Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-11-25
WHICH WAS The COWARD ?

| HC NOubG iidh W "hOill tH'H "th' Nu
dressed, stood facing another about hi
own age, on whose flushed countenancC
WAS an expression of angry defiance -
The name Of this person was Logan. A
third party, also young man, had askpC
the question just given, in a tone of sur
prise and regret. Before there was time
for response, Logan said sharply, and in
a voice of singing contempt:
"Iou are a poor, mean coward. I'd
ward y Iison! | repeat the Words and
if there is particle Of manhood aboui
you"
Logan paused for an instant, bat add
ed You will resent the insult
Why did he pause? His word. had
aroused spirit ia the breast of Wilson
that betrayed itself in his eyes. The
word coward in that instant Of time,
/ would have more fitingly applied to James
Logan But as quickly faded the indig-
nant light from the eyes of Edward Viii
son What fierce struggle aggltated
him for moment
I'VE have been fast friends, James, "
said Wilson. calmly, But even # that
were not 50 | would not strike yon."
You're afraid
81 will not deny it. have always been
afraid 10 do wroug.'
"Bah! Cant and hypoc'.>y p sail the
other contcmpluou>iy.
"You know me better than that, James
Logan and am sorry in your resent
nent OF an imagined wrong you should so
far forget what is just to my character as
to charge upon mc such mean vices. /
rejec the implied allegation as false
"Do you call me liar, exclaimed Lo-
Gan, in uncomfortable passion, drawing
back his hand, aud making a motion as ii
he we're about TO slap Ia, other il the
lace.
The eyes OF Wilson quailed not, nor
was the smallest quIver OF a muscle per
ceptiblr. From some cause the purpose OF
Logan was not executed. Instead o! Civ
ing his companion blow, he asSail' d his
antagonist with words of deeper insult,
seeking ihu- 10 provoke AN assault. Rut
Wilson was not to be driven from the cit
ade in winch he had cnlrcnched himself,
"lf am cowarl, well, he said. Il
would rather be a ccward than lay my
hand in violcr1c on whom ohca called a
friend"
At this momcn, a light .rljsh laughter
and the ringing Of merry voice, reached
the cars of rur excited yoang men. and
their relative Anlagoni,msat once changed.
Logan walked away il the direction
from which the voices cane; while the
Other two rename ....r..g had been
,'an..ing
"}Ehy didn't you knock him down :"
said ihe compsuion Of wilson.
The latter, whose face was now very So
Der aad pale, shook his head slowly. He
made 10 other remark.
I believe you are a coward . eXclaim-
cd the other impatientiy aud turning off,
lie went in the direction taken by Logan.
The moment Wilson was alone he seat
cd himself on the gronud, concealed from
the party whose voices had interrupted
him, by a large rock ~sni covering his
face with his bands. sat motiomless for
several minutes. How much hc suffered
in that little space we viii not attempt to
describe. The struggle with his indignant
impulses had been very severe. lie was
no coward in heart. What WAS right and
humane he was ever ready to do. even at
the risk to himself of both physical and
mental suffering, Clearly conscious f
this was he. Yet the consciousness did
not protect his feelings from the unjust
and singing charge of cowardce, SO an
grily brought against him. In spite of his
better reason he felt Inundated and there
were moments when he half regretted the
forbcarance that saved the insolent Logan
from punishment. They were buL the mo-
menls Of weakness in the strength Of
manly character he was quickly himself
again.
The occasion of this misunderstanding
is briefly told. Wilson made one of a
little pleasure party for a neighboring
village. that was spending an afternoon in
shady retreat on the banks Of mill
stream. There three or four young men
and half dozen maidens ; aud as it hap
pens on such occasions, some rivalries
were among the former. These should
have only added piquancy to the merry
intercourse of all parties and woull have
done so had not the impatient tempera-
ment OF Logan carried bin beyond good
feeling and generous department towards
others. Without due reflection, yet in no
sarcastic spirit, Edward Wilson made an
remark on some act of Logan. that irrita-
ed him considerably An angry spot
burned instantly on his check, and he re-
piled with words Of cutting, so cutting that
all present expected nothing less than a
blow from Wilson as his answer to the re-
mark. But he restrained the impulse, and
it required more courage to do this than to
have stricken the young man 10 the
ground. A moment or two Wilson strug-
ged with himself, and then turned off and
marched slowly away. r
His flushed and then paling face, his
quivering lips and unsteady eyes, left ou
the mind of those who witnessed it, an eX
preston somewhat unfavoTabIe. Parlak
ing of the indignant excitement OF the mo
ment, many OF those present looked tol
the instant punishment for MS unjnstifs
bic insu,t NheU therefore. they saN