The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-26
MARS AND CUPID.

"It's a capricious old world, but there's
enc thing endures-romance."
"Bah!''
"You wouldn't believe 1t were I to tell
you crossed the seas to lay a flower on
old General Odette's grave?"
"Was he in your regiment?"
"A more Jealous Confederate, " exclaim-
ed Wendell "never faced Union bayonet
than Odette.''
The world was young when first 1 met
Wendell He was then the handsomest
man in the Latin quarter. AS a drum
msr boy he had enlisted, and at the close
of the war his father set him up in a sta
tionery shop in New England.
But the scri bbler's madness rioted in his
veins together with a love of adventure
that makes him, even at so, one of the
most attractive and refreshing of men. A
many sided fellow was Wendell, with a
"good disposition as the ateliers have it,
of no common order. Like his oompan-
ions, he had no money, no expeota tions,
yet he had not been six months at the
Beaux Arts before he possessed what the
cleverest of us could not hope to achieve
for many a year-a cozy little apartment
in the keeping of the best and 1oveliest of
wives.
To this day Maroella Wendell rests in
my memory as the most beautiful of wom-
en-. To us lonely, often heartsiok. Ameri-
can lads ar evening at Wendell's had the
tonic effect Of a letter from home.
The Wendells were always on the wing.
He, restless fellow, had way of putting
girdle around the earth with less of the
golden fleece in hand or in prospect than
any ordinary son of Adam finds indispen-
sable for days outing
It was many years since I had seen or
heard of them, beyond occasional
glimpse of his signature in magazine,
on a book cover or on copyrighted pho
tograph of salon picture. But today a
parade had brought me to my studio win
dow. just opposite my eye caught a rib
bon of the Legion of Honor coquetting with
G. A. r. button in the lapel of a coat
whose wearer seemed familiar. Before
had much time for conjecture Wendell was
in my studio.
"And Mrs Wendellr' I said. GAS
beautiful as ever?''
"Graham,' he said at length, "Marcella
has passed away"
"And the ba bies?"
''They are with her. All, all the old
life is beyond the stars. This is how it
came about" he said. sit was lonely,
insufferably lonely, after Marcella went
home. 1t seemed as if I should go mad.
No spot, however seductive to pen and
brush, could hold me over a day. A pur-
suing spirit ever whispered, Move onr
until the Queen of the Adriatic caught me.
'Browning's funeral barge was floating
out to sea bearing the empty temple of
the poet to its long home in Westminster
abbey.
fOh, for pictured My fortune would
be madel' cried voice from a gondola
that drifted at my side.
Why, Miss Odette"
why, Mr.. Wendell'
"a whiff from the mountains, breeze
from the ocean at midsummer, was Emily
Odette. She was corresponding for Amer
loan papers, and with the instinct of the
newsgatherer saw scoop to stir vet
eran. We lost no time in uniting our
forces and succeeded in stealing a march
on the European press. 1t was 90 years
since 1 had been in America. In April
Emily sailed. I followed in the next
steamer. Twas at Baltimore before Emily
had time to pave the way for my advances
to the general. OF all devoted southerners
in war or peace, commend me to Odette.
He was as brusque, as cutting, as a No
fnber gale off Newfoundland.
Sir, do you know what you askf' he
demanded with fire in his eye and grace
in his pose, despite battered limb. Con-
cealed, but within hearing, was Emily.
DO you know what you ask?' he re-
peated. THE truest, bravest little woman
that ever trod Gods earth-an Odette, sir,
every inch of her.
You say you are a painter. What is
it to me if you daub the pyramids, out
Raphael Raphael, and give Michael An
gelo g thrust in the side? And write
books2 Books be hanged There are too
many books in the world.
80 The question is, sir, are you a man
clean to the core? That's what an Odette
demands of suitor to whose keeping he
gives the life of daughter of his house.
"In moment Emily was at his side.
1t was a passing of an April shower.
L have no doubt, my dear, said the
wi hQ Of a
wood pigeon, that all he says, all you say,
is true, but you will have to wait until
write to my friends in Paris I must
have more than lovers rhetoric before I
part with all possess.
Meanwhile, pending the Paris mail,
the general introduced me at his club
was feted, wined and dined. The Odettes
were rich in friends. 1 was progressing
rapidly in the old mans favor when un
luckily I surprised him one evening in
pain.
It's that accursed mimic bal1' he
groaned- Some blasted northerner's shot.
To think that should be in the thickest
of SO battles and come off without scratch
until 1 ran into that flying squad of Mas
saohusetts volunteeIsl'
IA table was drawn up, and soon the
scene of his wound was hastily mapped
out for me. Decanters represented the
Confederates, wine glasses the Union
FORCES, Wn1I0 6ankarQ was the general
mounted on his faithful Winnie.
We had fought all night and marched
all day. 1t was dark when I came to a
deep intrenchment that cut US off from
the eneny's line. My exhausted Winnie
God bless herl-was about to jump, when
brute of drummer boy leaped out Of
the ambuscade A shot followed, and the
faithful beast rolled into the ditch, while
/ was pitched into the thicket where
lay all night under the drizzling rain.
My heart stood still. Could this great,
bent, smoldering old war horse be the
dashing young officer whose curses haunt
ed me with terror long after / had been
mustered from the service? Not without