The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-19
BARBARA s severn TEST
Everything Vas ioyely When the
Corpse So It's coffin.

she asked. s.You have plenty Of lovers .
want, when marry, a man who is
hsave, equal to any emergency. ri
give up my liberty want to be taken
care o. =
s'Siliy chilai What is the ,nattor Will,
big Barney, the blacksinithg'
lie is big, but never learned that he
was brave"
Sand you never heard that he is not.
What is the matter with Ernest. the
gunsnithg'
He's az placid as goats nilk?n
There is little Fritz, the tanner; he is
auarreisome enough for you, surelyy'
he Is no bigger than bantam cocL.
It is little he could do If tho house was
set upon by robbers. ?
That night Ernest, the gunsnith.
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.
Yes, Ernest, she replied, eve been
thinking of what you said the other
night when you were here
well, Barbara
Il want to test you
'sITow!''
Il want to see if yon dare do very
disagreeable thing
What issit?''
There is an old coffin upstairs. II
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 q week. and
= was finally taken from the tomb. It
fpstairs in the room my grandfather
in, and they say grandsire does not
teasy in his grave for some reason.
,<flough that / know nothing about
Dare you make that coffin your bed to-
nightY'
Ernest laughed.
Is that all? / will that, and sleep
soundly. Why, pretty one; did you
think / had weak nerves. s
Good night, then, / will send lad
to show you the chamber said imperi-
Gus Miss Barbara.
Ernest turned straightway and fol
lowed the lad in waiting through dim
rooms and passages, up ecnoing stairs,
along narrow damp ways, where rats
scuttled before them, to a 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 tho room by the aid OF his
lamp. It 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 coffin, be-
side it was placed a chair. The room
was otherwise perfectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the coffin.
BE good enough to tell Miss Barbara
that it's 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
sfTie big blacksmith in the keeping room
sBarney,T said she pulling her hands
from his grasp when he. would have
kissed her, II have a test to put You
through before give you any answer.
There is a corpse lying in the chamber
where my grandsire died, in the nnten-
anted wing of the house. II you dare
sit with it there all night: and let moth
/, ing drive you from your post, you viii
not ask me to marry you again in vain
ssAre these all the conditions you can
offer me, Barbara
.sAll. And il You get frightened you
need never look me in the face again.
ssrll take them, then"
So Barney was conducted to his post
by the lad, who had been instructed in
the secret, and whose involuntary stare
at Ernest's placid face as it lay in the
coffin was interpreted by Barney to be
natural awe Of q corpse. He took his
scat, and the boy left him alone with the
darkness, the rats and the coffin.
Soon after young Fritz, the tanner, ar
rived, fattered and hopeful from the fact
that Barbara had sent for him.
.'Haye you changed your mind, Bar
bara." he asked.
mo, and shall not until know that
YOU can do really brave thing"
sWhat shall it bes ] swear to.satisfy
you, Barbara.
II have little proposal to make to
you. Ny plan requires skill as wen as
courage"
Tell me-
ssWell, in this house is o man watching
by a CORPSE. He has sworn not to leave
his post till morning, II You can make
him do it shall be satisfied that you