The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-08-09
The COWARD
BY FRANCIS A, sToUTENBuRcH

w. I'll
Clay entered his library. closed the
uoor and locked It. Then. with onor
getlc tread he made his way IN hi.
desk From one of the pigeon bo,os
ne TOOK a revolver. If was hi,,
wicked looking gun--44 caHber
capt Clay, retired. was a man win,
always believed himself to be- COW
ara at heart; but in a cnbine, IN his
library there was a medal which hoa
been awarded him for valor in ina
hS'd; there was also a letter from
PRESIDENT Mckinley promoting apc
commencing him for onspicuous bray
cry. And on the q Il was sword
given him by his on COMPANY. with
an inscription on tn blade testifying
to his courage, self-sacrifce and low.
atty.
Clay examined the revolver care.
fully. 1t was properly loaded and
ready to do the deadly work IL might
be called upon to do
Clay sank back in an arm cl lir. 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 o
few months previously; harassed by
| poverty that he was too proud &c
make known, he had sought the seclu
sion of his pet room surcease OF sor
row, an end to all the responsibilities
of life"
Il was always a coward" he NUT.
| tered, as he shudderingly looked down
at the revolver. yet somehow [ did
my work. When | charged the Span,
lsh breastworks at Palmas at the head
Of my men ! was in mortal fear of a
wound of some kind. | was the frs,
man inside the enemy's works. Men
| near me were cut down by machets
bayoneted or shot. was untouched
| My men never knew my fear; never
noticed my white face. In the heat
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 carried Sergt. Peters or
my back after he was wounded-car
ried him through a deadly fire, bach
in our lines-ah, ha!-that's where
won the presidents letter; but was
In agony lest some Mauser should sent
its bullet through me. But somehow
/ did my work,
"And now.'-he glanced again a
the weapon in his hand-''it may hur
me-" he unused, with something o
boyish petulance "Oh! | cannot bea
| the pain, in case it does not kill In
stantly; the crashing through my tbs
sues and bones and even though /
kill me. there will be momentary,
horrible agony.
"a coward | am, and always was
yet somehow l did my work.
| Racked by fit of coughing, he ne
ticed that blood had come on hi
handkerchief again.
Something prompted him to take tn
sword of honor from its place on tn
wall and put 1t by his side; TO gaz
once more upon the medal and I
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 IL
breech, he hastily emptied 1t OF 1t
contents: then picking up the poke
with a sharp blow he smashed tn
weapon and threw its shattered rem
nants into the dead embers OF tn
hearth.
"Now | am coward he exclaime
bitterly. Somehow before this :
ways did my work.
Then it was that the bright, nope
ful faces of his two young sons-on
of IA and one of 12-who were nea
Of hand at play with other boys, cam
nm before him, and their voices SCENE
70 saw. mo. no, you are brave ma
and no coward
smile passed over his wan race
what was that?' he asked
anyone in the ROOM? ~
He heard faint sigh; that sam
faint shappy little sigh that had com
from his wife as she died IN MS arm
but few months previous
His wasted right hand was ilite
from the desk wherein it rested b
lioln innisih,e hut supremely tel
der A kiss. Elusive, sweet and pea
inc in itself a message OF angeH
latitude and approval was presse
upon it. 49,, hair
The blood gushed forth IRON ihou'
J and nostrils and trailed in erlmso
stream across the letter from the nu
dered president which lay in MS Ia
No bullet caused it. 1t was the lal
bemorrhage. 1t was copious' 1t ", We
merciful: and it took him. I ne