Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-10-08
No. 70.
BARBARA'S TESTS.

lovers
4 want, when I marry, a man who is
braye, equal to any emergency. If l
give up my liberty want to be taken
care of.
Silly child What is the matter
with big Barney, the blacksmith p
He is big, but I never learned that
he was brave
'And you never heard that he was
not. What is the matter with Ernest,
the gunsmlth p
Hes as placid az goats milk
There is Little Fritz, the tanner he
is quarrelsome enough for you, surely.
Gle is no bigger than bantam cock.
It is little he could do If the house was
set upon by robbers
That evening Ernest, the gunsmltA,
knocked early at the door.
You sent for me, Barbara, he said,
going to the girl who stood on the
hearth, coquettishly warming one pretty
foot and then tn eother.
YES, Ernest, she replied. 'Iye been
thinking Of what you said the other
night when YOU were here
We'll. Barbara.'
4 want to test you.
'How p
Il want to sec If you dare do very
disagreeable thing
what is t?'
There is an old coffin upstairs. 1t
smells of mould. They say that Ped
mond, the murderer, was buried in it;
but the deyil 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 grand
father died IN, and they say my grand.
sire does not rest easy IN his grave for
some reason that know nothing about.
Dare you make that coffin your bed to-
night ?
Ernest laughed.
is that all? | will that, and sleep
soundly. Why, pretty one, did you
think | had weak nerves.
Good night, then. | will send a lad
to show you the chamber, said Barbara.
Ernest turned stralghtway and fol-
lowed the lad in waiting thro' dim
rooms and passages, up echoing stairs,
along narrow damp ways, where rats
scuddled before them, to low chamber.
The boy looked pale and scared, and ey-
identity wanted to hurry away but Er.
nest made hlm walt until he took 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 was barred across. He remem.
bered that old Grandsire Ferros Rad
been insal.e for several years before his
death, so that precaution had been nee
cssary for the safety of himself and 9th.
ers. In the centre of the room stood
coffin beside it WAS placed chair.
The room was otherwise perfectly
empty.
Ernest stretched himself in the cof-
fin.
BE kind enough to tell Miss Barbara
that it's very good it,' said he.
The BOY went out and shut the door,
leaving the young gunsmth alone in
the dark.
Meanwhile, Barbara was talking with
the big blacksmith IN the keeping room.
Barney said she, pulling her hands
away from his grasp when he would
have kissed her, I've a Test to put to
you before give you ANY answer.
There is a corpse lying in the chamber
where my grandsire died, in the vacant
wing of the house. If you dare sit
with it there all night, and let nothing
drive you from your post. you will not
ask int to marry you again in VAIN
Are these all the conditions you can
offer me, Barbara ?
All. And If you get frightened you
need meyer look me IN the face again.'
I'll take them, then
So Barney was conducted to his post
by the lad, who had bee instructed in
the secret, and whose involuntary stare
at EArnests face us it lay in the coffin
was interpreted by Barney tc be the
natural awe of a corpse. He took bis
seat, and the boy left him alone with
darkness, the rats and the coffin.
Soon after young Fritz, the tanner,
arrived, tlattered and hopeful from the
fact that Barbara had sent for him.
'Haye you changed your mind, Bar
bara?' he asked.
No, and l shall not until | know
that you can do really brave thing.
'Wuat shall it be? | swear to salts
fy you, Barbara. 49,. :,
4 have u little proposal to make to
you. My plan requires skill as we'll as