The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-04
BARBARA' SSEYERE TEST

Pretty Barbara Ferros would not
marry. Her mother was in constorna-
ton.
"why are yousO stubborn, Barbara2"
she asked. "You have plenty Of lovers"
81 want, when marry, man who is
brave, equal to any emergency. Ill
giveup my liberty l want to be taken
care Of"
"silly child! WHAT'S the matter with
big Barney, tho blacksmith"
"IIc is big, but 1 mover learned that
he is brave"
"And you never heard tina. no is not.
What is the matter with Ernest, the
gunsmith?'
"Ihere is little Fritz, the tanner; he
is quarrelsome enough for you sure%
"He is no bigger than bantam cock.
1t is little he could do ii the house was
set upon by robbers"
That night, Ernest, the gunsmtth,
knocked early Mt the door.
"You sent for me, Rarbara," he said,
going to the girl who stood upon the
hearth, coquettishly warming one pref
ty foot and then tho other
Eyes, Ernest, "she replied, Give been
thinking of what you said the other
night when you we're here"
Well, Barbara2"
~ want to test you"
"How?"
81 want to see if you dare do a very
disagreeablc thing"
"What is it2"
"Therc is an old coffin up stairs. 1t
smells OF mould. They say that Red
mond, the murderer was buried in It;
but the dcvil came for his body and left
the coffin empty at the end OF week,
and 1t was finally taken from the tomb.
1t is up stairs in the roam my grand
father died in, and they say grandsire
does not rest easy in his grave Tor some
reason, though that l know nothing
about. Dare you make that coffin your
bed tonight"
Ernest laughed.
as that ali: I will that. and sleep
soundly. Why, pretty one, did you
think had weak nerves Z"
Good night, then, l will send lad
to show you the chamber, said imper-
ious Miss Barbara.
Ernest turned straight way 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 a low chamber.
The boy looked pale and scared, and
evidently wanted to hurry away, but
Ernest made him wait until he had
taken o survey OF thereon by the aid
OF his lamp. It was very large and full
of recesses, 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; beside it was placed q
chair. The room was otherwise per-
fectly empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the coffin,
abe good enough to tell Miss Barbara
that it'sa 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 i'll the keeping
room.
Barney" said she, pulling her hands
from his grasp when he should have
kissed her, II have q test to put you
through before / give you any answer.
There is corpse lying in the chamber
where my grandsire died, in the unten-
anted wing OF the house. II 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 irwin. "
care these all the conditions you can
offer me, Barbara
"All. And II you get frightened you
need never look me in the face again.
"I'll take them, then"
So Barney was conducted tohispost by
the lad, who had been instructed in the
secret, and whose involuntary stare at
Ernest's placid face as 1t lay in the
coffin was interpreted by Barney to be
natural awe Of a corpse. lie took, his
seat and the boy left him alone with
the darkness, the rats and the coffin.
Soon after young Fritz, the tanner, ar
rived, battered and hopeful from the
fact that Barbara had sent for Him.
"Have you changed your mind, Bar
bard7" he asked,
mo, and shall not until l know
that you can do really brave thing"
"What shall it be2 1swear to satisfy
you, Barbara"
II have little proposal to make tc
you. My plan requires skill as well as
courage"
"Tell me-"
DWELL, in this house is man watch,
ing by corpse. Ho has sworn not to
leave his post till morning, II you car
make him do it l shall be satisfied that
you are us smart and as brave as re.
quire q husband to be-"
why, nothing is so easy" exclaimed
Fritz. 81 can scare him away. Furnish
me with sheet, show me tho room, and
90 to your rest, Barbara. You shall
find me at the post in the morning"
Barbara did us required and saw the
tanner step blithely away to his task
II was then nearly - o'clock, and she
sought her own chamber.
Barney was sitting at his vigil and SC
far all had been we'll.
The face in the coffin cleaned whitol
in the darkness. The rats squeaked
as II o famine were upon them and they
smelled dead flesh. The though made
him shudder. lie got up and walked
about, but something made slight
| noise M IL somahody was hahind him