Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-10
OWENS WIFE.

Ozark men are always jealous men. Be
ware 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 a uozen
other frightened girls and laughing boys one
summer morning, and Maggie was super
stitious for girl of the Nineteenth century,
yet she accepted Owen Mayne on her way
home The darkest of the dark, eyes like Jet,
hair 10 ravens wing could outvie, the skin Of
q Spanird, strong features, and temper that
leaped UP at a touch, and did not cool again
Ia 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 robbed hirl had be not left them
dead on the spot A tail, slight man, grace
full and agile; as good a dancer as he was a
fghter-be had taken Maggie's heart by
Etorm.
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 notE' he asked Maggie as they
walked home together.
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but, for my part / should not like husband
who was not jealous OK me; should think he
did not care enough"
"You are right" said Owen. without
jealousy there Is no love. Marry me, Maggie,
and l think | shall make you Eappier than
any chilly hearted follow who ex,ly wanted
YOU 70 cook his dinner for him cyald. Marry
me, Maggie, and have no fear of Jealous
L. 70 bo
VIII not suspect you without cause"
And Maggie put her hand into his, and,
though no doubt all the others saw him do 1t,
Owen kissed her.
And 50 they were married not long after,
and for a year were Us happy as mortals
could be.
At the end Of the year there was a little
baby in the little home, and the young couple
were as proud Of it as young couples usually
are.
Owen was an engineer, and OF and away
much of the time Bus when his train passed
the little cottage where bis wife dwelt, he
always gave hsr a signal in the shape of a
whistle she had learned to know.
Il wonder what that whistle meansg' peo-
pie on the cars often Sszed each other, never
guessing that it was the young engineers
signal to ms wife and baby.
The child grew and throve, pretty crea-
ture, with its fathers dark eyes and its
mothers golden hair; and except for the fact
that, ike any other engineer, Owen took his
life in his hands each morning when he went
forth to win his bread, there was nothing to
trouble Maggie.
''The dark man hao never been Jealous Of
me once, she used t. say to herself. But,
10 be sure, never look at any one else, and
he has no cause"
The home where tbs three dwelt was in a
quiet little village on the borders Of a small
but beautiful lake.
On those afternoons which brought Owen
home Maggie used to go to meet him by
what they called the Lake road.
At first she carried the child, then she
pushed him in the little wagon; but at last
he was able TO walk beside her.
He was sturdy little fellow, with no feaI
Of ANYTHING, and Maggie had much ado *
keep him in good order, but she was very
proud of him.
1t was bright autumn afternoon, and
Maggie was on her way to meet Owen, when
her attention was attracted by an unwonted
siyht. Beside the lake an easel was set up
md an artist was seated before 1t making {
sketch Of the surrounding scenery. The placC
was so out of the way of tourists or summer
hohcders that this thing had never been seer
before, and Maggie. VINO was very fond Of
pictures-thouGh she had seen but few-
paused, and watched the painter from afar
tie was an elderly man. and wore velvet
coat and a large slouched hat When ht
saw Maggie standing at little distance he
turned and smiled kindly upon her
Come, he said, with strong French &C
cent; come and see, if you hke-come."
Maggie approached the easel
'Oh. how pretty!n said she 81 don't Sc
hcw you ever do it. I'm sure-an with thai
little brush and some paint"
And some brains, " said the Frenchman.
"Oh. Of course you must think ii ali out,
said Maggie-''the sky and the clouds and III,
water What lovely little waves"
Maggie stood watching HIM as be worked
end for the Grst time IN her life she forgot
her child.
The little creature wandered away. coins
nearer to the water Jhan his mother evel
permitted him 10 90, and shortly waded II
further and further down the gradual slopt
of smooth sand, until sudden dip took hin
of his feet, aud at his scream his mother
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drowning before her eyes.
The next instant the FFenchman haC
thrown CT his coat, kicked or his Shoes anC
was in the water. He seemed to,be a gooI
swimmer, soon grasped the childs garment
and reached the shore with him.
Maggie clasped her boy to her heart, anl
finding the little fellow unharmed, and nov
laughing, flung herself upon her knees be
fore his preserver.
How shall thank yoC?' She said "Yol
have saved my boys life
oh, II was nothing, II WIS nothing tht
Frenchman repeated, resunling his coat anc
shoes. a plunge hurts nobody this weather
80 home to dry myself, that is all "
Maggie however, could not look upon th'
matter calmly. She had expected TO see hel
child drown before her eyes. She was rren
bling from head TO foot; and, after striving
IN vain 70 restrain herself, she burst into {
Hood Of tears, which ended In a ut OF hys
terical laughing and sobbing
'Oh, these women said the Frenchmsn Il
himself, but he was too gallant 10 express hi
feelings
Placing Maggie upon his sketchins stool, h,
Anelt beside her, applied little smelling
bottle 10 her nostrils anj shortly restored heI
70 calnness-
Now. Ettl4 mother. DO not cry any more. =