The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-02-23
THREE BRAVE MEN.

"But they don't suit me-" said Barbara
coolly tying her curls before the mirror.
"Why not ?"
81 want, when 1 marry, man who
is brave-equal to any emergency. If |
give up my liberty, l want to be taken
care of"
"Silly child! What is the matter
with big Barney, the blacksmith p
"He is big, but l never learned that he
was brave"
"And you never heard that he was
not. What is the matter with Earnest,
the gunsmith -
Hes rs placid as goats milk
"That is no sign lie is coward. -;
There is little Fritz, the tanner, he is
quarrelsome enough for you, surely"
''He is no bigger than bantam cock.
It is little he could do if the house was
set upon by robbers"
s'It is not always strength that wins a
fight, girl. 1t takes brains as well as
Drawn. Come now, Barbara, give these
fellows q lair trial"
Barbara turned her face before the
mirror, letting down one raven tress and
looping up another. Il will, MOTHER
said she at last.
That evening Earnest, the gunsmith,
knocked early at the door. "Iou sent
for me, Barbara" he said, going to the
girl, who stood upon the hearth, coquet-
tishlv warming one pretty foot and then
the other.
''Yes, Earnest" she replied, I've been
thinking of what you said the other
night, when you were here"
"Well, Barbara %
Earnest spoke quietly, but his dark
blue eyes flashed, and he looked at her
intently
Il want to test YOU"
How
Il want to see if you dare do very
disagreeable thing"
''What is it?''
"There is an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells of mould. They say Reemond
the murderer, was buried in it; but the
devil came for his body and left the cof-
fin empty at the end of week, and it
was finally taken from the tomb. 1t is
up stairs in the room my grandfather
died in, and they say grandsire does not
rest easy in his grave for some reason,
though that l know nothing about. Dare
you make that your bed tonight p
Earnest laughed. els that all?
will do taat and sleep soundly. Why,
pretty one, did you think I had weak
nerves p
"Your nerves will have good proof if
you undertake it. Remember, no one
sleeps in that part of the house"
Il shall sleep the soundq."
"Good night, then. will send Lao
to show you the chamber. If you stay
there all night" said the imperious Miss
Barbara, Il will marry you"
"You VOW it z"
81 VOW it.
Earnest turned straightway and fol
lowed the lad in waiting through the
dim rooms and passages, up echoing
stairs, along narrow damp ways, where
rats scuttled before them, to i low cham,
ber The boy looked pale and scared
and evidently wanted to hurry away,
but Earnest made him wait until he took
a survey Of the room by the aid of his
lamp. 1t was yerv large and full Of re-
cesses, with high windows in them,
which were barred across. He remcm-
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 center of the room
stood a coffin; beside it was placed a
chair. The room was otherwise quite
empty.
Earnest stretched himself in the coffin
"Be kind enough to tell Miss Barbara
that it's good ft," said he. The boy
went out and shut the door, leaving the
gunsmith alone in dark Meanwhile
Barbara was talking with the black
smith in the keeping-room. Barney
said she, pulling her hands away from
his grasp, when he would have kissed
her, I've test to put you to before |
give you any answer. There is corpse
lying in the chamber, where my gran d
sire died, i'll the untenantcd wing of the
house. If you dare to sit with it there
all night, and let nothing drive you away
from your post, you will not ask me to
marry you in vain"
"You give me light and a bottle of
wine and book to read -
"Nothing."
';Are these all the conditions YOU of
fer me, Barbara?' -
"All. And if you get frightened,
you need never look me in the face
again
'1'll take them, them
So Barney was conducted to his post
by the lad, who had been instructed in
the secret, and whose voluntary stare at
Earnest's placid face as it lay in the
coffin was interpreted by Barney to be
the natural awe of corpse. He took
his seat ana the boy left him alone with
the darkness and the rats and the coffin
Soon after, young Fritz, the tanner,
arrived, fattered and hopeful from the
fact that Barbara had sent for him.
''Have You changed your mind, Bar
bara," he asked.
"No; and ] Shall not until ] know
that you can do really brave thing"
sWhat shall it be? VOW to satisfy
you, Barbara"
81 have proposal to make you. My
plan requires skill as well as courage
Tell me-"
"Well, in this house is man watch
ing by corpse. He has sworn not to
leave his post until morning. If you
can make him do it, I shall be satisfied
that you are as smart and as brave as
require husband to be"
"Why, nothing is SO easy" exclaim-
ed Fritz. 81 can scare him away. Fur
nish me with q sheet, show me the room
and 60 to your rest, Barbara. You will
find me at the post in the morning"
Barbara did as he required, and saw
the tanner step blithely away to his task
1t was then nearly twelve O'Clock, and
she sought her own chamber. -...,