The Osceola times., 1883-08-18
THREE BRAVE MEN.

Pretty Barbara Ferron would not mar
ry. Her mother was in CONSERVATION.
"Why are you so stubborn, Barbara
she asked. "Yon have plenty of lovers"
"But they do not suit said Barbara,
coolly tying back her curls before the
mirror.
"Why not ?"
81 want to marry a man who is brave
equal to any emergency. If l give up
my liberty want it taken care of"
SILLY childw what is the matter with
Big Barney, the blacksmith ?'
"IIe is big, but | never heard that he
was brave
"And you never heard that he was not
What is the matter with Earnest, the
gunsmith ?"
Hes as placid rs goats milk"
That's no sign that he is coward
There is little Fritz, the tanner; he is
quarrelsome enough for you, surelyr
Hes no bigger than bantam cock.
1t is little good he can do if the house
was set upon by robbers"
1T is not always strength that wins
fight, girl. 1t takes brains as well as
Drawn. Come, now, Barbara, give these
young fellows fair trial.
Barbara turned her face before the
mirror, letting down one raven tress, and
looping up another.
Il will, mother" she said at last
That evening, Ernest, the gunsmith,
knocked at the door.
you sent for me, Barbara" ?" he said,
going TO the girl, who stood upon the
hearth, eoquettishly warming one pretty
foot and then the other.
ayes, Ernest" she replied, I've been
thinking on what you said the other
night when you were here"
well, Barbara"
Ernest spoke quietly. hut his dark blue
eyes flashed and he looked at her in
tently.
Il want to test YOU
"How ~
Il want to see if you dare do very
diSlgreeable thing"
What is it,"
There is au old coffin up stairs. II
smells mouldy. They say Redmond, the
murderer, was buried in it; hut the de.
vii came for his body AMI len the coffin
empty at the end of a week and it was fin
ally taken from the tomb. 1t is up stairs
in the room grandfather died in, and
they say granisire does not rest easy in
his grave for some reason, though that
know nothing about Dare you make
that coffin your bed tonight ?"
Ernest laughed.
as tha, all2 Twill do that and sleep
soundly. Why, pretty one, did you
think | had weak nerves.
"Your nerves will have good proof if
You undertake it. Remember no one
sleeps in that wing Of the house"
| shall sleep the sounder."
Goodnight, then. will send lad
to show you the chamber If Won stay
till morning" said the imperious Miss
Barbara, with nod Of her pretty head,
1 will marry you"
You VOW it,
Ernest turned straight away. and fol-
lowed the lad in waiting. through dim
rooms and passages up echoing stairs
along narrow damp ways. where rats
scuttled before TO low chamber The
lad looked pale and sSared, and evident
~ wanted to hurry away. Tut Ernest
made him wait till he took a survey bv
the aid Of his lamp Il was very large
and full Of recesSes, which had been
barred across. He remembered that the
old grand sire Ferron had been insane
for several years before his death. so
that this precaution had been neosS sarv
for the safety Of himself and others. In
the centre Of the nom STOOD q oofin.
beside it stood chair The room Was
otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself out in the
coffin.
BE good enough % tell Miss Barhsra
II i very good tit, he said.
The boy went aat ani shut the door.
leSving the young gunsmith alone in the
dark.
Meanwhile Barbara with the big black.
smith in the siitins-room.
Barney said She. pulling her hand
away from grasp when he would have
kissed her, I've test 10 put YOU 70 he
loTe ! give you an answer. There is a
oorlse lyinE IN the room where my
sranoslre died, IN the untenanted wing
Of the house. you dare sit with il all
night and let nothing drive you away
from ycs,r post YOU viii not ask me again
!. IN vain