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

Ii
foolish
And then, in perfectly paternal manner,
ne kissed her. And Maggie, crying out:
''You good, good man! l shall pray for
you every night of my ife," kissed him
again.
1t was all for the preserver OF her BOY, OF
Owens boy, and because she was 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 wife The
child, perched on rock hard by, was play
ing unconcernedIy with his wet shoe bnt
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 flew from his soul.
1.-The dark man." of whom the gypsy had
warned Maggie, was her husband now. He
came rushing down toward them, and the
Prenchman, seeing what he fancled-not
without reason-to be mailman approach
ing, t.rrrled and fed. His fighting days, if
he ever had any, were over. He was willing
to risk his life to save beautiful little child,
but this was another matter. As for Owen,
he reached Maggie's side at three bounds.
and Selling her arm held it In grip Of iron.
~ saw you kiss himi" he Kissed in her ear.
'You play me false, do you-you5"
"Owcn, you are crazy" said Maggie.
Speak; did you kiss hima can't believe
it YETI said Owen. "Why, Maggie, it can
not be. Say you did not; that the sun was
in my eyes; that did not see rightly. You
did not kiss hims"
81 did," said Maggie; Eyes, kissed him.
Hen-
Owen pushed her from him, so that she
staggered and fell. And when she looked up
he was gone-he had followed the FlHnch-
man, or intended to do SO. But the light
footed foreigner had been careful to step
aside as soon as he was out Of sight, and re-
turn to bis hotel by devious route.
''No doubt that was madame's husband"
he said "When madame shall have ex-
planned, all will be right Just now will be
on the safe sFie."
Meanwhile poor Maggie had gathered her
self up, taken her boy by the hand, and gone
homeward. A deadly fear of her husband
>4ossessed her-she remembered the gypsy's
prophecy.
''He viii kill me-" she said to herself. aha
will kill me before ever l can tell him my
story"
Then Maggie, terror stricken, took her boy
and fed from the house. The dread of being
murdered by the Jealous dark man" was
strong upon her.
She knew of an empty hut-once a flag
mans house-which stood beside the road.
Here she could hide until dawn, when Owen
would be miles away. Then she would fly
where she could meet him more, for she
had no hope of proving the truth to him.
she had cause for her fear-Owen meant
to kill her. Ee fancied her one of those vile
women who have the seeming of an angel,
and who mar the lives of men who love them
he wC@ld Kill her, and then die.
He had not had time to go home. The hour
for his return 70 the engine had come upon
him almost unaware. He reached MS post
only by the greatest efforts, almost tempted
to desert it in order to find and STAY the man
who had kissed his wife.
1t was 10 o'clock In the lonely hut by the
railway track Maggie had put her boy to
sleep, when the sound Of voices caused her to
creep to the little Window and look out
There she saw sight that curdled the blood
in her veins-train wreckers at work-three
vile tramps, who had already placed across
the track hill of obstacles which would In
sure the destruction of any train which came
upon them In the darkness.
They worked by the light of lanterns, and
she heard them chuchling In fiendish glee.
BEST get out of the way now," said one,
"and be seen at the tavern. When we hear
the whistles we'll come and help"
Yes, we'll help, good charitable souls
that we are,m said another. ''The II O'Clock
express, going north, will be delayed to-
night"
They laughed as they spoke, and Maggie
clasped her hands-the IL o'clock train was
Owens
The engineer is always the first victim in
disaster. The man who was going to kill her
would never live to do it if this train met the
fate prepared for it. But Maggie never
thought of that. 1t was only her dear Owen
she remembered now-her loving husband,
not the jealous, dark man from whom size
had fed.
IL the tramps returned, her doom was
sealed; but that did not matter. She covered
her boy with a cloak she had brought, and
lighting a match, peered OF the little silver
watch she wore about her neck The train
was due in half an hour. What should she
dol
Thank God for the candles" she said as
she barred the door and went out upon the
road.
She would not waste her means She lis
tened intently-moments seemed hours-b 1t
at last she heard the far away whistle. Sne
knew how fast the express train few. She
must be prompt or her efforts would be in
vain.
How small the candle looked! The train
did not stop-they did not notice. greater
fame must be made. She tore of her gown
the calico would make greater blaze-she
tied the sleeves TO branch she had caught
up and set it on fire. The danger signal
sounded; the train was slowing.
Thank Godr' she cried, Owen has seen
If; be has stopped!'
She fourishsd the flaming fragments Of
her dress still more wildly, and now people
were running down the track, and she was
surrounded by men who thanked her foI
their lives. and amongst them Owen.
''Maggie!n he cried. "Oh, good heavens
how did you come hereF'
God led me, think, Owen. to save your
life"
And Owen. looking into her noble face,
knew that he had been mad 70 doubt her.
and clasped her 10 his heart.
Latar, when she told him the story Of her
kiss, jealousy died within his soul forever,
and he knelt repentant, asking her forgive
nesS-Mary Kyle Dallas in The Family
Story Paper.