The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-25
Where His Courage
Came In
BY DONALD CHAMBERLIN

no more at nome among soldiers tnan
fish on dry land He would start
across u sentry's beat, and when the
sentry brought his gun to charge and
called on him to halt he would stop so
short as to almost fall over backward.
"Who is he and where did you pick
him upT' the colonel asked his wife.
He's Adolphus Leslie" replied the
lady. HE 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 be said he was coming
with us, and no hint to the contrary
availed to stop him"
Il wish we would have fight" re
piled ne husband. "Td suggest his
going into the front rank. That would
send him home. | warrant. DEL why
don't you shake him?'
whats the use? He's been trying TO
get out Il proposal of marriage for Il
month and can't do ii. Time enough
to 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
fine fellows on my staff and in the line
who | dare say would like to make
your visit pleasant for You, but with
this whippersnapper dangling about
you. how can theyY
IF they haven't the pluck to drive
him away / expect he'll have to stay.
/ can't send him off till after he has
proposed"
81 wish he'd screw up his courage, "
grunted the colonel. Then we'd be
rid of him"
Adolphus Leslie spoiled the visit
that is. for the colonel. Mrs. Colonel
and the officers. 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 con
cluded that. since the situation was at
she had better 20 home. Besides. the
spring was coming on, and there were
indications Of move on the part OF
the enemy.
When the two ladies started fol
Washington attended 10y Leslie, the
members of the staff looked at one an
other, and an aid remarked. The.
should have provided Il baby carriag
for the rear guard" taking care tia
the commander did not hear him
though the coloners chagrin at Tia,
outcome OF his daughters visit was
we'll known.
But the party had not been gone hall
a day when some lively skirmiShinl
commenced that led up to serious fight
ing. That same evening Colonel Car
penter's flank had been turned. his men
were giving way. and ii looked rs
though gap had been opened that
would be the ruin Of the corps. If not
the whole army. The colonel. amid Il
shower of shot and shell. looked about
him for one of his staff to send for re
endorsements. Some OF them had been
killed and some Of them had gone back
to escape the CALLING fire.
But who Is this coming i'm pepper
and salt suit, his horse pMugin;
frightened at the explosions and shrek
ing shells? What is citizen doinl
where only a soldier should he? The
rider made straight for the colonel who
was amazed to recognize Adolphus Les
lie.
what in thunder are you doing
here, sir?" roared the commander.
"Pll tell you. colonel. il can ger
my breath. proposed to your daugh
ter on the way to Washington. and sh
said l might ask you"
For few moments the colonel stai
ed at the young man as II not knnv
ing whether or no to believe his senses
Finally words came rs from raj e.
fire gun:
Go and bring me re-enforcementS
and you may have the whole family"
Leslie looked about him. not know
ing which way TO turn. but he saw
Colonel Carpenter pointing and dash.
ed Off in tat direction. Meeting
regiment hurrying TO another part Of
the field. he rode up 10 its commander
and ordered him 10 60 tn 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 rent back 20 Washington
bearing laconic scrawl from the
colonel TO his daughter: This young
man may be a coward with a woman.
but he's a RATHER in a fight. Don't
come down here fof husband"
In reply Ia this Miss Carpenter
wrote her father.
Il sent Dolphls hack to you 10 get
rid of him. hgt see he has converted
you asked him what he did TO make
such a change in you. and he said he
didn't know. lie thought Il might be
the appearance he made on horse
back. This made me laugh ! sup
pose III have 10 take him or he'll
plague the life out ~ me. n find
don't like my bargain 7 can send him
den 10 YOU and you can see that he
gets killed But expect he'n suit
me pretty we'll"