The Dawson journal., 1883-08-23

. with the big blacksmith in the sit:
ting room. 0 % .
Barney" said she, pulling he,
hand from his grasp when he
would have kissed her. 81 have :
test to put you to before 7 pive
you an answer. There is a corpse
lying in the chamber where INV
grandsire died, in the untenanted
wing of the house. If YOU dare
sit with it all night and let NOTHING
drive you away from your posi-
you will not ask me again in
vain"
"You will give me light and
bottle OF wine and a book to
read?"
Nothing"
care these all the conditions
you can offer me, Barbara?"
"All. And if you are friehten-
ed you need never look me In the
face again."
30 Barney was conducted to his
post by the lad, who had been in
structed in the secret, and whose
involuntary start at Ernest
placid face as he lay in the coffin
was attributed by Barney to the
natural awe Of a corpse. He took
his seat and the boy left him alone
with the darkness, the rats and the
coffin.
Soon after, young Fritz, the
tanner, arrived, tiattered and hone
full from the fact that Barbara had
sent for him.
"Have you changed your mind,
Barbara?"
"No; and I shall not until I
know that you can do really
brave thing"
What shall it be? I swear to
satisfy you, Barbara
Il have proposal to make to
you: My plan requires skill as
well as courage.
"Tell me-
"Well, in this house there is a
man watching a corpse. He has
sworn not to leave his post till the
morning. IL you can make him
do it | shall be satisfied that you
are as smart and as brave as | re-
quire a husband to be-"
"Why, nothing is SO easyr' ex-
claimed'Fritz. 81 can scare him
away. Furnish me with sheet,
show me the room and go to your
rest, Barbara. You shall find me
at the post in the morning"
Barbara did as required and
saw the tanner step lightly away to
bis task. 1t was then nearly twelve
o'clock and she sought her own
chamber.
Barney was sitting at his virgil,
and so far all had been well.
The night seemed very long, for
he had no m cans Of counting the
time. AT times a thrill went
through him, for it seemed as if
he could hear a low, suppressed
breathing not for away. He per-
suaded himself that it was the
wind blowing through the crevices
of the old house. Still it was
very lonely and not in the least
cheerful
The face in the coffin cleaned
white still. The rats squeaked as
if there was a famine upon them
and they smelled dead flesh. The
thought made him shudder. He
got UP and walked about, but
something made noise behind
him, and he put his chair with it's
back against the wall and sat down
again. He had been at work all
day, and at last grew sleepy. FL
nally he nodded and snored.
Suddenly it seemed as if some
body had touched him. He awoke
with start, and saw nobody near,
though in the centre of the room
stood a white figure.
Course you, get out of this" he
exclaimed, in a fright, using the
first words that came to his
tongue.
The figure held out its arms and
slowly approached him. He
started to his feet. The specter
come nearer, pressing him into
the corner.
"The mischief take you'll" cried
Barney, in his extremity.
Involuntary he stepped back;
still the figure advanced, coming
nearer and nearer, as if to take
him in ghostly embrace. The
hair started up on Barney's head;
he grew desperate, and just as the
cleaning arm would have touched
him lie fell on the ghost like a
whir1wind, tearing the sheet,
humping, pounding, beating and
kicking, more and more enfageSd
at the resistance he met with
which told him the truth.
AS the reader knows, he was big
and Fritz was little, and while he
was pounding the little fellow ter
ribly and Fritz was trying to get a
lunge at Barney's stomach, to take
the wind out of him, both kicking
and plunging like horses, they
we're petrifed by hearing a voice
cry: -.
%Take one of your size, Big Bar
new"