave"
"And you never heard that he was not
What Is the matter with Ernest, the gun
smith ?"
He is placid as goats milk"
That Is no sign that he is a coward
There is little Fritz, the tanner he is
quarrelsome enough for you, surely
"He Is no bigger than bantam cock
1t is little good he can do, if the house
was set upon by robbers
at is not always strength that wins a
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 mir
ror. letting down one raven tress and loop
ing up another.
II will. mother" she said at last.
That evening. Ernest the gunsmith.
knocked at the door.
"1Ou sent for me, Barbara? " he sal l.,
going to the girl, who stood upon the
hearth coquettishiy warming one pretty
foot aud then the other.
Yes, Ernest" she replied, 'rye been
thinking on what you said the other night
whef you were here"
"Well, Barbara?"
Ernest spoke quietly, but his dark blue
eyes flashed, aud he looked at her intunt-
ly.
Il want to test you"
"How -
II want to see if you dare to do
very disagreeable thing"
"What is it
There is an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells mouloy. They say Redmond the
murderer was buried in it; but the devil
came for his body and left the coffin emp
ty at the end OF week : and it was fiualy
taken from the tomb 1t is up stairs in the
room grandfather died in, and they say
grandsire does not rest easy in his grave
for some reasons, though that | know moth
ing about. Dare YOU make thgt coffin
your bed tonight
Ernesl Hanged.
is that all ? | will do that and sleep
soundly. Why pretty one, did you think
had weak nerves ~
Your nerves will have good proof if
you undertake it. Remember, no one
sleeps i'll that wing OF the house
81 shall sleep the sounder'"
Good night, then. | will send lai 10
show you the chamber. If you stay til
morning" said imperious Miss Barbara,
with nod of her pretty head, IN marry
you
You vow 1t ?"
Ernest tnrned straight away and follow
ed the lad in waiting through dim rooms
and passagls, up echoing stairs, along
narrow damp ways, where rats scuttled
before to low chamber. The lad looked
pale and scared, and evidently wanted to
hurry away but Ernest made him wait till
he took a survey by the aid of his lamp
1t was very large and full Of receSses,
which had been barred across. He remem
bered that old grandsiIe Ferros had been
insane several years before bis death, so
that this preeaution had been necessary
for the safety of himself and others. In
the centre oi the room stood a coffin, be
side i. was placed chair The room
was otherwise perfectly empty.
Eruest stretched himself pat la the cof
fin.
"Be kind enough to tel Miss Barbara it
is very good fit, he SAID,
The lad went out and shut the door, leat-
ing the young gnnsmith alone in the dark
Meanwhile, Barbara was taking with
the big blacksmith in the sleeping room.
barney" said size pnllioz her hand
away from his grasp, when he would have
kissed her, I've test to put yon to before
give YOU any answer There is O corpse
lying in the chamber where my grand.irc
died, in the untenantcd wig of the houst.
lfyou dare sit with it all night and let
hol1'c- A'i'C Sou away ioli sooA poNti
you will not ask me again IN vaia.'
You'll give me light and bottle of
vine and book to read? "
Nothing.
'Are these all the conditions you offer
me, Barbara.
"Al- Aud If you are frightened, you
need never look me in the face again
So Barney was conducted TO his post
by the lad, who had been instructed into
the secret, and whose involuntary start at
Ernest's placid face as he lay in the coffin,
WAS attributed by Barney to tic natural
awe OF a corpse, He took his seat and
the boy left him alone in the darkness, the
rats and the coffin.
Soon after, young Fritz, the tanner ar
rived, flatlered and hopeful, from the fact
that Barbara had sent for him.
"EIave you changed your mind, Barba--
ra! he asked.
No and shall not until | know thsl
you can do really brave thing"
what shall it tea swear to satisfy
| you, barbara"
81 lave proposal TO make to lou.-
| Nv plan requires skill as well as courage.