South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-10-24
Which Was the Coward {?
Will you bear that. EiwardY

addressed stood facing another person
ABOUT his own age, on whose flushed
countenauce was an expression or angry
dehauce. The name OF this person was
Logan. a third party, also a young
nan, had asked the question. just given,
In tote Of surprise and regret. Before
there was time for response, Logan
said sharply and Ia voice Of singing
contempt:
you are poor, mean coward, Ed.
ward Wilson. repeat the words and
IT there is particle Of manhood about
you -
Logan paused for an Instant, but
quickly added: You will resent the
insult
Why did he pause? Ills words had
aroused feeling in the breast Of Will
son that Instantly BETRAYED itself in his
eyes. The word coward, in that in
slant OF time. would have more fttingly
applied to James Logon. But. a
quickly AS the fash leaves the cloud. so
quickly faded the inlignant light from
the ewes of Edward Wilson. What a
fierce struggle agitated him for a mo-
ment.
we have been fast friends, James,
said Wilson calmly. But, even if that
were not 50, will. not strike you
You're afraid
L will not deny it. 1 have Away
been arrail to do wrong
Bah! Cant and hypocrisy !! said the
other. contemptuously
You know ne better than that, James
Logan; and am sorry that in your re q.
nj, Of i,pa,,inol
should so far forget what is Just TO 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 lie did not
attempt TO reprcss.
10 you call me liar?' exclaimed
Logan, il uncomfortable passion, draw
ing back his hand, and making a mo-
ton as if he were about to slap the 9th.
CT in the face.
The eyes OF Wilson quailed not, nor
vas the smallest quiver Of a muscle per-
ceptIhle. From some cause the purpose
OF Logan was not executed. Instead
Of giving blow, he assailed his an
taSouist with words Of deeper insult,
seeking thus TO provoke m assault. But
Wilson ives not to be driven from the
citadel in which he hal entrenchcd
himself
If am coward, we'll he said. Il
would rather be coward than lay my
hand IL violence on him whom | had
once called mY friend
At this moment light girlish laughter
aud the riuging Of merry voices reached
the ears OF our excited young men, and
the relation OF antagonism at once
changed. Logan walked slowly 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.
The latter, whose face was now very
sober aud pale, shook his head slowly
He made no other reply.
i believe YOU are a coward exclaim-
eel the otier impaticntly and, turning
off. lie went in the direction just taken
by Log N.
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 cover.
ing his face with his hands, sat notion
less for several minutes. How much
he suffered in that little space of time
we will not attempt to describe The
struggle with bis Indignant impulse had
been very severe. He was no coward
in heart. What was right and humane
lie was ever ready to do, even at the
risk to himself Of both physical and
mental suffering. Yet the consciousness
did not and could not protect his feel.
ings from the unjust and singing charge
Of Cowarlice so angrily brought against
him. La spite of bis better reason. he
felt humiiated and there were mo-
mcnts when he half regretted tho for
bcarance that saved the insolent Logan
from punishment. They were but mo-
mcnts Of weakness in the strength Of
manly character he was quickly him
self again.
The occasion Of this misunderstood.
ing is briefly told.
Wilson made one Of the little pleasure
party, from neighboring village, that
was spending an afternoon in a shady
retreat on the banks OF n mill stream
There we're three or four young men and
half dozen maidens and, as il hap
pens on such occasions, some rivalrics
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 i'm
patient temperament OF Logan carried
him little beyond good feeling and n
generous department toward others
without due reflection, vet in no sar-
castle spirit Edward Wilson made
some remark on some act Of Logan's
that irrita'cd him exceedingly. An
angry spot burned instantly on his
checks, and he replied with words OF
cutting insult, so cutting that all pre-
sent expected nothing loss than blow
from Wilson "a bis answer 20 tho re-
mark And 20 deal blow was his FIRST
impulse, but he restrained the impulse
and 10 required moro courarc TO do this