Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-11-16
Where His Courage
Came In
By DONALD cliAMBERLIN

federal officers would send for their
wives aud perhaps their daughters TO
come down to visit them in camp
Colonel Carpenter. commanding bri-
gade during the winter OF 1862, wrote
his wife that the army was Ia winter
quarters and he would like to have her
join him, bringing with her their
daughter Adele
When Mrs, Carpenter and her daugh.
ter appeared Ia camp the Colonel was
surprised 10 see a young man with
them. He was in citizens clothes aud
no more at home among soldiers than
a fish on dry land, He would start
across a sentry's beat and when the
sentry brought his gun to charge and
called on him TO halt he would stop so
short as 10 almost fan over backward
Who is he and where did you pick
him upg" the colonel asked his wife.
He's Adolphus Leslie" replied the
lady "Iie seems TO have been attract.
ed TO Adele. and she can't get rid of
him. AS soon as he heard we were
coming down 10 said he was coming
with MS. and no mint to the contrary
awaited 10 stop him"
Il wish we would have tight" ~.
piled her husband. I'D suggest his
going into the front rank That would
send him home. | warrant. Del. why
don't you shake him."
whats the user He's been trying to
get out proposal OF marriage Tor a
month and can't do IT, Time enough
20 send him off when he succeeds
That's all very well. but he'll pre-
vent the officers here from showing
you attention. There are number of
tine fellows on my staff and In the line
who | dare say would like to make
your visit pleasant for sou. but With
this whippersnnpper dungling about
YOU. how can they."
III they haven't the pluck to drive
him away expect hell have to stay,
cant send him Off till after he has
proposed
81 wish he'd screw M his courage
gFhhted, the colonel Then we'd be
rhl Of him. qs
lgiAdolTshus Leslie spoiled the visit
that is. for the colonel. Mrs Colonel
and the objects. AS to Adele. she act
ed strangely about It. complaining that
the young man was In her way but she
didn't know how to get rid OF him Her
father lost patience with her and cou.
cluded that. since the situation was at.
tracing attention from its absnrdity
she had better 30 home, Besides. the
spring was coming on. aud there were
indications of move on the part OF
the enemy.
When the two ladies started for
Washington. attended by Leslie. the
members OF the staff looked at one an-
other. and an aid remarked. srhey
should have provided Il baby carriage
for the rear guard" taking care that
the commander did not hear him.
though the colonels chugrin at the
outcome OF his daughters visit was
we'll known.
But the party bad not been gone bait
a dry when some lively skirmisllng
commenced that led up to serious fight
ing. That same evening Colonel Chr
penter's flank had been turned. his men
were giving way. and II looked MS
though gap had been opened that
would be the ruin of the corps. " not
the whole army. The colonel. amid q
shower of shot and shell. looked about
him for one OF his stan to send for re.
endorsements. Some OF them had been
killed and some OF them had gone back
to escape the CALLING Ore
But who Is this coming In pepper
aud salt suit. his horse piunging
frightened Mt the explosions and shrek
ing shells? What Is citizen doing
where only n soldier should be? The
rider made straight for the colonel. who
was amazed to recognize AdoIphus Les
lie.
What In thunder are you doing
here, sir?" roared the commander
'I'll tell yea. colonel. II can get
my breath. | proposed TO your dnugh.
ter on the way to Washington. aud she
said | might ask you"
For few moments the colonel star.
ed ut the young man as II not know
ing whether or no TO believe his senses.
Finally words came as from rapid
fire gun:
go and bring mo re-enforcemeDts
and yon may have the whole family"
Leslie looked about him. not know
ing which way TO turns but he saw
Colonel Carpenter pointing and dash
ed Off in that direction Meeting
regiment huFrying to another part Of
the field. he rode up to its commander
and ordered him to 80 TO the gap
where he was so greatly needed. When
Leslie rode back with the re-enforce
Ing column Colonel Carpenter threw
HIS arms around him and embraced
him. The gap was plugged
Mr.. Leslie went back 10 Washington
bearing laconic scrawi from the
colonel to his daughter ,vfhis young
man may be coward with woman
but he's RATHER IN fight Don't
come down here for a husband
In reply 10 this Miss Carpenter