Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-19
OWENS WIFE.

sutlous Tor glrl OF the Nineteenth century,
yet she accepted Owen Wayne on her way
home. The darkest Of the dark. ewes like iet,
hnir no ravens wing could outvie, the skin OF
a Spanird, strong features and a temper that
leaped up ut 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 ouce 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 and agile; as good n dancer as he was a
fghter-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 notf' he asked Maggie as they
walked home together
YES, she said, because they are Jealous;
but, for my part, should not like a 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 70 cook his dinner for him could Marry
me, Maggie, and have no fear of a jealous
man as long as you are true to 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 so they were married not long after.
and for "A year were rs happy as mortals
could be-
At the end OF the year there was litt,-
oaoy IN tneI s,,Ss S , 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 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 meansln peo-
pie on the cars often asked each other, never
guessing that it was the young engineers
signal To ms wife and baby.
The child grew and throve, a 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 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 to meet him BY
what they called the Lake road
Al first she carried the child then she
pushed him in the little wagon. but at last
be was able TO walk beside her
He was u sturdy little fellow, with no fear
Of anything, and Maggie had much ado 20
keep him in good order, but she was very
proud OF him
IL was bright autumn afternoon, aud
Maggie was Oh her way 10 meet owen. when
Der attention was attracted 10y an unwonted
sight Beside the lake an easel was set I'D,
and an artist was seated before it making a
sketch OF the surrounding scenery The place
Was so out OF the way Of tourists or summer
huhrders TINT this thing had never been seen
hefore, and Maggie, who was very fond OF
pctures-thOugh she had Seen but few
pause,l, and watched the painter from afar
He wa an elderly man. and wore velvet
coat and large slouched hat. When be
Jaw Maggie standing at n little distance he
turned and smiled kindly upon her
Come, he >aid, with strong French &c
cent; ''conie and see, II you Hke-corne"
Maggie approached the easel
"Oh, how prettyir said she II don't see
hUw you ever do il, 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 Mnggie-'the sky aud the clouds and the
water. What lovely little wayesr'
Maggie stood watching him H. he worked.
aud for the first time in her lilo she forgot
her child
The little creature wandered away, going
nearer 70 the water than his mother ever
permitted him to 60, and shortly waded in
further and further down the gradual slope
of smooth sand, until sudden dip took him
of his feet and at his scream his mother
turned TO sec him struggling sinking
drowning before her eyes
The next instant the Frenchman had
thrown or his coat, kicked of his shoes, and
was IN the water. He seemed To be 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 he
fore his preserver
How shall thank your she said "You
have saved my boys life
oh, 1t was nothing, it was nothing - the
frenchman repeated, resuming his coat and
shoes "A plunge hurts nobody this weather
60 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 a fit of hys-
terical laughing and sobbing
"Oh. these women - said the Erancbra, 70
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 calinness
wow. little mother, do not cry any more"
little one is safe Ah-good heavensi how
foolish"
And then In perfectly paternal manner,
he kissed her Aud Maggie, crying out:
"You good, good mani | 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 was really out
Of her mind at the moment But Mt this in
slant Owen himself, coming rapidly along the
shore road, caught sight OF his wife. The
child, perched ON a rock hard by, was play
ing unconcernedly with his wet shoe, but
Owen did not see him. What he saw was a
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
Frenchman, seeing what he fancied-not
without reason-to be a mailman approach
ing, turned and fed. His fighting days, If
lac 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 seizing her arm held It in grip OF iron
II saw you kiss him." he Missed in her ear
You play me false, do you-yuuGn
owen, you are crazy" said Maggie
Speak; did you kiss him' can't believe
it yet" 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 hinf'
II did" said Maggie; Eyes, I kissed him
He