Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-19
Which Was The Coward.

"Will you bear that, Caldwell ?"
The young man to whom this was ad
dressed, stood facing another person
about his own age, on whose flushed coun
tenance was an expression of angry def
anoe. The name of this persoa was Logan
third party, also a young man, had
asked the question, just given, in a tone
of surprise and regret. Before there was
time for response, Logan said in a voice
of stinging contempt:
you are poor, mean coward, Caldwell
Wilson l repeat the words; and il
there is any manhood in you"
Logan paused for an instant, then quick.
added "You will resent the insult"
Why did he pause? His words had
,roused feeling in the breast of Wilson
hat instantly betrayed itself in his eyes
The word Coward" in that instant OF
lime, would have more fttipgly applied
o James Logan. But, SO quickly as the
& ISL leaves the cloud, so quickly faded
he indignant light from the eyes of Cad
we'll Wilson. What fierce struggle sgi-
.ated him for the moment
"We have been fast friends, James,
laid Wilson, calmly. But even if that
were not so, 1 will not strike you"
you're afraid"
81 will not deny it. | have always
been afraid to do wrong"
"Pah ~ said the other contemptuously.
"You know me better than that, James
Logan and am sorry that in your re-
sentiment of an imagined wrong. you
should so far forget what is just in my
character as to charge upon me such mean
vices. reject the implied allegation as
false"
There was an honest Indignation in the
manner of Wilson that he did not attempt
to repress
do you call me liar ?" exclaimed
Logan, in uncomfortable passion, drawing
back his hand, and making a motion as it
he were about to clap the other in the
face.
The eyes of Wilson quailed not, nor
was the smallest culver of a muscle per-
ceptible. From some cause the purpose
OF Logan was nnexe uted. Instead of
giving blow, he assaulted his antagonist
with words of deeper insult, seeking thus
to provoke an assault. But Wilson was
not to be driven from the citadel in which
hs had entrenched himself.
"If 1 am coward, well,' he said. 81
would rather be coward, than lay my
hand in violence on him whom I had
once called friend"
At this moment light, girlish laughter,
and the ringing of merry voices reached the
ears of our excited young men, and their
relation OF sntagonism at once changed.
Logan walked away in the direction from
which the voices came; while the other
two remained where they had been stand
ing.
"Why didn't you knock him down ?"
said the companion of Wilson.
The latter, whose face was now very
sober and very pale, shook his head slow
ly. He made no other response.
81 believe you are coward !" exclaimed
the other impatiently; and turning off,
ne went in the direction taken by Logan.
The moment Wilson was alone he seat
I'd himself on the ground, concealed from
he party whose voices had interrupted
hem by large rock, and covering his
face, sat motionless for several minutes.
How much he suffered in that little space
# time we will not endeavor to describe.
The struggle with his indignant impulses
had been very severe. 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 was
he of this. Yet this consciousness did not
and could not protect his feelings from the
unjust and singing charge of cowardice
70 angrily brought against him. In spite
OF his better reason he felt Inundated
and there were moments when he half re-
GREETED the forbearanee that saved the in
solent Logan from punishment. They
were but moments of weakness in the
strength of manly character he was
quickly himself again.
The occasion of this misunderstanding
is briefly told. Wilson had made one Of
little pleasure party from neighboring
village, that was spending the afternoon
in shady retreat on the banks of mill
stream. There were three or four young
men and half a dozen maidens and, as il
happens on such occasions, some riyalries
were excited among the former. These
should only have added piquancy to the
merry intercourse of all parties; and
would have done so. had not the impa.
tent temperament of Logan carried him
little beyond good feeling and gener-
GUS department toward others. Without