The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-05-16
BRAVERY AND
COWARDICE
Peculiar Weakness of Two
Men and Its Explanation.

ty) have given nee many l--UStl dtioao
showing that faculties which we have
long considered part Of the soul are
simply the result of cerebral mechan-
zeal contrivances. The instan{ es OF
Eben Roach and Chauncey Drew, pa
tients of mine, make a 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 I'm
Branagan, a man of far greater weight
and strength, for insulting Lucy In
sley and how Eben thereby won Lucy s
love. 1t did not seem to make any dit
ference to him how much danger ne
encount ered. 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 Chen was returning
home after visiting his betrothed ne
was struck on the head from behind
with a sanGbag and robbed. After
y
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 a locomotive ana
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 f1oated
down, wringing his hands. instead or
jumping in after her. Chauncey Drew.
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 a NAH 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 unified
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.
p01 II a
had often been told by his physician
that he must take more re- # or he
would breal, down. After d prolonged
case in court. which worried him
greatly and finally went AGAINST him.
he did break down. His nerves were
unstrung.
Meanwhile Fken 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 th"on'~h, One
day while he was passing 4 house thu
was being built brick fell and struck
him on the head He was taken to Il
hospital. where it was discovered that
his skull had been fractured 1t was
trepanneJ. and he recovered
Eben had been discharged from the
hospital about a week when he hPa"C?
that his old sweetheart was hetrothed
to Chauncey Drew. The s.ene of Lucy
floating in the water. Chau"cey plung-
ing in ard saving her while he fFhen)
stood wrin~ing his hands. came IN be-
fore him. and he could net understa nd
how he could have shown sch cow
ardice. The more he th0u@h+ about 1t
and brooded over Chauncev taking his
place the more irritated he became.
Finally he determined to GO back to
Lucy and MAZE an effort to redeem
himself. ChaunceY had reco~ered his
health. At least it was SUPPOSED he
had. though there had heen 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 Ehen.
Il have lost your love and you by
failing to act in an emergency. | can
not t. understand my cowardice on
that occasion. Give me a chance to
show that am at least not inferior to
other men. chen, if you desire it,
will give yor up to this man who has
come between u.s.
Lucy sat mute. looking first at Eben.
then at Chaancey.
ut is al over between you and
Lucy" said the latter. "YCu have no
right after your cowardly desertion Of
her when her life was in danger to
come back here to interfere with her
happiness
I'VE will prove" said Eben resoute-
~, which is the drawer man. Take
this" handing him a revolver. Il will
stand against the wall Fire six shots
as near my body as you like
Il will do no such thing" said
thauncey. trembling
Then leave the room or | will
Tossing aside his weapon. he ad
vanced with clinched fists upon Chaun-
cey. Eben's will power had been re-
stored. while that of Chauncey was