The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-02-06
Where His Courage
Came In
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

wives and perhaps their daughters t.
come down to visit them In camp
| Colonel Carpenter, commanding bri
gade during the winter Of 1862, wrOt,
his wife that the army was in 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 in camp the colonel WAS
surprised to zee a yOuTE man with
them. He was in citizens clothes ana
no more at home among soldiers than
fish on dry land. He would starr
across a sentry's beat. and when the
sentry brought his gun to a charge ana
| 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 up" 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 he said he was comm.
with US. and no hint to the contrary
| availed to stop him"
/ Il wish we would have a fight" re-
piled her husband. I'D suggest hi,
going into the front rank. That woulu
send him home. warrant. Del. why
| don't you shake him."
Whats the use? He's been trying I,
get out a proposal of marriage for q
month ard cant do it. Time enough,
to send him Off when he succeeds"
That's all very well. but he'll pre-
vent the officers here from shown.
you attention. There are a number OF
fine fellows on my staff and in the lin,
who ! dare say would like to max,
your visit pleasant for you. but Will
this whippersnapper dangling about
you, how can they?"
IF they haven't the pluck to driv,
him away l expect he'll have to stay
l can't send him off till after he ha,
proposed"
II 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. Colone
and the officers. AS to Adele. she act
ed strangely about it. complaining than
the young man was in her way but sh,
didn't know how to get rid of him. Hell
| father lost patience with her and con
| cluded that. since the situation was al
tracing attention from its absurdity
she had better go home Besides. the
spring was coming on, and there were
indications Of a 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. They
should have provided baby carriage
for the rear guard" taking care that
the commander did not hear him.
though the colonels chagrin at the
outcome of his daughters visit was
we'll known.
But the party had not been gone halt
day when some lively skirmishing
commenced that led up to serious fight
ing. That same evening Colonel Car
penter's flank had been turned. his mel
were giving way. and it looked as
would be the ruin of the corps. If not
/ the whole army. The colonel, amid a
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 bad gone back
to escape the CALLING fire.
But who is this coming in a pepper
and salt suit. his horse plunging
frightened at the explosions and shrek
ing shells? What is citizen doing
where only a soldier should be? 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.
I'll tell you, colonel. If ! can, get
my breath. proposed to your daugh-
ter on the way to Washington, and she
said might ask you"
For a few moments the colonel star
ed at the young man as If not know
ing whether or no to believe his senses
Finally words came as from a rapid
fire gun:
$50 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 that direction. Meeting a
regiment hurrying to another part OF
the field, he rode up to its commander
and ordered him to go, to the gap
where he was so greatly needed. When
Leslie rode back with the REINFORCE
ing column Colonel Carpenter threw
his arms around him and embraced
him. The gap was plugged.
Mr.. Leslie went back to Washington
bearing a laconic scrawl from the
colonel to his daughter: This young
man may be coward with a woman
but he's a RATHER in a fight. Don't
come down here for a husband"
In reply to this Miss Carpenter
wrote her father:
81 sent Dolphie back to you to get
rid Of him, but I see he has converted
you. l asked him what he did to make
such a change in you. and he said he
didn't know. He thought 1t might be