Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-03-14
WHICH WAS THE COWARD =!

Will You bear that, Edward 2"
The young man to whoa this was adj
dressed, stood facing another person
about his own age, on whose flushed
countenance was all expression of angry
defiance. The name of this person was
Logan. A third party, also young
man, had asked the question, just given,
in n tone of surprise and regret. Be
fore there was time for a response,
Logan said sharply, and in voice of
singing contempt
You are poor, mean coward, Ed
ward Wilson | repeat the words and
if there is a particle of manhood about
you"
Logan paused for an instant, but
quickly added
You will resent the insult"
Why did he pause? His words had
aroused Il feeling in the breast of Viii
son that instantly betrayed itself in his
eyes. The word coward, in that in
stant OF time, would have more fittingly
applied toJames Logan. But, as quickly
rs the flash leaves the cloud, so quickly
faded the indignant light from the eyes
of Edward Wilson. What fierce strllg-
gle agitated him for the anoment
We have been fast friends, James, :"
SAID Wilson, calmly. but, even if
that were not so, I will not strike you. :"
You re afraid"
81 will not deny it. I have always
been afraid to do wrong"
"Pah Can't and hypocrisy % said
the other, contemptuously.
You know me better than that
James Logan and | am sorry that, in
your resentment Of an imagined wrong,
you should 50 far forget what is lust 10
my character as to charge upon me such
mean vices. / reject the implied ale
CATION as false"
There was an honest indignation in
the manner of Wilson, that he did not
attempt to repress.
Logan, III uncomfortable passion, draw
ing back his hand, and making motion
as II he We're about to slap the other in
the face.
The eyes Of Wilson quailed not, nor
was the smallest quiver of Il muscle per-
cepelole. From some cause the pur-
pose OF Logan WAS not executed. In
stead OF giving blow, he assailed his
ANTAGONIST with words of deeper insult
seeking thus to provoke an assault
But wilson was not to be driven from
the citedal in which he had entrcncbed
himself.
If I am a coward, well," he said.
would rather be a coward, than lay
my hand in violence on him whom had
once called friend"
At this moment light girlish laughter
and the raging of merry voices reached
the ears OF our excited young men, and
their relation of antagonism at once
changed. Logan walked away in the
b direction from which the voices came.
while The other two remained where
they had been standing.
"Why didn't you knock him down 2"
said the companion of Wilson.
The latter, whose face was now very
sober and very pale, shook his head
slowly. He made no other response.
believe you are Il coward p ex
claimed the other, impaticntly and
turning off, he went in the direction
taken by Logan.
The moment Wilson was alone he
seated himself on the ground, concealed
from the party, whose voices had inter
ruptcd them, by large rock, and GOV,
cred has face with his hands, sat motion
less for several minutes. How much ht
suffered in that little space of time We
will not attempt to describe. The
struggle with his indignant impulses
had been very severe. He was no COW.
ard in heart. What was right and hu
name he Was ever ready to do, even al
the risk to himself OF both physical ano
mental suffering. Clearly consciou,
was he of this. Yet the consciousness
did not and could not protect his feel
ings from the unjust and stinging charge
of cowardice so angrily brought against
him. In spite of his better reason, he
felt Inundated and there we're mo
ments when he half regretted the for
bearance that saved the insolent Logar
from punishment. They were but mo