The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1905-12-08
WHICH OF
THE THREE
By JANE CARR

90 RANER1, SAID the clergyman
d in his pedantic tones. is full
realization of danger, and yet willing
ness TO face the difficulty or the death
that providence has seen fit to place in
the road
The soldier laughed out of his cyni-
cism, and, turning to the third travel
ing companion. he asked pointedly: is
that your definition of heroism?'
The man who had not spoken or
taken any part in the conversation
looked up with quick, sidelong glance
that had something of the hunted ex-
preston that one sees in the creature
wounded to the death, in the eyes of
the criminal before the trap is sprung
or the enemy at bay.
No" he said, slowly; bravery is do
Ing something for somebody else with
out thinking of yourself. Providence.
to my way of thinking, doesn't take a
hand in the game. Now, suppose"-he
shifted in his seat and his regard was
speculative and keen-'what would
you do if Jim Ruggles were TO come
right into this car and hold the gun to
YOuI nSdd-N0ulQ you t4C Ioi 1Sd ~
the man of cloth with a contemptuous
scrutiny-"would you preach little
sermon parson. or dig up your loose
coin?'
The exponent of holy writ flushed an
indignant scarlet. and. ignoring the
questioner, addressed the soldier of the
jovial, bland countenance.
Have you ever experienced fear
been conscious of the terror of unseen
things, by the laity called unexplained
phenomena, by the children of faith
the manifestation of spiritual power?"
The scar on the old soldiers cheek
gathered up into the wrinkles of his
smile, and with wink out of the corner
of his fearless eye. he replied soberly:
We'll, to shame his majesty the devil
by a truthful statement, | must con-
fess that | have. I'm an old fighting
man. I've seen the blood and battle of
the civil war and the sham blood-let-
ting of modern conquests and no mat
ter where I've been whether in the
thick of the real thing or when play
ing at arms down with the Cuban mig
ger, there it has always been-the sick
ness at the pit of the stomach, the
grip of the heart and the rise of goose
flesh all over the body. If that's being
a coward-then I'm one"
And you experienced that at the
approach of mere physical danger!
There was a covert sheer in the
unctuous inquiry, and the divine turned
his glance upon the veteran full of
lofty pity for such human frailty.
but you never baked or turned
heel. did you?"
The soldier smiled into the grinning
face opposite No he answered Il
thickest of it,
That's what l call bravery. The
mealy beggar without Imagination
never realizes what's coming and
sticks by the post, and if he gets killed
every one calls him the hero Now the
man who can keep from running when
he has the feeling of the ball stinging
in his breast, when all of the brute in
him wants to save his own life, when
he realizes the giving p in the wink
of an eye and when i IS healthy blood
pounds all through his Str0ng' ECgay.
when he can face the music of famine
or fire or sword, then don't tell me that
that man isn't a hero when he gives
up the game for the sake of some
weaker devil whose life isn't worth the
blowing out"
That's my idea" said the soldier,
beaming his satisfaction at such plain
speaking, its the brave man who has
suffered agonized fear and conquered"
Don't you think" said the clergy
man, stifly, that we might close the
window The sparks from the burn
ing snowsheds are rather disagree
able"
The three strangers sat for awhile in
silence, and the coach, empty but for
the casual acquaintance, moved over