The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-17
THREE BRAVE FELLOWS.

'Why are you Sd SluDDoini P"i
barap" she asked You have plenty
Of lovers.
but they do not suit" said Barbara
soolly tying back her curls before the
mirror.
why not?' =.
Il want 10 marry man who Is
brave, equal TO any emergency If
give up my liberty | want it taken care
o."
SILLY child. what is the matter with
big Barney, the blacksmith"
"He is 10, but never heard that he
Vas brave
And you never heard that he was
not. What IS he matter with Ernest,
tbe eunsmilhp'
He is as placid as goats milk"
That's no sign that he is a coward.
There is Fritz, the tanner; he is quar-
resome enough for you, surely.
"He is no bigger than a bantam cock.
II is little good lie can do il the house
ia set upon by robbers. "
Its not always strength that wins
fight girl. 1t takes brains as well as
Drawn. Come, now. Barbara. give these
fellows fair trial"
Barbara turned her face before the
mirror, letting down one raven tress,
and looping up another
II will, mother she said at last.
That evening, Ernest, tho gunsmith,
Knocked at the door
you sent for me, Barbara he said,
xoing to the girl, who stood upon the
Hearth, coquottishly warming one pref
~ foot and then the other
yes, Ernest" she replied; ave
been thinking on what you said the
ether night when you were here. "
We'll, Barbara
Ernest spoke quietly, but his dark
Blue ewes flashed. and he looked at her
iAtently.
Il want to test you.
"Iiow?"
Il want to see if GU dare do very
sisagreeable thing.
What is it?'
There is an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells moudy. They say Redmond,
.he murC erer was buried in it; but the
devil came for his body and left the
coffin empty at the end of week, and
n was finally taken from his tomb. 1t
" up stairs in the room grandfather
&ied in, and they say grandsirc does
soL rest easy in his crave for some
reason, though that | know nothing
about Dare you make that coffin your
ked tO-nigh, P'
Ernest laughed.
.Is that all? | will do that and
bleep soundly. Why, my pretty one,
did you think had weak nervesp"
Your nerves will have good proof
you undertake it, Remember, no
enc sleeps in that wing of the house"
al shall sleep the sounder."
Goodnight, then. will send a
lad TO show you the chamber. If you
will stay till morning." said the impe-
vious Miss Barbara, IL will be your
wife.
Ernest turned straight away and fol-
lowed the lad in waiting through dim
rooms and passages. up cchoing stairs,
along narrow, damp ways where rats
seuulcd, before low chamber. The
lad looked pale and scared, and evil
IDENTIFY wanted to hurry away, but Ern-
est made him wait till no took a 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,
no that this prccaution had been neces-
sary TOR the safety Of himself and 9TH
To-, hn Of hn Of "a
CONN; beside ii stood chair. The
room was otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself out in the
coffin.
BE kind enough to tell Miss Barbara
], is very good fit he said.
The boy went out and shut the door,
leaving the young gunsmith alone In
me dark.
Meanwhile, Barbara was talking with
lhe big blacksmith in the sitting-room.
Barney" said she, pulling her
hand away from his grasp when he
would have kissed her, II have a test
10 put you to before give you an an.
swer. There is corpse lying in the
chamber where my grandsirc died, in
the untenanted wing of the house. II
you dare sit with it all night, and let
soothing drive you away from your post
you will not ask me again in vain"
you will give me a light and bot
tIe of wine and a book 10 readP"
Nothing"
"Are these all the conditions you
can offer me, Barbara
"All. And il you are frightened,
you need never look me in the face
again"
SO Barney was conducted to his post
by the lad, who had been instructed in
Me secret, and whose involuntary start
NJ Ernes.'s placid face as he lay in the
coffin was attributed by Barney to the
natural awe of 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.
Have you changed your mind, Bar
Aarap" he asked.
mo. and shall not, either, until |
know that you can do really brave
thing"
What shall it beP swear to salts
y YOU"
4