The St. Johns herald., 1901-04-13
. ONE OF THE OTHERS ;
. By Lawrence Boone. i
 (Copyriphted |
IL HONOR to the brave men who

Nor is there any danger that they will miss their reward; the whole nation sings their praises,
 There is, therefore, the less need that I should help swell the chorus. For, after all, there are others. And this is the story of one of the others.
 It may sound like a contradiction, but I shall always maintain that Eben Frazer was a hero because he did not enlist. He wanted to enlist. He was urged to enlist. He was ashamed not to enlist. He was exposed to the most seductive and perilous temptation that earth can offer to slow, big-1imbed, big-hearted fellow, such as he was and is. For he was-and is-in love, And his love bade him go. It was merely duty that bade him stay.
 It is often much easier to march in the middle of the procession, even to the cannon's mouth, than to swallow the bitterness of undeserved re- breaches 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 flinching. But really it is sometimes harder to live humbly than to die nobly.
 Eben and Claude had long been rivals, and Lola Tanning was the prize to win which Eben toiled and Claude schemed. They hated each other very cordially-and who shall blame them? It is too much to expect Christian charity from lovers. And Lola was, in truth, an attrac- tive girl. Even I, who did not love her in the least, must concede that. She was tall and fair and graceful. Her eyes were pale blue like misty sky, and her hair pale golden like watery sunset. It was not peroxide - though but for the kindness of nature it might have been. She was fond of dress, which is commendable; she was, perhaps, a little overdressed, which was inexcusable. Inborn triviality be- trayed itself in a superfuity of guards and trimmings; yet her beauty ir- radiated all her frippery. That her fair head was empty and her soft heart shallow I will not presume to add; for I may be prejudiced. You shall judge for yourself.
 Yet 1 thought it much to her credit that of the two suppliants at her shrine she cnose Eben. I must own that I was surprised when the en- gagement was announced.
 So she condescendingly wore the ring that he had chopped cordwood to buy; and he was permitted to call twice a week and sit by her side in awed and palpitating reverence, while she chattered away in a fashion that ought to have opened his eyes, but didn't.
 Meanwhile Claude was ''lively" after the manner of his kind. His liveliness was decidedly loud, in speech, in dress, and in action. It seemed to consist very largely in dissipating his money; for be had inherited a large farm, which he promptly mortgaged.
 q do wish, Eben, you had little more spunk and spirit" remarked Lola one day, as Claude flashed past on a trotter on which it was rumored that he had lately lost $500.
 DO you mean that you'd like me to drive fast horses?' exclaimed Eben, surprised and little shocked. "You know I can't affordi it if I wanted to. And I'm trying to save"
 ''You might at least drive something faster than an old plug of a blow horse," she interrupted, petulantly. "What's the good of slaving and! sav ing when there's money coming? If were a man like you I'd make a stir in the world some way. But don't be- lieve you do anything but chop wood and hoe potatoes"
 Yet it would be a mistake to conclude that Claude was wholly bad. He was not a sneak; indeed, his brazen frank ness was startling. His ''liveliness" was at least spontaneous; and exuberant vitality, even though vented in vice, is potentially virtue.
 What Claude most needed was less money and a proper outlet for his rest less, reckless temper. The first 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 man-hunt.
 Then came the war. What was more natural than that he should enlist? He did more. He raised a company and was chosen captain. Some shook their Gc h1r+ he hod c+r fol and those who jibed at his follies still rather admired his dash. It was ad- mitted that he had at last done some thing to redeem himself-and he had.
 Eben, as you are aware, did not en- list; and thereat everybody seemed surprised. This must have been be- cause he was so big and strong; men who look as if they could pull down mountains get harsh judgments with out common equity. Otherwisei il could hardly have been ignored that Eben's mother was a helpless invalid, entire ly dependent upon his daily wages. And his Cousin Jennie, who cared for her night and day, was also dependent, though far from helpless. This patient, energetic little miss was quite compe- tent to take care of herself, but not to take care of herself and querulous paralytic too.
 "You can't go, Eben, dear," she said. "You mustn't think of it. Your moth CT would simply shut her eyes and die in spite of me-"
 But Lola, trifie weary, perhaps, of mute Sunday evening worship, was dis appointed and indignant. She first taunted her lover with cowardice- "and you big enough to take Havana all by yourself"-and then taxed him with yet meaner motive.