The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-10
HIS BRAND OF COURAGE.

Ten of the boys at Hartford had left
their village and gone to the coast,
where the transports to the Philippines
were awaiting them There had been a
fine tumult in the town when they left
Vic Towne, veteran of the civil war.
made a speech, flags fioated from the
buildings, and the brass band was even
more than usually discordant.
Ten pretty girls wept at the depar-
ture of their lovers. 1t is true that
some of this love was of an impromptu
nature. It had not seemed fair to let
one of the fellows go away without
sweetheart, and the boys were nothing
loath to adding another emotion to the
many which they were experiencing. It
was fine to be a hero and to venture in
to the strange parts of the world at the
bidding of ones country, but it was
magnificent to tear ones self from the
fearful embraces of a beautiful girl SO
all the boys made a point of doing this
But the prettiest of all the pretty
girls of Hartford was not well satisfied.
Her lover had not been one of the he
roic ten. He was, indeed, comfortably
at home watering the front lawn of his
fathers place when she came along on
her wheel in the early morning. He
saw her, and called out cheerily:
Are you the early bird or the early
worm?"
But she was not inclined for persi-
ffage. She dismouted and approached
the gate with great seriousness of mien,
and he put the nozzle of his hose in a
pronged stick where it could do eXecu-
ton without his assistance, and came
to meet her at the gate.
Its a pleasant home to have, Curtis"
she said severely. Il don't think there
is a pleasanter one in town.
"Why SO serious about it?" laughed
Curtis White. II know it's a fine old
place, and 1 like it more than I can
@Oh, there's no doubt that you like
it!"cried Nan Strickland. her face flush
ing with sudden anger. ''Nothing-not
even your duty-can get you away
from it..
''Duty?" said he, stupidity. what
duty?"
so you haven't even had a prick of
conscience?" stormed Miss Strickland.
when you saw those fellows who have
grown up with you going away yester-
day it never stirred you to shame? You
can't see any essential difference be-
tween their behavior and yours. 1 sup
pose? 1 always thought of you as being
heroic. I don't think could ever have
have cared for you at all if hadr' -
"Why, Mani" gasped the young man.
sfYou astonish me. Do you think I
stayed at home because I was a cow
ard?"
L cont know why you StalQ at nome.
I only know that 1 feel ashamed of
you
but, Nan, let me try to explain. I
have never desired. q military life. Only
a few wars in the whole history of the
world have. seemed justifable to me
think should die if I killed a man. I
can never get it out of my head that
Thou shalt not kill ought to be taken
literally. And, really, l would find it
easier to be a sheriff and execute a
criminal. detestable and horrible as such
a task would be to me, than to shoot
down innocent men, who would proba-
bly, be engaged in some cause which
seemed righteous to them. firmly be-
Heve that war will cease when society
| becomes more cultivated"
The finest men in the world have
been proud to go to battle, Curtis. It
never seems to me that man is quite
a man till he has put himself to the
| test in that way. A mans life doesn' t
| seem complete without such an exper-
fence. It's the proof somehow, of his
! masculinity. You have not the nature
| that thought you had don't want to
hurt your feelings. but I must own that
| I am disappointed"
Curtis White turned away and looked
across the green, well-kept lawn to his
home, where his white-hafred mother
sat upon the veranda reading.
II suppose 1 would be more Of a mar