, 1862-03-20
Which was the coward2 ?

| gret Before there was tine for q response, LO-
gan said, sharply, and in tone Of stnging con-
tempt:
"You are poor, mean coward Edward Viii.
Sonl repeat the words; aud il there is par
tcle of manhood about you"
Logan paused for an instant, but quickly ad-
ded, You will resent the insult"
Why did he pause? His words had aroused
feeling in the breast Of Wilson that instantly
betrayed itself in his eyes. The word coward"
in that instant Of time, would have more iItngly
applied In James Logan. But IS quick as the
flash leaves the cloud, so quickly faded the in.
dignant light from the eyes Of Edward Wilson.
What fierce struggle astated him for q mo-
mrntl
1--WE have been fast friends, James, said VIII.
s'n, cnlMly. but even il that were not 50.
will not strike you"
"Youre afraid"
"I will not denyit Ihave always been afraid
to do wrong"
"PSh! Cant and hypocrisy said the Other
contemptuously.
"YOu know me better than that, James Logan !;
and am sorry that, in your resentment Of All
imagined wrnng, you should so FAR forget what
sjuSt to my character as to charge upon me
such mean vices. reject the implied allegation
as false"
There was an honest indignation in the man.
ner Of Wilson, that he did not attempt to re.
pros
GDo you call me liart" exclaimed Logan, in
uncomfortable passion, drawing back his hand,
and making a motion, az il he were about to
slap the other in the face.
The eyes Of Wilson Quailed not, nor was the
smallest QuiVer Of muscle perceptible. From
some cause the purpose OF Logan was not exc.
cuted. Instead Of giving the blow, he asSaied
his antagonist with words Of deeper insult, seek
ing thus to provoke an assault But Wilson was
not he driven from the citadel in which he bad
IN 10 ched himself
"If ana coward, well" he said. al would
rather be coward than Law my hand in violence
on him whom once called friend"
At this moment, light, girish laughter, and
the ringing Of merry voices, reached the ears Of
our excited young men, and their relation Of an-
tagonism at once hanged. Logan walked away
in the direction from which the voices came /;
while the other two remained where they had
been standing.
"why didn't you knock him DOWN." said the
companion Of Wilson.
TIL latter, whose face was now very pale,
shnNk his head slowly. lie made no other re.
sponse.
"I believe you are coward |" said the other,
impatiently; and, turning of, he went in the
direction taken by L"gan.
The moment Wilson was alone he seated him
self on the ground, conreal,d from the party
whose voices had interrupted them, by q Ia &C.
rock, and covering his face with his hands, sat
motionlrss for several minutes. How much he
suffered in that little space Of time we will not
attempt to describe. The struggle with his in.
dignant impulses had been very severe. He was
no coward in heart What was right and hu.
name he was ever ready to do, even at the risk
to himself Of both physical aud mental suffering.
Clearly conscious was he OF this. Yet this con.
SciOusness did not and could not prntect his feel
ings from the unjust and stinging cha Sc Of COW
ariice so angrily brought against him. In spite
Of his hetter reason, he felt humiatrd; and there
were moments when he hAltrrgretted the Tor.
bearance that saved the insOlent Logan from
punishment They were but nIOments Of weak
ness in the strength Of manly character he
was quickly himself again.
The orcason Of this misunderstanding Is
briefly told. Wilson made one Of little pleas
ure party from neighhOring village, that was
spending an afternoon in q shady retreat on the
| banks Of q millstream. There were three or
four young men and half dozen maidenS; and
rs Il happens on such occasions, some rivalries
were excited among the former. These should
only have added piquancy to the I'M rry inter
course Of all parties; and would have done so
! had not the impatient temperament OF Logan
.
generous department towards others. Without
due reflection, yet in no sarcastic spirit Edward
| Wilson made n remark on some act oI Logan that
irritRted him exceedingly. An angry spot burned
on his cheek, and he replied with cutting insult /;
40 cutting that all present expected nothing less
| than blow frum Wilson as his answer 10 the re.
mark. And to deal a blow was his first impulse.
But he restrained the impulse and it required
more courage to do this than to have stricken the
| nsolent young man to the ground. moment
or two Wilson struggled with himself, and then
turned off and marched slowly away.
His flushed and then pale face, his quivering
lips and unsteady eyes, left on the minds Of all
who Witnessed the scene, an impression some
what unfavorable. Partakng Of the in lignant
excl emeRt OG the moment, many Of those pre-
sent lonked Gnr the instant punishment Of the
unjustfable insult. Win, therefore, thy saw
WIsnn turn away without even n defiant an
swer; aud heard the low, sneeringly uttered
word, coward" from the lips Of L n, they
| felt that there was . craven spirit abOIt the
| young man. A coward We inStinctively des
pise and yet how slow we are to eleva'e that
higher moral courage which enables a man to
brave unjust Judgment, rather than do what he
thinks to be wrnng, above the mere brute in.
Stinct, which, in the moment Uf excits ment for
gets all physical consequence
As Edward Wilson walked away from his
companions, he felt that he was regard d as a
coward. This was for him q bitter trial; and
the more 80 because there was one in that grOuD
Of startled maidens for whose generous regard
he would have sacrificed al but horror.
Il was, perhaps, half On hour after this IN.
pL asanI occurrence that Logan, whose heart still
burned With al unf'rEiving spirit. encountered
Wilson uRlrr circumstances that lrit him IRE to
repeat the insulting lang Age, without disturb
ing the rest OG the party, who were amnsng
themselves at some distance and beyond the
range Of obarFvatioa lie did not Gneeeed in
obtaining a nernupal encounter as he had desired
/ FL - L. 49,. .aA.I.-.