Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-03-14

FIREMAN'S
...WOOING

Tho Story Off Girl Who
Chose Not Wisely.

1850 49, 0A NH-N"A
back OF a chair that she had drawn Q
little way out from the table. It WIS
the boast Of the proprietor that he had
the h%andsomcst lot Of Mattresses on
the road. and the queen Of the collec-
ton was Fanny Mccain. That's how
she happened TO Dc head waitress, for
she could not know much Of the busi-
ness. She had come TO the place part-
Iy because her widowed mother was
poor and partly TO crafty a consuming
desire to pose as the prettiest girl
there. for she had been consulting her
mirror.
The fireman frowned. hut took n scat
next to the proprietor of the Mint lu-
lep. The freman's face. newly wash
cd and hardly rubbed. %elistenel in tho
glare OF thr electric light. and the
same light played upon the jcweled
hands and immaculate shirt front Of
tho Iulep man The fireman hnwcd
coldly. and the other. feeling n certain
superiority IN the matter OF dress and
personal Appearance. smiled
The head waitress. tnking o position
M onc Of the windows. stood looking
at tho two men. both Of whom had
made love 10 her. SHE had %purposcly
seated them 20 as to got their faces In
one frame. ms II were. for she Ind been
unable 10 forSakr nne md cicave to
the other. She respected the drpman-
she had loved him once and had ac-
knOwlcdg,VI II TO him hut she was
dazzlrd by The handsome. well groom
cd proprietor Of The Mint lulcp Once
or twice thr i!cpman ycniurcd to look
up. bur each time he saw her gazing
upon his rival. and bis heart was filled
with dread.
"Whnt time shall I Cnll?" be asked
rs Fanny handed him his ticket.
mot before p. | detest being first In
n ballroom
Suppose We rny S:307 II will be 0
by the time. WI reach the hall"
mine" said Fanny. modelling nj the
julien man ms BE- passed ont. with his
chinchilla thrown gracefully over his
shoulders.
But I'm on the reception commit
tee"
Then go and 'rccep' and como back
for me-. I shan't lcnvo the house be.
fore o. My. how CAV you are!'
The Greman went ont with a heavy
heart. Fanny was getting on. She
had not used such Language TO him be
fore. and 1t cut him TO the quick. He
remembered how he had begged her ia
keep out OF the eating house and tried
to hint to her mother that the place
was full OF lures.
ITS only a short step in the direc
ilon OF danger he said. "A public
dinner rooui. camp meeting. the skat
Ing rink. and
stop" said Fanny's mother. - viii
not have you hint even that Fanny Il
capable Of being bad"
And so the brennan had been power
less 10 prevent the pure young cir
from putting herself in this position.
Promptly AT o o'clock he called fol
Fanny. She would be- out In a mo
mPnt. her mother said.
During the half hour In which be
waited for the expiration Of q WON
ms moment the fireman notified q
number Of new pieces Of furniture.
also he noticed that Fanny's mother
was a little reserved. Fanny herself.
while amply deliberate. was irritable
end nprvous Conversation seemed "a
60 slowly with them. like a heavy
train on an up grade.
When they entered the Ballroom, the
hddlprs were already 1ddllng. and they
fell In line for the opening walk
round.
Over In one end Of the hall there was
q bank Of plants and ferns, loaned by
heading citizens for the 6rempn's m
nual bail. and just In front Of the oasis
stood tue .Iulep man. immaculate a.
ever and wearing the only evening
dress suit 10 the room.
He was radiant and all the more 81
by comparison. for not a few Of thl
respectable suits worn by the irpmel
and their friends were beginning e
take on thar unmistakable shine tina
romps with age.
"Oh. isaac" exclaimed Mrs. Wolf
slime TO her husband. what q beauti
ful young lady. Who is shef'
''Shp ees NOT what you say "a ladJ
She Is waitress from zee eating house.
"And who Is the handsome gentle
man writing on her cardT'
"Hp pes not one gentleman. my deai
He res ~ proprietor Of ~ Mint 'Ulep.
Now Mrs Wolfstine marvrlpd tina
thls man should be there dancing wit
the daughters OF the hest families !
the growing western town. But wh
should hp not be- thPrPI Every Orr
man on the division had sold or trle
10 sell hin a ticker for the annual hal
The fireman vas surprised upon val
ing Fnnpy's card &c ind that his rivi
had already written upon II.
A half an hour later be took the car
again 10 srlect u number and found Il
face OF Il black With "Julep julie
Julrp"
This man had been called by III
pamr so much that be had come TO a
Ewpr 10 II aud write II. Indeed. fe
people In the place knew that be hs
another name.
n was two hours after mlduigI
when the fireman opened the gate
front Of the liitlP frame cottage whe
the girls mother lived.