Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-10-02
OWENS WIFE,

WV LIN - Wv IL LII
Ozark men are always jealous men.
Beware If one crosses your path"
So said the gypsy fortune-teller to
Maggie Cameron, when she sought the
hollow where the tents were pitched,
with half dozen other frightened
girls and laughing boys one summer
morning; and Maggie was superstitious
for girl of the nineteenth century, yet
che accepted Owen Mayne on her way
home. The darkest Of the dark, eyes
like jet, hair no ravens wing could out
vie, the skin Of Spaniard. strong fea-
lures, and a temper that leaped up at a
touch, and did not cool again in haste.
He was older than most of the party,
and had more experience. He had
been in the far West; he had fought
the Indians once or twice; he had met
with desperadoes who would have
on the spot. A tall, slight man, grace
ful and agile, as good dancer as he
was a fighter, he had taken Maggie's
heart by storm.
He knew how to make love, too; he
was not one Of your timid lovers.
Your gypsy told you TO beware of
dark men, did she not?" he asked
Maggie, as they walked home together.
Jealous; but, for my part, [ should not
like a husband who was not jealous of
me; I should think he did not care
enough"
'tYou are right" said Owen. with
out jealousy there is no love. Marry
me, Maggie, and | think I shall make
you happier than any chilly-hearted fell
low who only wanted you to cook his
dinner could Marry me, Maggie, and
have no fear OF a jealous man as long as
you are true to him, for he will not sus-
pect ! on without cause"
And Maggie put her hand into his,
and, though no doubt all others saw
him do it. Owen kissed her.
And so they we're married not long
after. and for year were as happy as
mortsls could be.
At the end of the year there was a
baby in the little home, and the young
couple were IS proud of it as young
coupes usually are.
Owen was an engineer, and off and
away most of the time. But when his
train passed the little cottage where his
wife dWelt, he always gave her a signal
in the shape of a whistle she had
learned to know.
q wonder what that whistle means ?"
people on the cars often asked each
other, never guessing that it was the
young engineers signal to his vile and
baby.
The child grew and throve, pretty
creature, with its fathers dark eyes and
its mothers golden hair; and except
e.
gineer, Owen took his life in his hands
win his bread, there was nothing to
trouble Maggie.
"The dark man has never been ieal-
Gus Of me once" she used to say to her.
self. "Rut to be sure, [ never look at
anyone else, and he has no cause"
The home where the three dwelt was
in quiet little village on the borders Of
a small but beautiful lake.
On those afternoons which brought
Owen home Maggie used to go and
meet him by what they called the Lake
Road
At first she carried the child, then
she pushed him in little wagon; but
at last he was able to walk beside her.
He was sturdy little fellow, With no
tear of anything, and Maggie had much
was very proud OF him.
1t was a bright autumn afternoon,
and Maggie was on her way to meet
Owen, when her attention was attract
ed by an unwonted sight. Beside the
lake an easel was set up, and an artist
was seated before it making a sketch Of
the surrounding scenery. The place
was so out of the way of tourists and
summer boarders that this thing had
never been seen before, and Maggie,
who was very fond of pictures, though
she had seen but few, paused, and
watched the painter from afar.
He WAS an elderly man, and wore a
velvet coat ard O. large SLOUGH hat
When he saw Maggie standing at lit
tie distance he turned and smiled kind
iy upon her.
Come" he said. with strong French
accent; "come and see, if you like
come"
Maggie approached the easel.
ooh, how pretty - said she. 81
don't see how you ever do it, I'm sure
ali with that little brush and some
paint
"And some brains" said the French
man.
.9Oh, of course you must think it all
cut" said Maggie. 1.-The sky and the
clouds and the water. What lovely lit
tie waves"
Maggie stood watching him as he
worked, and for the first time in her
life she forgot her child.
The little creature wandered away,
going nearer to the water than his
mother ever permitted him to go, and
shortly waded in farther and farther
down the gradual slope of smooth sand,
until sudden dip took him off his
feet, and at his scream his mother
turned to see him struggling, sinking,
drowning before her eyes.
The next instant the Frenchman had
thrown off his coat. kicked off his shoes,
and was In the water. He seemed to
be good swimmer, and soon grasped
the chlld's garments and reached the
shore with him.
Maggie clasped Der boy to her heart,
and finding the little fellow unharmed
and now laughing, flung herself upon
her knees before her preseryer.
tHow shall / thank your" she said.
= You have saved my boys life
s'Oh. it was nothing, it was nothing"
the Frenchman repeated, resuming his
coat and his shoes. "A plunge hurts