The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-08-01
BARBARA'S SEVERE TEST

81 want, when marry, o man who is
brave, equal to any emergency. If
give up my liberty want to be taken
care Of"
Silly childl What is the matter with
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
gunsmithT'
He's as placid as goats milk?'
There is little Fritz, the tanner; he is
Quarelsome enough for you, surely!'
He is no bigger than a bantam cock.
1t 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
foot and then the other.
Eyes, Ernest" she replied, 1--WE been
thinking of what you said the other
night when you were here"
We'll, Barbara"
II want to test you"
Howl"
II want to see if you dare do very
disapeeable thing"
What is it?'
There is an old coffin upstairs. It
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 a week, and
it was finally taken from the tomb. It
is upstairs in the room my grandfather
dieI in, and they say grandsire does not
rest easy in his grave for some reason,
though that I know nothing about.
Dare you make that coffin your bed to-
Nip
Iest laughed.
is that all? l will that, and sleep
sOundly. Why, pretty one, did you
think had weak nervesS'
''tiood night, then, will send Lad
TO show you the chamber" said imperi-
o;is Miss Barbara
Ernest turned straightway and fol-
loved the lad in waiting through dim
rNns 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
net made him wait until be 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
81 this precaution had been necessary
for the safety Of himself and Others. In
the center of the room stood u coffin, be
SIDE Ii was placed chair. The room
Was otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the coffin.
BE good enough to tell Miss Barbars
TAFT it's very good fit" said he
The boy went out and shut the door
leaving the young gunsmith alone in the
dirk.
Meanwhile Barbara was talking with
t-e big blacksmith in the keeping room
Barney" said she pulling her hand.
from his grasp when he would have
kissed her, II have a test to put yor
through before give you any answer
There is q corpse lying in the chambe,
where my grandsire died, in the unten
xHted wing of the house. II you dart
sat with it there all night, and let moth
Ing Dive you from your post, you viii
not ak me to marry you again in vain
..Axe these all the conditions you cal
offer me, Barbara
AL And II you get frightened yor
Dted never look me in the face again"
I'm take them, then"
30 Barney wAs conducted to his pos
by the lad. who had been instructed i,
the seczet, and whose involuntary star
II Enest's placid face rs it lay in tn,
es1nn was interpreted by Barney to b.
nzeuxAl awe Of q corpse. He took hi
suat. and the boy Left him alone with tn
darknAas, the rats and the coffin.
soon after young Fritz, the tanner, ar
nxsd. Asttered and hopeful from the fac
that Barbara had sent for him.
Have you changed your mind, Bar
bnrzr be asked
NO, and shall not until know tina
yon can do really brave thing"
What shall 1t be? I swear to satisfy
yoa, Barbara"
Il nave little proposal to make t.
gon Ny plan requires skill as we'll a
eourage."
Tell me-"
Well, In this house is q man watchins
By . corpse. He has sworn not to leav,
has post Till morning. II you can maxi
him DO It shall be satisfied that 70,
sse . smart and as brave as require
hsaaand 70 be-"
hys nothing Il 20 easy exclaime,
Gkxkx AZ en- scsxe him awav Frr-,;s,
meN1eA = shest, show me- thu room. an.
Dn1s4Qw nsst Barbara. You shali An.