The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-04-29
THREE BRAVE MEN

THREE BRAVE MEN.
Pretty Barbara Ferros would not
marry. Her mother was in consterna-
/ ton. - ~
"Why are you SO stubborn, Barbara?'
she asked, ''you have plenty of lovers, l
know"
"But then they don't suit me-" said
Barbara, coolly, tying back her curls be-
fore the mirror. ."'E' N.f
"Why not@' .5,
II want, when marry, a man who
is brave and equal to any emergency.
If I give up my liberty, 1 want some-
body to take care of it," o.
"Silly child what is the matter with
Barney the Blacksmith?'
.'He ia hig, but never learned that
lnrsnnn hewVuk ,tsassz.s-s sussg~<s + s1sEses
''And you never heard that he was
not. What is the matter with Earnest
the gunsmith ?"
~e He is as placid as goats milk"
'.That's no sign that he is coward.
There is little Fritz, the tanner; he is
quarrelsome enough for you, l should
think"
He is no bigger than bantam roos-
ter. 1t is little he could do if the house
was set upon by robbers" = -
Its not always the strength that
wins fight, my girl. 1t takes brains
rs we'll as Drawn. Come now, Barbara,
give these young fellows affair trial."
Barbara turned her face before the
mirror, letting down one raven tress
and looping up another.
Il will, mother" she said, after lit
tie pause.
That evening, Earnest, the gunsmith
knocked at the door.
'You sent for me, Barbara" he said,
going to the girl, who stood UPON the
hearth coquetishly warming one foot
and then the other.
"ies, Earnest" she replied, II have
been thinking of what you said the
other night when you were here"
"Well, Barbara?''
Earnest spoke very quietly, but the
dark blue eyes flashed and he looked at
her intently.
II want to test YOU" '..
"How:'
II want to see il you dare do a very
disagreeable thing"
what is it,"
"There is an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells of mold. They say Redmond,
the murderer, was buried in it; but the
devil CAME for his body and left the
coffin empty ut the end of tho week:
and it was finally taken from the tomb.
1t is up stairs in the room my grandsire
died i'll, and they say grandsire does not
rest easy in his grave for some reason
that l know nothing about. Dare you
make the coffin your bed tonight"
'Is that all: will that, and sleep
soundly. Why, pretty one, did you
think | had weak nerves ?"
"iour nerves will! have good proof if
you undertake it. Remember no one
sleeps in the wing of the house,
II shall sleep the sounder."
Good night then. / will send you Il
lad to show you the chamber; if you
stay until morning." said the ilnperous
Miss Barbara, with a nod of her pretty
head, II will marry you"
"Ysu VOW it?'
IL do"
Earnest turned straightway and fol.
lowed the lad in waiting through the
rooms and passages, up echoing stairs,
along narrow, dump ways, where rats
scattered before them, to "A low chamber.
The boy looked pale aud scared, and
evidently wanted to hurry away; but
Earliest made him wait until he took
survey Of the room by the aid of his
lamp. 1t Was very large and full of re-
cesses, with high windows in them
which were barred across. He remem-
bered that old Grandsire Ferros had
been insane for several years before his
death, SO that this precaution had been
necessary for the safety OF himself and
others. In the centre of the room stood
\ coffin; beside it was placed a chair.
The room was otherwise perfectly emp
ty.
Earnest stretched himself in the
coffin.
Re kind enough to toll Mics Barbara
that it is good tit, y said he.
The boy went out and shut the door,
leaving the young guAsmith alone in
the dark.
Meanwhile Barbara was talking with
the blacksmith in the keeping room.
Barney" said she, pulling her hands
away from his grasp when he would
have kissed her, "I've u test to put you
to before give you ali answer. There
is corpse lying in the chamber where
my Grandsire died, in the untenanted