Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-08-20
BARBARA'S SEVERE TEST

big Barney, the blacksmith"
"He is big, but never learned that he
was brave"
"And you never heard that he is not,
What is the matter with Ernest, the
gunsmithF'
"He's as placid as goats MILK
"There is little Fritz, the tanner; he is
quarrelsome enough for you, surelyT
"He is no bigger than bantam cock.
II is little he could do if the house was
set upon by robbers"
That night Ernest, the gunsmith,
knocked early at the door.
"You sent for me, Barbara" he said,
going to the girl who stood upon the
hearth coquettishly warming one pretty
loot and then the other.
"Yes, Ernest" she replied, "Pve been
thinking of what you said the other
night when you were here"
"Well, Barbara"
81 want to test you"
"How?"
I want to see if you dare do very
disagreeable thing"
"What is it?'
"There is an old coffin upstairs. 1t
smells of mold. 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 the tomb. 1t
is upstairs in the room my grandfather
died in, and they say grandsire does not
rest easy in his grave for some reason,
though that l know nothing about
Dare you make that coffin your bed to-
nightT' 49,
Ernest laughed.
"Is that all? l will that, and sleep
soundly. Why, pretty one, did you
think l had weak nerves."
"Good night, then, l will send a lad
to show you the chamber" said imperi-
ous Miss Barbara.
Ernest turned straightway and fol-
lowed the lad in waiting through dim
rooms and passages, up echoing stairs,
along narrow damp ways, where rats
scuttled before them, to low chamber,
The boy looked pale and scared, and evil
IDENTIFY wanted to hurry away, but Err
nest made him wait until he had taken a
survey of the room by the aid of his
lamp. 1t was very large and full Of re-
cesses, with high windows in them,
which were barred across. He remem-
bered that old Grandsire Ferros had been
insane for several years before his death,
so this precaution had been necessary
for the safety of himself and others. In
the center of the room stood a coffin, be-
side it was placed chair. The room
was otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the coffin.
"Be good enough to tell Miss Barbara
that it's a very good fit," said he.
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 keeping room.
Barney" said she pulling her hands
from his grasp when he would have
kissed her, II have a test to put you
through before l give you any answer.
There is corpse lying in the chamber
where my grandsire died, in the unten'
anted wing of the house. If you dare
sit with it there all night, and let moth
ing drive you from your post, you will
not ask me to marry you again in vain.
care these all the conditions you car
offer me. Barbara?"
"All. And if you get frightened yor
need never look me in the face again"
"rIl take them, then"
So Barney was conducted to his pos
by the lad, who had been instructed il
the secret, and whose involuntary stare
at Ernest's placid face as it lay in tht
coffin was interpreted by Barney to b.
natural awe of a corpse. He took hi
seat, and the boy left him alone with thC
darkness, the rats and the coffin.
Soon after young Fritz, the tanner, ar
rived, fattered and hopeful from the fac
that Barbara had sent for him.
''Have you changed your mind, Bar
bara?" he asked.
"No, and | shall not until know tina
you can do really brave thing"
"What shall it be? swear to satisf,
you, Barbara"
81 have a little proposal to make t.
you. My plan requires skill as well a
courage"
"Tell me-"
swell, in this house is man watchin;
by corpse. He has sworn not to leav
his post till morning. If you can max
him do it | shall be satisfied that yo,
are as smart and as brave as l require
husband to be-
"Why, nothing is so easy" exclaimed
Fritz. 81 can scare him away. Furnisl
me with sheet, show me the room, ant
60 to your rest, Barbara. You shall flint
me at the post in the morning."
Barbara did as required and saw tn
tanner step blithely away to his task. l
was then nearly 12 o'clock and che sough
her own chamber.
Barney was sitting at his vigil and s,
far all had been well.
The face in the coffin cleaned white
through the darkness. The rats squeaket
as If famine were upon them and the.
smelled dead flesh. The thought mad
him shudder. He got up, and walked
Brushes, brushes, white