Wichita eagle., 1889-04-05

Blaukville road? Ask the old owner of that
place, who lives there the life of a hermit
crab, if be thinks this is very wide world
He will not tell you a tale to convince you
otherwise, but l will. / know il IS true,
though few others have any knowledge
Of il.
about 1888 Martin Watson married, in
the old country, Mary Carey, as pretty,
bright and loving lass as the sun ever
Bhone upon, and in just about a year from
that time the young couple were parents Of
twin boys. Mart was little more than a
boy himself, fne-looking, handsome, reck-
less and not over-tender of conscience.
''He had not begun to tire of his pretty
girl-wife vet, and the twin boys made him
very proud. Like most boys of that part Of
ireland, he had been more or less Of a sailor,
and when he said that his sons should be
named Mark and Matthew none said him
nay, so he made a twist of four Ms for
Martin, Mary, Mark and Matthew, and
picked the letters in india ink into the arms
of himself, his wife and the two babies.
"The novelty of home wore off and the
ties of family soon began to chafe him,
however, and il was not many months be-
fore he announced his intention of coming
to America TO better his condition and to
"
child, consented TO remain behind with
her little ones and wait until she was sent
for. So Mart came. Strong, hearty, will
ing and smart men were sure TO rise them
days, and the young 1rishman quickly
found work and friends. Soon he began to
write his wife only excuses for not bring
ing her over; the free foot and good COM
pany here was more pleasing to him than
being tied to duty, and the wife was left to
toll and struggle alone and support the
children while he enjoyed himself.
"For about three years this went on;
then old man Carey died, and Mary turned
all he left into money and started on the
journey TO JOIN her husband Mart wasn't
well pleased when he heard she was com
ing; he had money now of his own, and,
what's more, be had another wife So one
fine morning he was missing; he and the
new woman were away, no one knew
where, running from the mother of his
children. Bu: he might have stayed, for
Mary never put foot on land again. One of
these terrible wrecks occurred in which
only boat or two with few people, were
saved from the great shlpload OF poor souls
Mart kept on and prospered in a world
lyway. He was among the first TO strike
California in its golden days, and there the
riches rolled in on him fast. The second
wife died, and he seemed to give no thought
after except 10 piling up the dollars. he
was young man yet, and very wealthy
one, when the war came, in 1851 His
friends and much of his money were in the
South, and he went with the South in the
fight He was brave chap, none more so;
I'll say tnat for him. He fought hard and
well and gained rank and honors.
at was after the war that he settled
here, among the people who only knew him
as a big man; he had plenty of money left,
investments in mines and business In this
country and N Europe, and he came here,
away from ali his past life, to play the big
gentleman. And he could Go il, too; be was
naturally smart, and had lived long enough
among high-toners TO catch no emu of style
and be up with the best of them.
Els thoughts seemed TO turn them from
money. and he went In for enjoying him
self. First thing any one knew he was pay
ing attentions to the prettiest girl and
greatest coQuette this State ever knew
Birdie Stoddart was of high blood, ana not
long before her people had been among our
richest, but the war had impoverished them,
she was brought home from boarding
school and at once took her place as belle of
the county.
"one wasn't cruel or heartless, but she
was young and gay, frisky and fond Of ad-
miration, and she got plenty of it from
everybody, high and low.
Colonel Martin Watson certainly was
bad case about Miss Birdie: he had had ms
own way and own luck so long that he
couldn I well understand taking trouble TO
WIN, ana that girl aid give him worry
enough Tor sure. Watson knew h. was get
ting on IN years, though a splendid looking
man yet aud be would go nigh crazy tn see