Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-28
OWENS WIFE.

WENS WIFE.
Ozark men are always jealous men b.
ware II one CROSSES your path.
So aid 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 ons
summer morning, and Maggie was super
ssitious for girl Of che SiIetesnth century.
yet shs accepted Owen Mayne on her way
home. The darkest Of the dark, eyes like Jet,
hair NO ravens wing could outvie, the skin Of
q Spanird, strong features, and temper that
leaped up at a touch. and did not cool again
In haste.
He was older than most OF the party, and
bad more experience. He had been In the
far west; be had fought the Indians once or
twice. he had met with desperadoes who
would have robbed him had he not left them
dead on the spot A tall, slight man, grace
full aud agile: ~ good Q dancer as he was .
fg tei-hs had taken Aaggie's heart by
storm.
HIS knew how TO make love, too, be was
not one Of your timId lovers.
Your gypsy told you TO beware OF dark
men, did she notf' he asked Maggie ~ they
walked home together.
Yes" she said, because they are jealous.
but, for my part, should not like husband
who was not jealous Of me; should think he
did not care enough"
You are right" said Owen Without
jealousy there Is no love. Marry me, Maggie,
and think | shall make you happier than
any chilly hearted fellow who only wanted
you 10 cook his dinner for him could Marry
me, Maggie, and have no fear Of q jealous
man as long as you are true 70 him, for he
will not suspect you without cause"
And Maggie put her hand into his. and,
though no doubt all the others saw him do it,
Owen kissed her.
And 70 they were married not long after,
and for a year were happy as mortals
could be.
At the end Of the year there was little
baby In the little home, and the young couple
were proud Of it as young couples usually
are
Owen was an engineer, and of and away
much 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
whistle she had learned TO know.
Il wonder what that whistle meansf' peo-
pie on the cars often asked each other, never
guessing that it was the young engineers
signal to his 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 like 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 has never been jealous Of
me once" she used to say to herself. But,
10 be sure never look at any one else, and
he has no cause"
The home where the three dwet was in .
quiet little village on the borders of 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 fear
of anything, and Maggie had much ado to
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
sight. Beside the lake an easel was set up,
md an artist was seated before II making a
sketch OF the surrounding scenery. The place
was 20 out of the way of tourists or 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 velvet
coat and a large slouched hat. When he
saw Maggie standing at little distance he
turned and smiled kindly upon her.
b..a
cent ''conie and see, If you hke-come'
Maggie approached the easel
''Oh, how pretty,' said she ~ don't see
how you ever do it, I'm sure-all with that
little brush and some paint"
And some brains" said the Frenchman
''Oh, Of course you must think it all OUT
said Maggie-"the sky and the clouds and the
water. What lovely little wavesr
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 wade,i in
further and further down the gradual slope
Of smooth sand until sudden dip took him
of his feet, and at his scream bis mother
turned to see him struggling sinking
drowning before her eyes.
The next instant the Frenchman had
thrown off his coat. kicked of his shoes. and
was in the water He seemed to he a good
swimmer, soon grasped the child's garments
and reached the shore with him.
Maggie clasped her boy to her heart. and
finding the little fellow unframed, aud now
laughing. flung herself upon her knees be
fore his preserver.
How shall thank your she said "You
have saved my boys life"
"Oh, it was nothing, 1t was nothing" the
Frenchman repeated, resuming his coat and
shoes "A plunge hurts nobody this weather
go home to dry myself, that Is all"
Maggie, however could not look upon the
matter calmly. She had expected to see her
child drown before her eyes She was trem-
bling from head to foot. and, after striving
in vain to restrain herself. she burst into a
food of tears, which ended in fit of hys-
terical laughing and sobbing
''Oh, these women" said the Frenchman to
: himself, but he was too gallant to express his
feelings
Placing Maggie upon his sketching stool he
knelt beside her, applied a little smelling
bottle to her nostrils and shortly restored her
to calmness.
Now, little mother, do not cry any more"
he said .You should laugh because the
little one is safe Ah-good heavensi how
foolish
And then, in perfectly Taternal manner,
be kissed her. And Maggie, crying OUT
you good, good mani I shall pray for
you every night of my life." kissed him
again.
1t was all for the preserver of her boy, Of
Owens boy, and because she really out
of her mind at the moment. But at this in
slant Owen himself, coming rapidly along the
shore road, caught sight of his rife. The
child. perched on rock hard by, was play
ing unconcerneily with his wet shoe, but
Owen did not see him What he saw was .
stranger kissing his wife, his wife kissing the
stranger again; and all that was fond and
tender and loving dew from his soul
The dark man," Of whom the gypsy had
warned Maggie, WAS her husband now He
came rushing down toward them. and the
Frenchman, seeing what he fancied-not
without reason-to be . mailman approach
ing. turned and fed. His fighting days, II
he ever had any, were over. He was willing
to risk his life to save a beautiful little child,
but this was another matter As for Owen,
he reached Mnggies side at three bounds,
and seixing her arm held it in a grip of iron.
Il saw you kiss himl" be Kissed in her ear
You play me false, do you-youf'
Owen, you are crazy" said Maggie
..Speak; did you kiss hims can't believe
it YET said Owen Why, Maggie, it can