Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-01-25
{ ONE OF THE OTHERS
: By Lawrence Boone.
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ccopyrtuhesdA
BY Lawrence Boone.

IuaC buoufu ncip bWcii tuC chorun>
For, after all, there are others. And
this is the story OF one Of tho Others.
1t may sound like a contradiction.
but shall always maintain that Eben
, Frazer was a hero because he did not
enlist. lie wanted to enlist. He was
urged to enlist. He wa ashamed not
to enlist. He was exposed TO the most
seductive and perilous temptation that
earth can offer to slow, blglimbed,
big-hearted fellow. such - he wss-
and is. For he was-and is-in love.
And his love bads him 90. It was
merely duty that babe him stay.
1t Is often much easier TO march In
the middle OF the procession. evep to
the cannon's mouth. than 70 swallow
the bitterness of undeserved re-
proaches and trudge on alone in the
rough, homely path OF duty. This is
no disparagement TO Claude Living
stone and the rest, who faced the
deadly volleys at FL Caney without
fiinching. But really Il 10 sometimes
harder to live humbly than to die
nobly.
Eben and Claude had long been
rivals, and Lola Fsnnin4 wss the
prize to win which Eben toiled and
Claude schcmed. They hnted each
other very cordially-and who shall
blame them? II 10 too much 70 expeot
Christian charity from lovers.
And Lola wns, In truth, an attrac-
tive girl Even I, who &d not love her
in the least, must conoede that She
was tall and fair and graceful. Her
and her hair pole golden like . watsry
sunset. II was not peroxide - though
but for the kindness Of nature II
might have been. She wss fond Of
dress, which is commcndabis; she was.
pcrhaps, q little overdrsssed, which
was inexcussble. Unborn trivislity be-
trayed itsolf in \ superhuity Of guards
and trimmings; yet her beauty ir-
radiated all her fdppery. That her
fair head was empty and her soft
heart shallow I will not presume 20
add; for I may bc pretudiced- You
shall Judge for yourself.
Yet I thought II much 70 her credit
that of the two suppiiants se her
shrine she cnose Eben. I must own
that was surprised when the en-
gagement was announced.
So she condescendingiy wore the
ring that he had chopped cordwood
TO buy; and he was permitted 70 call
twice n week and sit by her side in
swsd and palpitating reverence. while
she chartered away In fashion that
ought to have opened his eyes. but
didn't.
Meanwhile Claude was "lively" after
the manner OF his kind. His livelinesa
was decidedly loud, in speech. in dress.
and in action. II seemed to consist
very largely In disslpat ting his money:
for he had inherited = large farm.
which he promptly mortgaged.
II do wish, Eben, you had q little
more spunk and spirit. = remarked Lola
ono day. ms Claude flashed past on q
trotter on which IL was runored that
he had lately lost $500.
'Do you mean that you'd like me to
drive fast horses?" exclaimed Rben,
surprised and little shocked. "You
know can't afford IL IL I wanted to.
And I'm trying to save"
"You might st least drive something
faster than an old plug Of pillow
horse" she interrupted. pstulantly.
"What's the good Of slsving and saw
ing when thcre's money coming? III
were man like you Id make stir In
the world Eome way. But don't be.
lieve you do anything but chop wood
and hoe potatoea."
Yet 1t would be mistake to conclude
that Claude was wholly bad. lie wss
not q sneak; indeed. his brszsn frank
ness waa startling. His ''livelinsss" wss
at least spontaneous: and exubersnt
vitality. even though vented In Woe. is
potentially a virtue.
What Claude most needed was LEES
money and q proper outlet for HE rest
less, reckless temper. The Arst Of these
conditions was not far to seek. His
farm WAS forfeit; his debts were urg-
ent; his creditors were already begin
ming their remorseless msn-hunt
Then oame the war. What was more
natural than that he should enustf He
did more. He raised q company and
was chosen captain. Some shook their
heads, but he had . strong following.
and those who jibed At his follies still
rather admired his dAsh. II wac Ad-
mitted that he had At last done some
thing to redeem himself-And he had.
Eben. as you ARE aware. did not en-
hist; and thereat everybody seemed
surprised. This must have bsen be-
cause he was so big and strong: men
who look as II they could pull down
mountains get harsh judgments with
out common equity. Otherwise Il could
hardly have been ignored that Eben's
mother was helpless invalid. entire
ly dependent upon his daily wages. And
his Cousin Jennie. who cared for Ass
night and day, was also depsndent
though far from helpless. This patient
energetic little miss was quite comps.
tent to take care OF herself. but n OF 10
take care OF herself and a qusrulous
| parnfytic t0o