Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-12-17
A STUDY IN
COURAGE
tOriginal.1


Ical contrivances. The instances o.
Chen Roach and Chauncey Drew, pa
tients of mine, make case in point
forming as well a remarkable coinci
Hence.
Eben Roach was accounted the most
fearless young fellow in his village
His early associates to this day re
member the thrashing he gave Tim
Branagan, man of far greater weight
md strength, for insulting Lucy ms
ley. and how Eben thereby won Lucy's
love. 1t did not seem to make any diff.
ference to him how much danger he
encountered, except that the greater
the danger the greater the zest with
which he faced it. He could not have
long stood up under Branagan's pom
derOus blows. He simply. cOwed his
antagonist by his wonderful courage.
One night when Eben was returning
home after visiting his betrothed he
was struck on the head from behind
with sandbag and robbed. After
that he was Il very different man. The
first any one knew of change in him
was after it was supposed that he had
entirely recovered. He and Lucy were
driving home from making some pur-
chases for the wedding outfit. The
horse took fright at locomotive and
backed to the edge of stream. Eben,
white rs chalk, jumped out and left
Lucy to be precipitated into the water.
Then when she implored him to save
her from drowning he walked along
| the bank. following her as she hoated
! down. Wringing his hands, instead of
/ jumping in after her. Chauncey Drew.
n young lawyer. who was passing,
plunged in and pulled the girl out
Lucy declared that ii would be folly
to tie Herself for life to Il man who
was incapable of protecting her. She
was at loss to understand the change
in Eben, for at that time no one real
lied that the sandbagging had any
thing to do with it. Reluctantly she
broke off with him. and he, crushed at
his want of courage left the town
Chauncey Drew after the episode Of
saving Lucy made frequent visits to
her. She had given her heart to Eben,
and now that he had proved untitled
for a husband she could not easily turn
over the love she had borne him to an
other. However, Drew was fine
young man, good match, and, hay
ing offered himself, Lucy accepted
him.
Drew was very hard worker. He
had often been told by his physician
that he must take more rest or he
would break down. After a prolonged
case in court. which worried him great
ly and finally went against him. he did
break down. His nerves were un.
strung. and he was more like sick
old woman than the vigorous man he
had been.
Meanwhile Eben Roach wandered
from one place to another, accomplish
ing nothing. 1t seemed impossible for
him to get up sufficient nerve or inter-
est to carry anything through. One
day while lie was passing a house that
was being built brick fell and struck |
him on the head. He was taken to a
hospital, where it was discovered that |
his skull had been fractured. 1t was
trepanned. and he recovered.
Eben had been discharged from the |
hospital about week when he heard |
that his old sweetheart was betrothed |
to Chauncey Drew The scene Of Lucy
floating in the water, Chauncey plung.
ing in and saving her while he (Eben)
stood wringing his hands, came up be.
fore him, and he could not understand
how he could have shown such cow
ardice. The more he thought about it
and brooded over Chauncey taking his
place the more irritated he became
Finally he determined to go back to
Lucy and make an effort to redeem
himself. Chauncey had recovered his
health. At least it was supposed he
had, though there had been a strain
on his system the effect of which had
not passed Off One day while he was
sitting with Lucy who should walk in
but Eben!
81 have lost your love and you by
failing 10 act in an emergency. can
not today understand my cowardice on
that occasion. Give me a chance to
show that am at least not inferior to !
other men. Then, if you desire it, |
will give you up to this man who has {
come between u.s." ;
Lucy sat mute, looking first at Eben, ,
hen at Chauncey.
at is all over between you and !
Lucy" said the latter. you have no
light after your cowardly desertion Of c
Ter when her life was in danger to {
'ome back here to interfere with her |
happiness" {
1--WE will prove" said Eben resolute-
Y, (which is the Drawer man. Take .
his" handing him a revolver. II will
tand against the wall. Fire six shots Z
S near my body as you like D
81 will do no such thing" said n
,hauncey, trembling. 81 have no quar- j
ell with you" o
Then leave the room or ! will'- s
Tossing aside his weapon. he adj !,
anced with clinched fists upon Chaun- i
cy Ebens will power had been re-
tored. while that Of Chauncey was -
till impaired Retreatlng to corner ~
he latter hid himself behind a sofa. II
Leave the house, both of you" said )
ucy. you have both proved your
Dwardice, and ! will marry neither Of n,
ou." ~
Lucy lnsley is an old maid. Recent q
: met her and learned OF her past
,lation to my two patients. tried to "
)nvInce her that their bravery and IL