Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-01

E
Gee, Toms in luck" said Larry Finn.
as he watched two Of the prettdest girls in
the ward sail by the engine house inc give
Tom Brennan, the handsomest fremen of
Hook and Ladder Company No. =, a per-
feet fusillade of eye alteration
ITO the divil wild Tom" said Dooley
Bryan, struggling his brawny shoulders in
downright disgust. He don't be human.
What ails him OF dunno. All the gurrils
in the parish crazy over his dommed
black eyes. an he not noticin' thin.
Bedad, Larry. OF cud knock his head off
for a shtupid, onfeelin', grave image
WAS he always so?" inquired Larry.
He was returned Dooley. liver since
Maggie Harrigan TUX the veil"
"Oho!'' said Larry.
'9They were engaged" said Dooley, en-
raptured with himself as a gossip. "whin
Maggie got the vocation. 1t was near
KILN Tom. But av course he could do
nothin'.'
HE c~ouldn't?" said Larry. why didn't
he carry her OFF,"
Murder. you divil. fot do We be sayin'?
It's the bride of heaven she is. It's
ashamed of you OF am, We haste. No, poor
Tom had to submit, but he's nivir been
the same. Oh suppose now" continued
Mr.. Bryan, m~editatively, IF wan of him
Numbers av the Four Hundred were TO
come by and give Tom the glad eye he'd
niver Encourage her. This sthrange that
the nuts alius fall to the toothless divils."
With such sage observation. Mr.. Bryan
betook himself to the Furnishing of the
hose cart as a relief to his o~vercharged
emotions.
All was true. Since the day Tom
Brennan tore his manly heart out in bid
ding an eternal farewell to the beautiful
girl who renowned him for her intention
the big fellow had never been the same.
All women We're like shadows to him.
He a loved one truly, devotedly, n he
had been forced to give her UP to heaven.
He could never love another. In vain were
appealing and languishing glances sent in
the direction of this superb young speci-
men of Irtsh-American manhood.
Tom" never noticed women. He Simp-
ly went about his bushes of saving prop
erty and lives as if there were nothing
else in the universe for a big, handsome,
athletic fellow.
Often, as he lay in his bunk at the en-
CINE house, as he rode tempestuously
through the crowded streets, as he fought
the flames. he repeated to himself the last
words he had said to his beloved: II love
you, Maggie, darlin'. I would live for you
or l would die for you, and since you bid
me tear out my heart, l must do it,"
The Easter morning dawned-the Easter
on which Tom had hoped to lead his
sweetheart to the altar. He thought OF
her as he reused from his dreams of her
sweet face. Life was over for. him, he
said. He saw again the crowded church,
the white robed novices. He smelled
the incense, he heard the roll of the or
gan, the solemn voice of the priest. He
shivered and, turning, buried his face in
his pillow.
Suddenly the alarm reused him. He lis
tened. He sprang from his bunk, and a
moment later was down the pole and in
his place on the ruck. His face was like
the face of the dead. AS in a dream he
heard the cry, Where is it?' and the an
swer from a dozen lusty threats, "the
convent"
"a v LIN NiC Oipiidtl0 iiOiAlC az
joining were ablaze. 1t was evident at a
glance that the building was doomed. The
main business was to save thu sisters and
the children.
The bravery of the nun and their pro-
teges was only second to that of the mag
nificent fellows who fought for the lives
of these helpless people. Everyone re-
calls the amazing fortitude and courage
displayed at this frightful hour. The chill
dren had been drilled for Just such a mo-
ment of peril, and nobly did they now
obey their instructors. Such deeds of
heroism as were done that bitter morning
are never lost. Their memory remains as
an eternal inspiration.
Tom Brennan thrust a ladder up to a
window of the dofmitory just beneath the
huge gilded cross that surmounted the
roof of the convent.
In this window, serene, calm, her lips
moving in prayer, stood a sweet-faced SIS
ter, holding in her arms a tiny crippled
boy. So symbolic was the attitude of
this holy woman that not one irish heart
in the vast crowd below failed to respond.
1T is Sister Mary Beatrice!' moaned
The mother superior. She knelt upon the
bare ground and crossed herself. .
When Tom Brennan, his face blackened
with smoke and his eyes blazing with
heroic excitement reached the window
Sister Mary Beatrice looked steadfastiy
at him with her old sweet smile.
He held out his rms.
THE child first. Tom" she said, as she
laid the little boy on the broad breast of
the fireman.
A mighty shout went up from the crowd
below. All had seen that sublime act.
All realized what it meant.
A dozen hands recatved the child and