The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-05
FOR LOVES SAKE.

| ana as the young fireman drew his easy
chair to the hearth after supper and put
his slippered feet on the shining bar of the
fender he gave sigh of satisfaction. HIS
eyes danced with pleasure as he watched
his pretty, quick handed little wife clear
the table, and when the cloth had been
folded away in the drawer and the lamp
set on Its little woodwork mat in the mid
die Of the snow white deal he cried:
Come along, Neliie!"
The young wife brought low stool and
sat at his feet, and, giving him one loving
look Of joyful trust, she clasped her hands
on his knee and rested her cheek upon
them as she gazed into the fire.
For some moments neither of them
| spoke. Truth to toll, they were too happy
for words. Nellie found pleasant pictures
! of the future in the mystic caverns of the
fire, and, as for Jack, he just gazed his fill
at tho only picture In the world he cared
to see--the face Of his wife, glorifled in tho
freight, which changed her curly hair in.
to halo OF rudy gold. But presently,
with an effort, the young husband spoke:
Nellie, my girl, this is even better than
our hopes promised, isn't itf''
He allowed his eyes to glance eleefully
round the trim kitchen, flashing back tho
sparkles Of light from the glass and china
on the dresser, and then brought them
swiftly again to their center of attraction,
the blushing face resting on his knee
She did not answer, but she glanced
back at him, and he was satisfied.
Tell me, Nellie, DEAR" he said next,
"you have quito got over that old fear9"
Again she did not answer, and he went
on:
"There Is danger in every life dear
heart. Many wives send their men to sea
and do not SEQ them again for months.
The flames are not crueler than tho waves,
Nellie.
"No, Jack" sho snid. II will try to be
brave, but
"Butl' no cxelaimed, with glad laugh
"Wc MUSTN'T begin our married life with
butts, Nellie dear Tell mo if anything
troubles you and we will get rid of it at
oneo."
"Oh, Jack, I don't like to tell you, espe-
cially tonight, But you know as well as
do how Jim Travers wanted me. l can't
get his face out of my mind. 1t looked
awful in the church todayP'
Jack Mansfield looked grave.
"Ycu1l have to put all such notions out
Of your mind, my girl, " he said quietly
Jim and mes boon chums for years
We couldn't both have you, and he's tho
sense to know that the choice was for you
Don't go and think hard of poor cid Jim,
as lost you'll"
Nellie stared at the fire and said moth
Ing The mass Of red Goals cracked and
fell together, involving the fiery caverns
in ruin, and q column OF sparks fed I'D
into the dark chimney.
Then, sudden and swift, tho peace and
joy of the new hoame was shattered by an
awful cry from the street:
"Eirel Fire''
Nellie started up as If a shot had pierced
her heart and lin sprang to his feet
$50 soon'' gasped Nellie, with her hand
pressed tightly against her heart
BE brave, my girl p cried jack. "Now's
the time to provo what stuff you're made
off,
"FireI Firol' came the cry again from
without.
Nellie ran and fetched her husbands
boots Just as laundering rap sounded on
the door and hasty footsteps clattered away
on the pavement.
1t was the work Of moment for the
young fireman to kick or his slippers and
plunge into his boots Then Selling his
coat and hat from the door, he paused for
Ii moment to clasp his young wife in his
arms
Nellie, he whispered, sit ia the call Of
duty, and where duty is there God is too"
Then he tore himself from her clingiug !,
arms and was gone,
Left alone, Nellie's newly found courage |
nc nipl lu hnr nd cipl- ina int :
a chair, she folded her arms on the table
and let her face fall forward upon them.
She did not cry, hut her whole body trem-
bled pitifully, and every time the awful
cry sounded In the street she WINGED as If
q whip lash had struck her quivering flesh.
Scarcely five minutes had passed since
Jack left her-though II time had been
measured by agony it might have been Ave
hours loud cheer sounded In Mel
lies cars, followed by the thunder of hoofs
and wheels. She sprang to her feet and
rushed to open the door just as, with roar
and rattle, the fire engine went sweeping
past There was a flash OF scarlet and gold
and faring lamps, and showers of sparks
from the hoofs of the horses but
Nellie only saw two faGes-the faces of two
Of the helmeted 1rcmen.
Ono was the face of Jack Mansfield, her
husband, who smiled and waved his hand
to her as the engine whirled
past. The other was the face Of Jim
1ravers her rejected loyer-a dark and
gloomy face, with white, set lips and an
Of bitter despair. He too, look.
ed ut her and the glance thGt leaped from
his dusky eyes made her quickly cover her
face with her hands
Tho sound of the madly whirling wheels
caIne to her, muffled by the distance, but
the rush of feet along the pavement still
went on, and, looking up again, she was
aware Of a stream Of hurrying people pass.
Ing her door.
where is the flrep" she asked of neigh.
Dor, who had Just run out Of tho next
house.
"Only in Flint street. Can't yer sec the
red In the skyi I'm H.goin to have a look
at 1t, Como along O. me, Nell. Yerll DO
,righted to death OF home"