Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-11-16
The COWARD
By FRANCIS A. STOUTENBURGH.

Clay entered his library, closed the
door and locked it. Then, with ener-
getic tread he made his way to his
desk. From one of the pigeon holes
he took a revolver. 1t was big:
wicked looking gun-44 caliber.
Capt. Clay, retired. was man VIII
always believed himself to be COW
ard at heart; but in cabinet in rs
library there was a medal which had
been awarded him for valor in the
field; there was also a letter from
President Mckinley promoting and
commencing him for conspicuous BRAY
cry. And on the wall was sword,
given him by his own company, witt
an inscription on the blade testifylng
to his courage, self-sacritce and 10y
atty
Clay examined the revolver care
fully. 1t was properly loaded and
ready to do the deadly work it might
be called upon to do.
Clay sank back in an arm chair, the
weapon in his hand.
In the last stages of consumption;
! racked by pain; grieving over the loss
+, of his young wife, who had died but a
| few months previously; harassed by
! a poverty that he was too proud to
make known, he had sought the secl1-
1 sion of his pet room surcease OF sor-
} row, an end to all the responsibilities
of life"
! 81 was always a coward" he NUT
tered. as he shudderingly looked down
! at the revolver "Yet somehow L ala
! nv work. When charged the Span
, ish breastworks at Palmas at the head
of my men was in mortal fear OF d
wound of some kind. l was the nrst
man inside the enemy'S works. Men
near me were cut down by MAGNETS,
| bayoneted or shot. | was untouched
My men never knew my fear; never
noticed my white face. In the neat
of the combat they took no heed OF
all this: but they cheered me after
the fight was won.
Then, again, that fight near the
river. when I carried Sergt. Peters on
nv back after he was wounded-caf
ried him through a deadly fire, BACK
in our lines-ah, ha!-thats Where
won the presidents letter; but l was
in agony lest some Mauser should send
its bullet through me. But someno"
did my work.
And now,"-he glanced again al
the weapon in his hand-'1t may hur'
me-" he unused, with something Of
boyish petulance. "Oh! I cannot beal
the pain. in case 1t does not Kill In
j, stantly: the crashing through my It's
!. sues and bones; and even though 1
kill me, there will be momentary,
} horrible agony.
ga coward l am, and always was
vet somehow / did my work.
Racked by fit of coughing, ne no
ticed that blood had come on MI
handkerchief again.
Something prompted him to take TN
sword of honor from its place on TN
wall and put it by his side: to gaz
r snce more upon the medal and t
take the presidents letter and sprea
1t acrss his knees.
These will make me brave man,
/, he said.
But these acts failed to summon u
the courage that he sought.
. He looked again at his revolver an
shuddered. Throwing open 1t
breech, he hastily emptied it of it
contents: then picking up the poke
: with a sharp blow he smashed tn
weapon and threw it's shattered rem
nants into the dead embers OF tn
hearth.
"Now am a coward" he exclaime
bitterly. Somehow before this a
WAYS did my work"
Then it was that the bright, hop
fin, faces of his two young sons-on
of IA and one OF 12-who were nes
at hand at play with other boys, cam
I'm before him, and their voices SCENE
to say: mo, no, you are brave ma
and no coward"
A smile passed over his wan face
what was that?" he asked. 6.
anyone in the room?"
He heard a faint sigh; that san
faint. happy little sigh that had con
from his wife as she died in his arm
but a few months previous.
His wasted right hand was lifte
| from the desk wherein it rested
| fingers invisible but supremacy te
der. A kiss, Elusive, sweet and bea
ing In itself message OF angel
gratitude and approval was. presse
upon it.
He leaned forward in his chair.
Il The blood gushed forth from mOu
q and nostrils and trailed in crimst
3 stream across the letter from the mt
dered president which lay in his la
s No bullet caused it. 1t was the la
& hemorrhage. 1t was copious; it w
q merciful; and it took HMM. Y. He
+ | aid