CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1902-07-10
iHE SUCCESSFUL SvIIOO
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a brave man. She had plenty of sa,,-
ors, but since there were no evidences
of their courage she would not have
any of them. Finally. fearing that ste
would die an cid maid. she determined d
TO accept John knowlton. n fine look
irg fellow. standing q feet In his
stockings, provided he would submit
himself TO test. The next time Jo!:a
came begging her to marry him size
told him that she would do SO upon his
giving practical evidence that lie was
no coward. He consented. and Marion
told him to spend night in the fam.
lily vault In the cemetery. John did
not feel overpleased at being called
upon TO submit to such an ordeal. but
he went with Marion TO the cemetery.
which was near by. and she let him In.
to the vault. The door. which was an
iron grating. was left unlocked. II be.
Ing understood that John might leave
the place whenever he wished. As
Marion went away he stood looking AT
her through the bars. and she threw
him kiss.
Marion had no idea of leaving her
lover TO endure his watch unmolested
She had other lovers. who were TO par
ticipate In the trial OF courage. Ed
ward Leonard. a chipper little fellow
who was always spelling for fight
called on her by appointment as soon
as she got home and was told TO wind
sheet about him and walk all night
back and forth past the family vault.
grooming nj intervals. II he held his
ground I'LL morning. Marion would he
his. I.arued accepted the terms Joy.
fnlly and, taking sheet, went 10 the
cemetery
He had not been long gone when
third lover. Ernest Trevor. appeared at
the Martin home.
'Whut Is II. MnriUuE' be asked.
II have called for you to give you m
Christmas eve Inst
"WellT'
''I like you well enough TO marry you
II you will prove your courage. Go to
our family vault in the cemetery. You
will find It unlocked. Enter and re-
main there all night"
81 will do no such thing"
Are you afraidT'
"No There would be nothing for
me 10 fear, but such an act would be
.'Nery well; there are others whom
can marry who will not give such a
tive-fcnr."
"You say that? By jinGo. viii show
you that | am not afraid to stay In
your vault. But understand that re-
llnquish your hand"
Trevor went home for some blankets.
thence TO the cemetery. musinf as he
went: What n silly girl. thought
she had more sense. Nevertheless,
now am In for II, ain rather pleased
at the prospect OF an adventure. Life
is pretty dull in this old town"
Before he reached the vault he espied
a ghostly figure walking back and
''What little goose the girl Is to put a
man in sheet TO guard the place.
Well. I'm In for 1t. must drive the
fellow away or get laughed ut In the
morning"
Just as he was about to advance up
on Larned the gate OF the vault open.
ed, and a figure dashed out and away
with the rapidity OF lightning.
The ghost after stopping to look nt
the dying figure. renewed Its walk and
its groans.
81 don't propose to come out at the
tail of this business" Ernest said.
1--WE agreed to occupy the vault. and
| can't sleep with that fellow making
those unrar,hly groans all night. Ei.
ther he Ur | must move on"
Larned suddenly received n blow In
the back which landed him dozen
feet away on the gravel walk. Before
he could get up he was knocked down
again and again till finally. regaining
his feet. he ticd precipitately.
'Now | think | will turn in," said
Ernest and. going to the vault. he en-
tered and. spreading on the floor the
blankets he had brought with him.
sprawled himself on them and was
soon sound asleep.
Marion arose early and went TO the
cemetery. Her heart was beating very
fast with expectation. and she was I'M
patient to know whether the splendid
John knOwlton had proved himself n
brave man. As she approached the
vault and saw no one walking before 1t
she knew that Larned at least had not
won. Going nearer. she stopped and
listened. There was the sound OF
prodIglous snore. Surely that came
from the powerful lungs Of knowlton
Then she looked In between the bars.
and there was Ernest stretched out
fast asleep.
The man who had won her had r.,
llnquished her before doing so.
Ernest. Ernest. Ernest she call
ed. raising her voice with ench call
Ernest awoke. yawned and saw the