The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-10-19


where man i'm Zouave uniform lay upol
the carpet in AN easy but picturesque pose
which recalled, without resembling, that O
the famous dying Gladiator s4Ga
This man was Dashe's model. He hat
picked him up in the street. hungry, enc
lame, and suffering, and had been greatly
struck by the unconscious picturesquenes,
Of his fitce and movements. The soldie
had just returned from Washington hos
pital, where he had been cured of bayo
net wound that had destroyed the attiof
bf his LEFT hip for life. The wrstched pit
lance of eight dollars month that otil
MANNED heroes ftceive, was totally INSULT
cient to SUPPORT kim, and he was delighted
W 81 opportunity to add dollar a day
that the youhg artist offered him TO hu
''pensioti.''N ..
Nina Dashe regartietl him with the sain,
cool, artisticseye with which she looked
upon the picture. 1oheroyer-refned ane
observation-disclosures perceptions, a mode
was not IL man. She had exclaimed: Nv ha
said; What a nice easelr' aae.n-sa a..
"a real soldier, Fam" said Cecil wipinp
his brushes on a high-colored and paint.
spotted rag; '.one who has fought, bled
and narrowly missed dying, in the battle,
ofhis country" .. .s.tl p. -irr ..HeI 3
"Hslooks like soldier" said Nina. re.
garding the model critically. "Splendid
moustache; fine brown color; fierce eye.
brOws-yes, you've been fortunate in get
! ting such II model. That dear old ragged
| uniform, too, with its frayed seams and
furnished buttons. How well yoii' we paint
eu that, Cecil! The texture is admirable,
and---"
take cafc--take!' cried Cecil; ''don't
go into technicelities. Lord! you'll be
springing chair oscuro' on me, next! Save
your knowledge of texture for y,,ur shop
ping excursions, meia SehUestey; anu whc1
you want to complinletit a picture say 1t is
sweet, pretty! That is the word tor a
wohlaii.' .. ...... ..... g. ..... .... ..-.... .
"As if a woman's words should be diff
terent from u mans! Unbearable conceit
uf trowserdom! Call Rob, and let him at
tend to your paint brushes. Let us 90 up
town."
The errand boy came, and began wash
ing Dashe's pencils, handling them very
tonderly, with n certain reverence. The
artist went Into an inner dressing room to
dou his velvet sack jacket and corduroy
tro.sscrs and don his customary quiet cos
tune, aud his sister seated herself on the
lowest step of the throne" in a pretty
attitude, resting her chin on her hand and
looking quite angelic, with a pale-gray
beam of light upon her clear, deiicately
tinted cheek and slender white neck. Her
hair, already disordered again--blonde
hair never behave itself-was lit up with u
fine, wavy simmer of inmingled gold and
gloom. .... ...... ... --
While awaiting the accomplishment of
Cocirs toilet, She began to talk with the
Zouave model, who fingered, doubtless, to
ask for an advance on his weeks pay. r-
$50 you were i'm the WARP SHE said, alb
ruptly, and without the faintest hesitation.
The model was not a man. sl
"Yes, num-" replied he. j..
'And lett it," .a
"Yes, mum" .
''For what!"
my hip, num-" ...-......,. ........ -
"Ah! Wounded? Oh, yes; my brother
said you ''bleI' in battle. Is it very ugly
this being siio,s' ..
The face of the soldier beca.t,e II trifle
severe. The tone of this charming butter
iy was not suited to the tore of his mem-
ories. uu
"Do you want to see my wound? II isn't.
well yet" a
His words and manner Was coarse, but
his .oice had rebuking softness, born of
suffering, that melted the poetess' heart
She preserved, however, her political de-
meanor.
Heaven forbid! But, my friend, want
to know how it feels to be shot. am only
poor " eak girl, without courage. dred
a mouse, and cannot comprehend how men
go into battle, to he MANNED, and gashed,
aud torn to pieces, with the fine enthusi-
asm We read of. Isn't u battle totally hor-
rible, without redemption or pallation?'
NO, mum. liked it. only wish I
could get more of it. But" sighed the
poor fellow, "tightin's played out, for me-"
\ sudden sadness shadowed the poetess'
face. ..,-
'.oh, you are not injured permanentlyr'
Chow, mum?' -...I I...
"Not lor lite?" .-..
$50 ,liv doctor says, num-" ..
The model became man. .
where were you injured7-in what bat
tle?''"f" '... .-'."'-'. t.,
None that you've heard of, Most likely,
num- II was a kind Of scrimmage, in
Western Virginia was in the Bull Run
fight, thought. .... .". ...'-
Ibid you kill anybody 9'' "' .@N"
II don't know, mum; suppose so."
"And III !liis shirinish, when yoh were
shot" '''.'. ..' BE-.
~ wasn't shot mum; was bav'neted."
'WelI, 1ounded.' Did you killanybody
them" ~a..' ' ..+
mo num-"
Not the mat, who bsyonsted youS''
"So iiiun; IL cotil6n't Aili hiiii."
"why not?"
ats n long story num-"
Excellent Here, Cecil COME and
light the gas. Never mind going home,
now. Our Zouave is totel us a famous
story; and we'll all dine together after
ward. That wont hurt you-will it?" she
asbed of the model. ~,
you're very kind, num-" he replied.
81 never object 10 dinner" ..,
"Ihen lie down there, and tell the whole
story" n.
She actually beat up the cushions of the
lounge with her tiny, ,,diaphanous hands
the hands that wrote Memory's Ghosts