Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-11-25
Charles Wife.

Every morning ! saw her sitting
by the window As the train passed.
She had smiling, happy face and
so beautiful, too, that | never was
satisfied with the hccting glance. |
saw the conductor bow to her, and
| made some inquiries.
"Why, that is Charlie's WIFE
"But who is Charlie?"
''Don't You know the manager,
Charlie Fontainc:'
Not personally"
"Wcll, YOU should, if YOU want to
class one of the best fellows that
ever lived among your acquaintan-
ces. But 1t was Il strange occur
renee that brought them together"
81 never heard Of it"
strange. thought that every
body in this vicinity knew the story.
| will tell it if l have time
He drew his watch.
''IIalf an hour-that's time
enough"
ut was three years ago this month
An extra train was chartered to take
an excursion party to Hagget's
Grove. l was sent with it, and
Charlie Fontaine went along, for he
had business at the station, just
above the Grove.
''lt was the most recherche party
Of the season, and | never before
saw so many beautiful women in
one assemblage nor have l since.
Yet it was no hard task to single
out one that surpassed them all in
beauty and grace, and that one was
Nelly Archer.
'Charlie was of the same mind,
as l learned after he came back
from transacting his business at the
station. We walked over to the
Grove together.
"Well l have seen to-day the
most beautiful woman | ever saw
he said, as he came in sight of the
gay pleasure seekers. 'Ah, there
she is now And he pointed to
Nelly Archer.
'Isn't she charming? l never
saw her equal, and | confess
| am completely fascinated
But why in the name of common
sense, is that ugly villainous look
ing brute of a man with her? Not
her husband, | hope.
"God forbid" | exclaimed, as,
for moment, this man turned his
evil gaze toward me.
Charlie repeated the words after
me.
"I'll soon learn he said, 'and il
he is her husband, I'll never be-
lieve i'll woman again
| had little wife of my own, SO
| did not feel much interest in this
beauty. While Charlie went off in
search of some acquaintanccs,
strolled down to the pond, and
sought out shady retreat behind a
clump of aldcrs. Lying there on
the cool grass, and watching the
bptto I,sioo " anu IIo Wv VI tHS Nlllil
surface Of the pond, | became
drowsy, and should have fallen as
leep, had not voices on the opposite
side of my leafy retreat attucted
my attention.
"You have everything ready
was asked, and the reply was:
"Ready and waiting. If you can
coax her across the pond, we will
soon show her that there are more
ways than one to get a Wife. Close
carriages and good horses. viii
you get her over:"
81 pledge myself to do it, replied
the first speaker, but you must dc
the rest. And here the voice be
came low and threatening-'if you
implicate me in any manner, l vii
shoot you as | would dog
| did not hear the reply for they
passed on, but | sprang to my tee1
and pressed on after them. | was
too late. They had either separated
or mingled with the crowd. Charli.
now caught me by the arm, ant
hurried me into an impromptu quad
rifle, completely banishing from my
mind the remembrance ofthe strange
conversation l had overheard.
did not think Of it again until JUS