Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-04-20
BRAVERY and
COWANDICE
Peculiar Weakness Of Two
Men and Its Explanation

ty) have given me many Illustrations
showing that faculties which we have
long considered a part ~ the soul are
simply the result OF cerebral mechan-
ical contrivances. The Instances Of
Eben Roach and Chauncey Drew. pa
tients Of mine. make case in point
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
and strength. for insulting Lucy In
sley. and how Ebcn 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 bis betrothed he
was struck on the head from behind
with sandbag and robbed. After
that he was 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 Il locomotive and
backed to the edge Of stream. Eben,
white as 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 fioated
down, wringing his hands. instead Of
jumping in after her. Chauncey Drew.
a young lawyer who was passing,
plunged in and pulled the girl out.
Lucy declared that it would be folly
to tie herself for life to 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 ne had proved united
for husband she could not easily turn
over the love she had borne him to an
other However. Drew was a fine
young man. a good match. and 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 prolonged
case In court, which worried him
greatly and finally went against him.
he did break down. His nerves were
unstrung.
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 he was passing house that
was being built brick fell and-struck
him on the head. He was taken to
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 a 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 (Ebenl
stood wringing his hands, came up be-
fore him, and he could not understand
how he could have shown such COW
ardlce. The more he thought about 1t
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 be
had. though there had been 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!
Il have lost your Aove and you by
failing to act in an emergency. can
not today understand my cowardice on
that occasion. Give me chance to
show that am at least not inferior to
other men. Then, II you desire II,
win give you up to this man who has
come between u.s."
Lucy sat mute. looking first at Eben.
then at Chauncey.
1T is all over between you and
Lucy" said the latter. "You have no
right after your cowardly desertion Of
her when her life was in danger to
come back here TO interfere with her
happiness"
1--WE win prove" said Eben resolute-
ly, (which is the Drawer man. Take
this" handing him revolver. 81 will
stand against the wall. Fire six shots
as near my body as you Ike
Il will do no such thing" said
Chauncey. trembling
"Then leave the room or / will
Tossing aside his weapon, he ad-
vanced with clinched fists upon CEaun-