The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-05-12
n Test
Of Nert'e

IOriginai.l
$50 your father insists upon your
marrying the big soldier, LisaT" said
the doctor.
.He does
aAnd you wish to marry that pale
faced boy, Hans, who dreams and
writes versesf'
81 love him."
"Well, my child, / must see what |
can do for you"
The next morning Colonel Yisher,
Lisa's father, received call from the
doctor.
II came to see you about your daugh1
ter" said the latter. "She has no dis
ease, and yet her health is not good.
Some mental trouble is wearing on
her.
Eyes; she wants TO marry that miser-
able poet, while / want her to marry a
thorough man.
"You. being a soldier, think all the,
bravery is among military men. This
poet may have more courage in that
frail body Of bis than your major"
IF thought that would give Lisa
to Hansp
"Why not put the two men to q
test?
II am agreeable to that
"And give Lisa to the one that stands
1t the better"
'eThen she win SO to the major, But
what test would you suggest doctorg
leave that to me. / will think Of
some plan, Come to my office at this
hour tomorrow, and ] will summon.
both the suitors TO meet you there"
Every we'll / viii DO as You say.
But you do not seem to understand
that soldier ii trained to disregard
danger. and the major will win
awe shall see.H
The next day Hans reached the doc
tors Office few minutes before the
others, the doctor having summoned
him a little earlier than they.
.Hans,e said the doctor, when ! was
boy / loved q little girl. There Is no
passion In childhood love; il Is abso-
luteiy pure. wish you to construct q
poem describing this love stealing over
me while / was sitting with my little
girl one summer evening watching the
sun set"
II will do SO tomorrow. But why
have you sent for me, doctorg
sBegfn the construction Of the poem
at once. 1t must be finished within an
hour. III it is successful Lisa may be
yours.
How so1H asked file boy, wondering
how a poem could produce such q re
suit
"Ask no questions, but do As tell
you'
Hans threw himself back into az
easy chair and il Imagination became
q boy sitting beside his child loy'
watching beautiful sunset. Colone
yisher came in with the major The
colonel cast a eontemptuous glance a
the poet. who sat staring at the new
corners with his great black eyes TIL
major. fine looking fellow, with !
strong face and military bearing
looked about him wonderingly. tn
doctor brought something, evidently
box. covered with cloth from close
and set 1t on d stool In the middle 9
the room. AS soon as II was IN plao
he withdrew the cloth. exposing a glas
case in which was d rattlesnake. Th
viper was darling his vicious eyes froI
one to the other, showing at the sam
time his venomous tongue.
"Major,o said the doctor. my frient
Colonel Yigher before giving you b
daughter desires to test your Drawer.
There is a rattlesnake so confined th'
he Is harmless. DO you think 30
could place your hand on the glassan
let him strike at it without Withdraw
ing it,"
The major stepped forward as II
perturbably as he had entered upS
many duty on the field Of battle al
placed bis hand on the glass. The Sc
pent made spring for Il, thumplI
the glass. The major jerked away b
hand as il he had been bitten Coloril
with modification, he placed 1t SC
ond time on the glass and withdrew
as quickly as before. Again and aga
lie tried it and every time failed.
'That will do, said the doct'
''Hans. come here"
Hans arose and came forward
"Put your hand on the glass" 50
the doctor.
Hans mechanically stretched for
his hand and rested 1t upon the gla
The serpent struck at 1t, but Hans "
in d dream and did not know 1t.
tsThat will do said the doct
aGentlemen, the object FOR which
summoned you has been accomplish,
Good morning"
The major went out smarting unC