Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-15
THREE BRAVE FELLOWS.

bara?" she asked. You have plenty
of lovers"
but they do not suit, said Barbara
coolly tying back her curls before the
mirror.
"Why not?"
II want TO marry a man who is
brave, equal to any emergency. If |
give up my liberty [ want it taken care
Of ="
''Silly child! what is the matter with
big Barney, the blacksmith"
HE is bio, but / never heard that he
was brave"
"And you never heard that he was
not. What is the matter with Ernest,
the gunsmith?"
''He is as placid as goats milk"
That's no sign that he is coward.
There is Fritz, the tanner; he is quar-
relsome enough for you, surely"
HE is no bigger than bantam cock.
1t is little good he can do if the house
is set upon by robbers"
tIt's not always strength that wins
a fight, girl. 1t takes brains as we'll as
Drawn. Come, now, Barbara, give these
fellows q 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, coquettishly warming one pref
ty foot and then the other.
Eyes, Ernest she replied; 1--WE
been thinking on what you said the
other night when you were here.
well, Barbara"
Ernest spoke quietly, but his dark
blue eyes flashed, and he looked at her
intently.
i want to test you"
"How?"
81 want to see if you dare do a very
disagreeable thing"
''What is it?"
'There is an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells mouldy. They say Redmond,
the murderer was buried in it; but the
devil came for his body and left the
coffin empty at the end of week, and
it was finally taken from his toEb. 1t
is up stairs in the room grandfather
died in, and they say grandsire 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.
us that all? [ will do that and
sleep soundly. Why, my 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."
Il shall sleep the sounder."
Goodnight, then. will send
lad to show you the chamber If you
will stay till morning. said the impe-
rious Miss Barbara, Il will be your
wife"
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 low chamber. The
lad looked pale and scared, and evil
IDENTIFY wanted to hurry away, but Ern-
est made him wait till he took q survey
by the aid of his lamp. 1t was very
large and full of recesses, which had
been barred across. He remembered
that old GrandSire Ferron had been in
sane for several years before his death,
so that this precaution had been neces-
sary for the safety of himself and 9TH
ers. In the center of the room stood a
coffin; beside it stood a chair. The
room was otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself out in the
coffin.
''Be kind enough to tell Miss Barbara
very OOnd fir - ba cold
The boy went out and shut the door,
leaving the young gunsmith alone in
the dark.
Meanwhile, Barbara was talking with
the big blacksmith in the sitting-room.
Barney" said she, pulling her
hand away from MS grasp when he
would have kissed her, Il have test
to put you to before | give you an an
swer. There is a corpse lying in the
chamber where my 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 post
you will not ask me again in vain"
You will give me 4 light and bot
tie OF wine and q book to readP"
Nothing"
Are these all the conditions you
can offer me, Barbara?"
''All. And if you are frightened,
you need never look me in the face
again"
So Barney was conducted to his post
Dy the lad, who had been instructed in
the secret, and whose involuntary start
at Ernest's placid face as he lay in the
coffin was attributed by Barney to the
natural awe of 4 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, fattered and hopeful, from
the fact that Barbara had sent for him.
'tHaVe you changed your mind, Bar
bara?" he asked.
mo, and [ shall not, either, until l
know that you can do a really brave
thing
'.What shall it bep l swear to salts
fy YOU
Il have proposal to make to you.
My plan requires skill as well as cour-
age" she replied.