The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-12-04
FARMvILLE, VA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER H. 1903
BET WAS A DRAW.

Six OF US IN the party, ana ii Oel 81
men-grown men, mean, with growI
mems appettes-never made lest
rough house than We did.
1T was after the clock struck mid
night on Sunday that the converse
tion turned on superstition. We all
began telling what We we're ready tC
do to show that we weren't supersu-
tious. The last man won out, OF
course
I'm so little afraid of ghosts. be
said, that I'd as soon sleep in grave.
yard if there was one around here
I'VE pricked up our ears and ac-
knowledged that he'd the best of US
Sleeping in a graveyard seemed the
| limit-what?
I'm bet you $780,. came from a
man on the other side OF the room
that you wouldn't sleep in a grave.
yard for a great deal more than that
III make the bet, anyhow.
Whether he thought there was nc
| graveyard around, / don't know
Anyhow, the brave man took the bet
and began to ask the way to the near
est graveyard.
"'Oh, it's not far said the host.
Don't let that worry you. There's q
graveyard less than an eighth Of a
mile from here that has stood there
ever since the days the Indians used
to help ill it up every once in awhile
by descending on the whites and mas
sacring a few OF them. Never you
mind about the graveyard
THE terms of the bet we're formally
made The brave man was to pay
$500 If he was afraid to sleep in a
graveyard.
And alone, said his antagonist
/ It's TO be alone, remember
Sure. was the answer Of the
other.
After a short interval he started
out to find the resting place Of many
generations Of Long Islanders who
never expected It to be used for such
a purpose. We had one lantern, but
our host, who knew the way, led US
along without difficulty. We followed
him down the path Of the little coun-
try churchyard between the tomb
stones, white in the moonlight, until
he stopped between two inconspicuous
monuments.
That's a good place for you, said
our guide. That fellow on the left
there was supposed TO have murdered
six wives, but he was never con-
victed. The woman on the other side
was a pioneer who escaped the gal
lows only on account Of the laxity OF
the criminal courts Of her day. You
ought to be able to sleep well there
Its all right for me- answered
the brave man, who was still game.
I might as well sleep among the top
liners, so long as I'm doing II at all
Then he stretched himself on the
deep grass after folding his coat un-
derneath his head for a pillow, and
before the party had said good-by to
him the sound Of his breathing indi-
Gated that he was getting to sleep.
1T was a beautifully clear night,
very hot, but dry. We went back to
the house. but not to bed. We
stopped in the dining-room, intending
to stay there one minute. and re-
mained there for several. In fact more
than an hour passed while we waited
for the sleeper In the cemetery to put
in an appearance. Another hour
passed, and still there was no sign Of
him.
Let's go up to bed, the host sug-
gested in a husky voice that plainly
showed the need of sleep. Hes fool
enough TO stay here all night
Then what in the world will be-
come Of my s5O0? asked the man who
made the bet II he's Indian enough
to sleep there. l lose my bet
There was no sympathy with him.
He'd started the discussion. kept US
all out Of bed for three hours, and no
body cared whether he got his money
or not"
There's one way of saving II
yet suggested forgiying man In the
party, you told him he had TO sleep |
there alone. Now. II you should go
there and sleep with him, why
HE needed no more. Snatching up
pillow from a sofa in the hall, he |
started down to the graveyard. BY |
this time It was almost four o'clock,
and there was only a short time before
daybreak.
HE won the bet, at all events he
kept the other man from getting the
money.
1T was seven o'clock before any
body was called in the house. Only |
the host got up, and as there were no
signs Of the two sleepers then. he sent
one Of the men down to the grave
yard TO find them. They were resting
peacefully In the thick grass protected
by the heavy shade OF the tree that
branched over the two graves. The
servant, as inexpensive as a we'll
trained servant should be under even
such trying circumstances. imper-
turbably awoke the two and told them
It was after seven O'Clock.
"The man who made the bet did not
have to 60 to work, and was stopping
in the country all day Monday. But
even his host was going to town. and
he had to come along. too. He slept
ftfully on the way to town and ad-
mitted that he felt a few twinges Of
but he deserves them, remarked
the courageous man who had first
dared TO sleep in the graveyard. for l
was done out Of that $500 II ever a
man was. IN. Y. Sun.
Boston Expedient.
Fidgett-Really. now, d. you think
there is any way whereby a man can
retain the respect Of his children?
]