Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-17
TRUE COURAGE.
BY MAURICE @. wALCH.

III really fear he is; though, how
ever, it does not matter much," re.
piled the Major, pulling at his CT
gar.
''But it does matter; at least II
makes a great deal of difference to
me. In what sense, may ask, is
he a coward 7"
"Well, he has refused to meet
Lieut.. Bardette, who, as perhaps
you are aware, has challenged him
TO a duel"
"What reason did he assign for
declination n asked.
ale said he was decidedly OPP
posed to those reneORtresj could
not and would not agree to it,"
81 see no particular indication OF
cowardice in that, / would do the
same thing. Surely you would not
brand me as a coward? Were that
the case would not have received
the medal of the Legion of France"
"NO, Colonel, you arenocOward-
you have stood bravely on nearly
every battlefield of the great war
through which We passed a few
years ago."
Every we'll Trevelle, my friend,
if you remember, was with us from
the first until the unhappy end.
He was also in Paris during the
latter part of the great siege, and
before these events he served two
OF three years in the American
Civil War under Gems. Mcclellan
and Grant. Now would you call a
man having SO brilliant a military
record as Trevelle's, coward !"
The Major was silent.
Perhaps he thought he had ven
tured too far, especially as he was
conyersing with an officer who was
his superior in rank as we'll as in
distinguished services.
The spirited conversation that
ushers in our story took place at
the barracks of the Sixteenth Fus-
ileers, situated just outside Of Paris.
There had been adispute between
the Lieutenants about trivial al
fail; harsh words had been exchang-
ed, and the hotter headed Of the
:wo-an impetuOus little French
man-lost no time in proposing the
"code of honor" as the most ap'
propnate means of settling the mat
ter.
It was, moreover, his determine
ton, not only to settle the matter,
but slsO his adversary.
lie was highly indignant when
informed that the hated officer had
not only refused to axcept his
challenge, but had actually kicked
the bearer thereof down a flight Of
stairs without further ceremony.
"Sdcrei He is Won grand cow
ard p exclaimed Bardette, stamp
ing his feet with rage.
The Frenchman consulted a mum.
Der Of his friends, and they agreed
to present petition to the com
handing officer, Gen. La FOnte, to
have Trevelle suspended for cow
aTdice.
The petition had just been pre-
scented to the General, and Major
Clare and myself were conversing
upon 1t as this story opens.
AS the Major did not think ii
prudent to push the subject farther,
he proposed walk.
Accordingly, having laid aside
our accoutrements and side-arms,
we took our walking.sticks, and,
bonning our fatigue-caps, saunter.
ed aimlessly about the extensive
parade grounds.
The grounds were we'll laid out
and but few trees were standing,
most of those which had once form
ed la miniature park having been
cut down by shot and shell during
the siege.
AS we strolled about we travers
ed the very field where, six years
before, we had faced the Germans
in G deadly hand-to-hand struggle
The ruins Of the Chateau where
King William had established his
headquarters could still be seen,
and the wall surrounding the con
vent, behind which the Prussiar
infantry had enscOnced themselves
was still standing, though badly
shattered, and in many places per
forated with breaches made by ouI
cannon.
/ can remember distinctly how our
gallant zOuaves charged that wall
repeatedly, and the deadly havoc
made in their ranks by the enfilad-
ing fire of the heavy German guns,
in connection with the infantry who
fired in our faces.
The officer who was now derislve-
ly called o coward was with us
that day--sye, and rendered val
liable service, too.
He actually penetrated the Rus
sian lines at one point with q small
body of followers, fell upon their
rear, and was instrumental in cap
turing the battery that had made
such gaps in our ranks.
These facts / proceeded to advise
Major Clare of as we sauntered to
ward the city.
/ think / must have quite clearly