The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-02-11
THREE BRAVE MEN.

Pretty Barbara Ferres would not marry.
Her mother was in CONSERVATION. ''Why
are you so stubborn, Barbara ~ she asked.
''You have plenty of lovers"
''But they don't suit me- said Barbara,
coolly tying her curs before the mirror.
''Why not p"
Il want, when marry, a man who is brave
equal to any emergency. If 1 give up my
liberty l want to be taken care Of
''Silly child. What is the matter with Bar
ney, the blacksmith ?"
'IIe is big, but never learned that he was
brave"
''Aud you never learned that he was not.
What is the matter with Ernest, the gun
SMITH"
Gle is as 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"
''IIe is no bigger than a bantam cock. 1t
is little he could do if the house was set upon
by robbers"
''It is not always strength that wins fight,
girl. 1t takes brain as well as Drawn. Come
now, Barbara, give these fellows fair trial. -
Barbara turned her face before the mirror
letting down one raven curl and looping up
another 81 will, mother" said she, at last.
That evening Ernest, the gunsmith, knock
ed early at the door. "You sent for me,
Barbara" he said, going to the girl who
stood upon the hearth, coquettishly warming
one pretty foot and then the other.
"Yes, Ernest" she replied Eve been
thinking Of what you said the other night
when you were here"
flashed, and he looked at her intently.
81 want to test you"
GLOW 80
'I want to see if you dare do a very dis
agreeable thing"
what is it?"
''There is an old coffin upstairs. 1t smells
of mould. They say Raymond, the murder
Ell, was buried in it but the devil came for
his body and left the coffin empty in a week,
and it was finally taken from the tomb. 1t
is upstairs in the room where my grandfather
died, and they say my grandsire does not rest
easy in his grave, for some reason, though
that know nothing about. Dare you make
that your bed tonight ?'
Ernest laughed. rs that all ? l will do
that and sleep soundly. Why, pretty one,
did you think had weak nerves %
your nerves will have good PROOF il you
undertake it. Remember no one sleeps in
that part of the house"
81 shall sleep the sounder."
"Good night, then. I will send a lad to
show You your chamber. If you stay there
all night, said the hnperious Miss Barbara,
Il will marry You"
"You vow it %
81 VOW it
Ernest turned straightway and followed
the lad in waiting through the dim rooms
and passages, Ep echoing stairs, along mar
row, damp ways, where rats scuttIed before
them, to q low chamber. The boy looked
pale and scared and evidently wanted tc
hurry away, but Ernest made him wait unit
he took survey of the room with his lamp
1t was very large and full Of recesses, will
high windows in them, which was barred
across. He remembered that old Grandsirt
Ferres had been insane for several years be
fore his death, 80 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 chair The
room was otherwise quite empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the coffin ''Be
kinG enough to tell Miss Barbara it's good
ft," said he The boy went out and shut
the door, leaving the gunsmith alone in the
dark. Meanwhile Barbara was talking witt
the blacksmith in the keeping room.
Barney" said she, pulling her hand.
away from his grasp, when he would have
kissed her, I've test to put you to before
l give you any answer, There is a corpse
lying in the chamber where my grandfather
died, in the unteuanted wing of the house
II you dare sit there with it all night, and
let nothing drive you away from your post
you will rot ask me to marry you in vain"
You give me light and a bottle of wine
and book to read %
Nothing"
care these all the conditions you can Offer
me, Barbara %
"AH And if you get frightened, you need
never look me in the face again.
on take them, then"
So Barney was conducted to his post by
the lad, who had been instructed in the Sc
cret, and whose voluntary stare at Ernest:
placid face as tit lay in the coffin was inter
preted by Barney to be the natural awe of a
corpse. lie took his seat, and the boy left
him alone with the darkness and the rats anC
the coffin
Soon after young Fritz, the tanner, arrived
lattered and hopeful from the fact that Bar
bara had sent for him.
Have you changed your mind, Barbara p
he asked.
'No and shall not until know that yoU
can do really brave thing"
"What shall it be ? | swear to satisfy you
Barbara" "
81 have proposal to make You. My par
requires skill as well as courage"
'Tel me-
''Wel in this house is a man watching by
a corpse. He has sworn not to leave his pos
till morning. II you can make him do it,
shall be satisfied that you are as smart anC
as brave as | require husband to be-"