The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-08-09
Once q Coward.

Go, get thee to thy task Conquer or die
1t must be learned learn it, then, patiently.
---
Once Coward.
r 1G -
1t was one evening after we had come il
from shooting that she said it. Iremembe
that. I remember also how cheerily thu
library window at the old Hall cleaned ou
to welcome us. making ruddy stain on thu
wet gravel. Didn't it look coy, too, after {
long firing day spent in trampng through
heavy turnip fields and stiff wet stubble
And yet there was a cozier thing than thai
before US soon.
My cousin Helen's face!
1t beamed out on US, lovely picture fran
ed in the dark, heavily carved doorway, a
bright glowing face set against bright
glowing back ground like the portrait OF
some medieval saint glorious face always
but when, as now, bringing the full light OF
its moist blue eyes and flushed sweet smiles
to bear on its fellow creatures, utterly ire
sistible.
One of our party, Ducie of Enderbeau
did not attempt to resist it. So completely
indeed, had that gentleman fallen under my
cousins yoke that I daily expected to hear
that, out of sheer gratitude for his worship
the young lady had promised to return him
that love, honor, and obedience which we
find mentioned in the Common Prayer Book
nor would the tidings have displeased me
l don't know how it would have been if
had wished to marry Helen myself; but
when fellow has got dear little girl Of
his own waiting for him he can afford to be
magnanimous about his cousins.
De plus, Ducie was one of my dearest
friends; one of those men who manage to
carry away every heart, male and female a
sort of Saxon Apollo.
He turned into the library at once, saying
something to Helen, as he passed her, which
made the flush deepen pinkily in her fair
cheeks; and Tom jackson and followed
CTS Devereux slipped up stairs to dress.
He was too great dandy to present him.
self to the fair sex under the disadvantages
of rumpled locks and muddy leggins.
Looking at Ducie, L fancied that the
said disadvantages made him rather more
handsome than usual. l wonder if he knew
it. The girls did, for they accepted most
amiably his apologies for our intrusion il
such guise Tom jackson said "as such
guys! J. and declared that we might have q
full half hour to toast in front of the fire be
fore going up to dress for dinner.
L fancy it was Devereux's absence which
turned the conversation on him. jackson
never could bear him, and said so, adding
like the broad, outspoken Yorkshireman
he was, that the fellow had no more cour.
age than rabbit actually WINGED every
time gun went off near him."
One of the girls rather objected to this
but Mary jackson took her brothers part
and gave us an amusing instance of Dever-
euxs want of courage in some mountain ad-
venture they had enjoyed together She
made US all laugh by the way she told it
and it was then Helen exclaimed, with q
scornful curl of her pretty lip, @
Il am sorry you told US. / never liked
Captain Devereux, but detest a coward"
Girls, when of impetuous dispositions,
sometimes use much stronger expressions
than they have any idea Of The bitter
word coodrd, flung like a shot into the
middle our little group by girl, produced a
momentary silence and began to feel an
noyed with my fair cousin for forgetting
tate giving her private lecture.
TO my unutterable surprise, Ducie saved
ME the trouble by taking the reins in his
own hands, and bringing up the spirited
offender with jerk. He had been leaning
against the mantel piece, gazing down al
her with sort Of dreamy admiration in his
dark eyes but now he Strengthened himself
as suddenly as If the shot had struck him
and spoke in dry, hard tone. which must
have been quite new to his beautiful young
hostess
do you think that is fair term to ap
ply to the gentleman in question, Miss Cur
tbs ?" -s -. 49, r..
Helen stared. She was not used to re-
Dukes from her lovers, and instantly resent.
ed this one by as dry and hard an answer
After what Miss Jackson has just told
us2 Yes. Mr.. Ducie, l do
Then 1 think you are very wrong, if you
will allow me TO say so.''
You do not wait to be allowed" Hell
en- began, haughtily then flushed up and
sotened, ike a regular woman. into q per-
sonal appeal But | could hardly make
allowance even for you. Mr.. Ducie, whom
We know to be a brave man, if you did not
hate cowardice at least as much as do"
81 do-hdte cowardice." he answered. with
an unwonted emphasis which struck US all
so much so, that | do not like even to
hear the word applied to man who proba-
bly, does not deserve it
But if he does? y. i, -. ~ ..-, = =.
81" You have no proof that Captain Deyer-
eux does. saaes - 81 ss ~ :
Not Mary's story? Oh, Mr. Ducie
getting angry again, and her blue eyes flash
ing impatienlly) can you not bring me tc
look at bad things with simplezindiffsren
The word may be ugly, the thing is mucl
uglier; andnot even your eloquence" tvery
scornfullyD a.couid make regard a coward
with any feelings but pity and contempt"
did you ever see picture 1t was in the
Academy some years ago. of Mary OF Scot