Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1914 — CHOOSING A BRAVE HUSBAND [ARTICLE]

CHOOSING A BRAVE HUSBAND

Romantic Giri’s Method of Testing Her Lovers.

Marion Martin would marry none but a brave man. She had plenty of suit- • ors, but since there were no evidences of their courage she would not have any of them. Finally, fearing that she would die an old maid, she determined to accept John Knowlton, a fine look ing fellow, standing six feet two in his stockings, provided he would submit himself to a test. The next time John came begging her to marry him she told him that she would do so upon his giving practical evidence that he was no coward. He consented, and Marion told him to spend a night in the family 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 into the vault. Marion had no idea of leaving her lover to endure his watch unmolested. She had other lovers, who were to participate iu the trial of courage. Edward Larned, a chipper little fellow who was always spoiling for a fight, called on her by appointment as soon as she got home and was told to wind a.sheet about him and wall* all night back and forth past the family vault, groaning at intervals. If he held his ground till morning Marion would be his. Larned accepted the terms joyfully and. taking a sheet, went to the cemetery. He hail not been long gone when a third lover. Ernest Trevor, appeared at the Martin home. “What is it, Marion?” he asked. “I have called for you to give you an answer to what you said to tne on Christmas eve last.” “Well?” “I like you well enough to marry you if you will prove your courage. Go to our family vault In the cemetery. You will find it unlocked. Enter and remain there all night” “I will do no such thing.” “Are you afraid?” “No. There would be nothing for me to fear, but such an act would be senseless." “Very well; there are others whom I can marry who will not give such a weak excuse to conceal their real mo-tive-fear.” “You say that? By jingo. I will show you that 1 am not afraid to stay in your vault. But understand that I relinquish your hand.” Trevor went home for some blankets, thence to the cemetery, musing as he went: “What a silly girl! I thought she had more sense. Nevertheless, now I am in for it. 1 am rather pleased at the prospect of an adventure. Life is pretty (lull in this old town.” Before he reached the vault he espied a ghostly figure walking back and forth before it and heard groans. “What a little goose the girl is to put a man in a sheet to guard the place! Well. I’m in for it I must drive the fellow away or get laughed at in the morning.” Just as he was about to advance upon Larned the gate of the vault opened, and a -figure dashed out and away with the rapidity of lightning The ghost, after stopping to look at the flying figure, renewed its walk and its groans. “1 don't proftose to come out at the tail of this business,” Ernest said. “I’ve agreed to occupy the vault, and I can’t sleep with that fellow making those unearthly groans all night. El ther he or I must move on.” Larned suddenly received a blow in the back which landed him a 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 fled precipitately. “Now I think I 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 impatient to know whether the ripbwlfcl John Knowlton had proved himself a brave man. As she approached the vault and saw no one walking before it she knew that Larned at least had n->t won. Going nearer, she stopped and listened. There was the sound of a prodigious 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 bad relinquished her before doing so. “Ernest! Ernest! Ernest?’ she called, raising her voice with each call. Ernest awoke, yawned and saw the face peeping through the bars. “What do you mean by waking a fellow at this early hour? Go away.” And he turned over for another nap. “Come: wake up. I want to hear about—about the others.” “What others? I saw a ghost walking before this place when 1 came, and as I knew I couldn’t sleep for his groans I drove him away. I saw no one else except somebody who opened this door and dashed out” “ ' “Ernest,” she said after a pause, “did you really mean to give me up last night?” “Yes. How do I know but you would want me to come out here and sleep after we were married? I prefer a bed.” Marlon determined that she would marry Ernest Trevor willy nilly. and she did.