The St. Johns herald., 1901-04-06
! ONE OF THE OTHERS ! I By Lawrence Boone. < X <
 (Copyrightedl

! 1neTe IS, CHC1O1OIe, the less neeC
 that I should help swell the chorus
 For, after all, there are others. AnC
 this is the story of one of the others.
 It may sound like a contradiction
 but I shall always maintain that Eber
 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 a slow, big-limbed
 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
 finching. 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 a 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 will not presume to add; for I may be prejudiced. You shall judge for yourself.
 Yet I 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 10 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 liyeliness was decidedly loud, in speech, in dress, and in action. II seemed to consist very largely in dissipating his money; for he 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 a little shocked. "You know I can't afford 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 goodsof slaving and say ing when there's money coming? if were man like you I'd make a stir in the world some way. But I don't be- lieve you do anything but chop wood and hoe potatoes"
 Yet it would be mistake to conclude that Claude was wholly bad. He was not sneak; indeed, his brazen frank ness was startling. His ''liveliness" was at least spontaneous; and exuberant even though venteG in vice, is potentially a virtue.
 What Claude most needed was less money and proper outlet for his rest 1 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 | E;ng their remorseless man-hunt.
 Then came the war. What was more ! natural than that he should enlist? He ] did more. He raised company and . was chosen captain. Some shook their heads, but he had a strong following, | and those who jibed at his follies still ra ther 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 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. Otherwise it could hardly have been ignored that Eben's mother was a helpless invalid, entire y dependent upon his daily wages. And ais Cousin Jennie, who cared for her night and day, was also dependent, though far from helpless. This patient, energetic little miss was quite compe- ent to take care of herself, but not to ake care of herself and a querulous oaralytic too.
 You cant go, Eben, dear," she said. You mustn't think of it. Your moth r would simply shut her eyes and die n spite of me-"
 But Lola, trife weary, perhaps, of mute Sunday evening worship, was dis appointed and indignant. She first aunted her lover with cowardice- and you big enough 10 take Havana Il by yourself''-and then taxed him with yet meaner motive.
 Wheelmen Urge Road Tax.
 The Michigan division of the League If Au7eriOaO IVbpalmeu ic r,reDo r;rcr