Courier Democrat., 1918-10-31
THE COWARD
BY ALICE G. BRoGAN.
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union.>


the tea room, and continue her shop
ping afterward. And perhaps the rea-
son for Annie's decision was a secret
hope that Grant Robinson might hap
pen to be there.
Often she had met him in previous
days, when, after their tete-a-tete
meal, they would wander happily away
together for matinee. Grant had
stopped to buy volets for her then,
and during enthralling moments in the
softly shaded theater, when the music
seemed almost to speak to them, he
had bent very low to look into her
eyes, but now-Annie sighed impa-
tiently as she hurredly searched the
crowded tea room-now, all was differ
ent. She could hardly tell when the
change had begun. but Its origin in her
mind had been the discovery that the
man whom she had made an ideal, was
but coward after all.
"A chain is only as strong as Its
weakest link" and If Grant Robinson
failed now in the crisis of his country,
If he had, as he himself confessed,
asked for exemption, what loyalty
could be expected by the woman who
gave herself into his care. Never in so
many words had he told Of his love for
her. Annie knew-as all women know.
The dependence of an invalid mother
was excuse sufficient-if excuse were
sought from service; but why had
John, the elder and more successful
brother, been permitted to go In
Grants place? Even as she listlessly
read the menu the girl asked herself
the question.
There could be no answer but de-
liberate shirking of duty. Grant Of
fered no explanation.
A broad figure blocked the sunlight
from the window for moment, and
Annie looked up TO see the object OF
her thought standing before her.
"This is pleasant surprise" he
said His voice had its old winning
charm; "may 1 join you?"
Coolly Annie nodded.
Keen1y from beneath his brows the
man studied her face; his own bore re-
cent lines of WEAKNESS. Involuntarily
her lip curled 'He was looking anx-
ious," so friends had told her; "wor-
ried for fear Of being forced into war"
She spoke crisply: "You applied for
exemption?"
eyes, Grant Robinson answered,
"and received 1t. Mother is depend
| ent."
$50 John went" the girl burst out,
"and you stayed at home"
The man sighed. II stayed at
home" he repeated quietly.
Then suddenly white-aproned maid
approached the table.
"Oh" she cried, "do you see the
people leaving There is fire I'm the
floor above; 1t is coming down fast
there will be crowds at the elevators,
hurry"
White-faced, she dashed away, and
Annie with trembling knees turned to
find the great room babb1e of excited
voices; tables were overturned as the
throng rushed headlong toward the ell
evator gates.
NttSl)lIlSlS, aHlllS pA1L OuI HSi hdhNH
to the man at her side.
Grant" she breathed
Calm and reassuringly he clasped
the hands in his
"The narrow stairway is already
!. dangerously crowded." he said. "The
one thing is to quietly wait our turr
here. Courage, dearest"
Even in her terror, the word brough
sense of JOY.
Hours passed, or could it be day!
and months as the elevator swung 81
lently up and down on perilous jour
ncys. Annie stood, her face buried OF
. her lovers breast, until the guart
cried sharply: "Three more" Thel
she raised her face. Grant and sh
were standing almost alone. Befor
them, man with his frail little wifi
on his arm.
The man and Grant exchange,
gIances, saying plainly: "Our womel
first"
"step in, Annie DEAR" directed he
lover and quickly she obeyed. Th
little wife frantically beckoned he
husband; generously he turned t
Grant; down an opposite wall creI
tapping tongue Of flame. Then be
fore Annie could realize what had hal
pened, Grant Robinson had graspe
the man by the shoulders, forcibly h
had thrust him into the car, the doc
{ banged shut.
The man, the frail little wife an
: Annie were gazing dumbly upward
where her lover stood smiling. B.
y hind him that threatening tongue {
g flame! But when. after agonized wal
ing he came to her there in the rope,
off street, his moke-blackened fac
was uninjured, his true, tired eye
q looked patiently into hers.
+ "Annie," he said. "you must beliey
q that I am not--n coward. Because
r touched me so deeply, could not di
Y cuss even with you my request for e.
e empton from service. One Of us hs
e to stay at homc-my brother or me
IS He laughed shortly "The blood Of n