"But it isn't there," said I, Steeling my heart against the longing that tried to creep into it.
"A Fool and His Money"
George Barr McCutcheon
Steeling his grip on it, he pressed it in hard.
"Life Sentence"
James McConnell
And at that moment, as the town clock was methodically beating out the hour of five, she stopped abruptly, suddenly recalled to Massingale by the sound of his step on the stairs, torn between hope and fear, but inwardly Steeling herself against the shock of disillusionment which she was certain awaited her with the opening of the door.
"The Salamander"
Owen Johnson