The Topeka state journal., 1897-05-05
A WANT OF COURAGE.

was a coward, and we were both cow
ards Leban Adams and were lawyers
on opposite sides of a case. Adams case
was weak, and I ridiculed it, winning for
my client. We met soon after and quarrel
ed. He called me liar
AS that harsh word fell upon my ear
passion overcame me. struck Adams in
the face. His friends drew him away, and
I went out into the open air.
On the following morning q friend
named Watkins called upon me and pre-
sented note from Adams. opened 1t
and found it to be a challenge.
What should doS
What I ought to do was very plain. The
lesson of life which my mother had taught
me did not leave me to doubt. I ought to
have gone to Adams and made such offer
Of conciliation as one gentleman may
honorably make to another and if he had
rejected that could have simply turned
from him and refused to do a further
wrong to right the wrong already done.
But had not the courage to do that !
was a coward.
accepted the challenge
''The sooner it is over the better, re-
marked Watkins.
Certainly responded. ''Let it be
this very day, at sunset. upon the rivers
bank. will send friend to you to make
"And the weaponss''
"Pistols"
And so it was fixed.
An hour afterward found John Price,
a young physician, who agreed to act as
my second. He did not urge me to abandon
the idea, nor did he enter upon the work
as though he loved it, but he did it be-
cause he faneied I was determined.
knew that Adams was a good shot, and he
knew that I was the same, for we had
practiced together; so there was no adYan-
tage to either in the weapons.
After dinner Price came to me and told
me that all was arranged.
After Price had gone I sat down and
wrote two letters. What a coward I was
to write thenI One was to my mother
and the other to the girl who had promised
to be my wife AS 1 sit now and think of
that hour 1 shudder-the hour when
wrote to my mother and to my betrothed.
White Heart ledge was a high, perpen-
dicular wall CT granite rising above the
river, the top crowned with dark trees. 1t
received its name from a peculiar mark,
where a mass of white quartz appeared,
half way up the ledge, in the form of
heart.
Late in the afternoon was upon the
sandy shore beneath the ledge, and almost
at the same time Adams made his appear
anee. We were both anxious to be thought
brave men. He did not speak to me- nor
did I speak to him. Our seconds conferred
awhile together, and then Price came to
my side.
''Must this thing go on?'' he asked.
told him did not know how it could
be stopped. I lied, for did know.
He informed me that if I would make
the least overture of peace he felt sure that
Adams would accept it.
81 think, - he said, ''thet Adams is sorry
for what has happened. You struck him,
and he cannot retract''
"And he called me liar"
''YOu are both good shots, - added Price,
land if you fire together you may both
fall -
But dared not offer the hand of concil-
iation. told him was ready.
He went back to Watkins, and pretty
soon they measured off the ground-12
PAGES. We were to stand back to back,
those 10 PAGES apart. We were to turn at
the word Zone, raise our pistols at
1.-Two, - and at the word 'fThree'' we were
to fire. I caught the eye Of Adams as
took my position, and / was sure that
no angry passion dweIt therein. For an
instant the impulse was with me to throw
down my pistol and offer him my hand, but
had not the courage to do it.
Our seconds hesitated as though they
saw what was passing in our thoughts,
but we offered no word, and they proceed
ed. The word "Onel'' was given. I can
not tell all the feelings that came crowd
ing upon me at that moment. I thought
of my mother in her distant home.
thought of the scenes of my early child
hood. thought of my college days, when
Adams had been my friend and chum.
thought OF the holy love which had beamed
upon me since had grown to mans es-
tate, and I thought that in one short min
ute more the black pail might cover it all.
Watkins was a long time in pronOunc-
ing the word f'TwoP' He evidently hoped
that one of US would relent, but he hoped
in vain.
Only breath held back the last fatal
word. AS we raised our pistols a sharp,
agonized cry, as from a breaking heart,
burst upon the air, and in another moment
two light shadows fitted upon the scene.
I was a prisoner. Adams was a prisoner.
Our pistols lay undischarged upon the
sand
The two girls who loved us better than
we loved ourselves had guessed our secret.
Love has sharp eyes. Clara Wolcott knew
Laban's hot temper. She had only to whis-
per her suspicious to Mary, and two sleep
less sentinels were upon us.
In an instant resolved to be a man.
With the arms of my beloved still enoir-
cling me, stretched forth my hand, but /
was not in advance Of Laban. As though
one spirit moved US, our hands met mid
way.
81 have been a fool said Laban.
"And have been fool and a coward, "
I said.
We returned from the dark ground Just
as the day was softening into twilight,
and from that hour Adams and myself
were fast friends, and they who had saved
US from the great crime entered upon the
life path with us and have blessed us ever
since.-Exohange
Knew Better.
nuriOO a food SoTne vaarr on sava =