The Lincoln County herald., 1872-09-04
Three Brave Men.

tion. "Why ere you so stubborn, Bar
bsrsP' she asked. You have plenty Of
lovers"
But they do not suit me-" said Bar.
bara, coolly tying her carls before tho
mirror.
"Why not2"
II vast, when marry, q man Who is
brave equal to any emergency. If I
give up my liberty, 1 want to b taken
care Of"
"Silly child /! what is the matter with
big Barney, the blaoksmith?'
"He is big, but | never learned that he
was brave"
"And you never heard he was not.
What is the matter With Erncst, the
gunsmith ?"
"Hs's ss placid as goats milk"
THAT is no sign he 10 coward.
There is little Fritz, the tanner. he il
quarrelsoms enough for you, surely"
HE is no bigger than a bantam cock.
It is little be could do if the house was
set upon by robbers"
at is not always strength that wins q
fight, girl. 1t takes brain as we'll as
Drawn. Come, now, Barbara, give the
fellows fair trial"
Barbara turned her face before the
mirror, letting down one raven trsss, and
hooking up another. IL will, mother,
said she at last.
That evening Ernest, the gunsmith,
knocked at the door.
you sent for me, Barbara" he
asked, going to the girl, who stood upon
the hearth, coqusttishly warming one
foot aud then the other.
Eyes, Ernest" she replied. "I'vs
been thinking Of what you said the other
night when you were here"
"Wsll, Barbara p
Ernest spoke quietly, but his dark
blue eyes flashed, and be looked at her
intsntly.
II want to test you"
"How ?"
II want to see if you dare do q very
disagresable thing"
What is itY'
"Thers 10 an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells of mold. They cay Redmond, the
murderer, was buried IN it, but the devil
came for tho body aud left the coffin
empty at the end Of q week, md it was
finally taken from the tomb. 1t is up
stairs in the room my grandfather died
iu, and they say graudsirs does not rest
easy in his grave, for some reason
though that know nothing about
Dare you make that your bed to night? p
Ernest laughed. "Is that all? l will
do that, and sleep soundly. Why
pretty one, did you think have weak
nerves ?"
Your nerves will have a good proof il
you undertake it. Remember, no one
sleeps IN that wing of the house"
~ shall sleep the sounder."
Good night, then. will send you q
lad to shsw you to your chamber. II
you stay there until morning." said the
imperious Barbara. with q nod Of her
pretty head, II will marry you"
you vow il?'
III vew it,"
Ernest turned straightway and fol-
lowed the lad in waiting through dim
rooms aud passages, up scheing stairs,
along narrow, damp ways, where rats
scut,lsd before them, to low chamber.
The boy looked pale and scared, and evi'
dently wanted to hurry away, but Ernest
made him stay until he took a survey Of
the room by the aiG Of bis lamp. 1t was
worry large and full Of rscesses, with high
windows in them, which we're barred
aeress. lie remembered that old grand
sire Ferros had been crazy several year'
before his death, SO that this prscautior
had besn necessary for the safety Of him
self aod others. In the center Of ths
rsom stood csfin beside it was placed
Q chair. The rsom was otherwise per-
fsetly empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the cofin
"Bs kind enough to tell Miss Barbara
that It's a good it," said be. The bsy
went out aud shut the door, leaving the
gunsmlth in the dark.
Meanwhile Barbara was talking Will
the blacksmith in the kssping.rssn.
"Barnsy, said she, pulling her hand
away hsm his grasp when hs would hav'
kissed her. "I've q test to put you t
before l give you my answer. There 1,
q corpse lying in the room where ny
grandsirs died-lying in the untsnante(
wing Of the house. Ii you dare SIT with
it there all night, aud lot nothing driv'
you from your post, you will net ask mi
to marry you in vain"
"You will give ne light end bottle
Of wine, and bosk to read ?"
"Nothing."
"Ars these sll the cendisio.s ysu sal
offsv me, Barbara"
IAN. And il you get frightened yov
need never look NE 10 the face"
"Ill take them, then"
So Barney was conducted to bic pos
BY the tad, who had been instructed !,
the secret, snd whose voluntary stare q
Ernsss's placid face. ss il LAY 10 .h'
oofis, sss like sorpss. He sook BIZ
seat. and che boy isfs him atone With sh'
darkness, rats end the cofin.