Cañon City record., 1902-05-29
SHE MADE.
HIM BRAVE
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was the case with George Converse
who at twenty-eight had served rwc
enlistments In the United States army
with credit He had entered as a. pei
vate and come out as first sergeant of
his company. besides having been men
toned several times for gallantry In
action. The reason why he did not an
list for another term was because. he
had fallen In love with pretty seam,
stress. who adored him, and they were
to 6e married. Ida Harker was. vsry
proud of her lovers prowess.
The ex-sergeant found n job as, pOp-
ter In n store. The couple were mar
ried and went to housekeeping in II liz
tie place purchased with Ida's savings.
All went well for awhile, but George.
having been used to an entirely differ
ent life. became restIve under the com,
monplace duties Of a porter. He missed
the OUT Of deor life. the martial music.
the metallic ring Of arms and especial
ly the excitement and danger of a cam.
paign Day after day he grew more
discontented and ut last began to shirk
his duties. This in time cost him his
position. He was not sorry. because
he thought he would find something
better suited te his taste. His -lituc
wife encouraged him to think thus.
though In her heart she worried that
their income should be Gu. of
George tried several other occupa.
tons. but did not show any more ap-
titude for work In them than in the
first Frem some OF them he retired
voluntarily; from others he was dis
charged Meanwhile children were
born to, the couple, "nd since there
were so many mouths to feed the wife
resumed the work OF seamstress. (which
she had lain dnw- MT her marriage
She stilh had the same admiration for
her husband and delighted to hear him
tell his friends OF his battles. Iisspning
herself demurely aud watching with
pride the effect on the others How.
ever. Georges position as do-nothIng
permitting his wife to support not
only herself and their children. but
him as well. at last caused the finger
OF scorn to be pointed at him His
friends dropped away. and he had no
one to-admire him except his wife.
At last an event happened That open
ed ldn's eyes. So long as George was
an exrhero Of many battles she could
brook his imhility to labor at ordinary
duties. though she was obliged to sup
ply the deficiency berself. but one
night. being awakened by the smell OF
smoke. she got up, opened the bedroom
door and found that the house above
was In flames Awakening hor hus-
band. she bade him go To, tho upper
floor and bring their eldest boz while
she carried down the other two chill.
dnen. who slept In n room, opposite to
her own. Leaving George to, his task.
she executed her own. but since he didE
not appear her anxiety led her back to-
discover the cause OF the dBiny. She
sxpectsd tn sse him battling with thu
flames, half sufrocared. with smoke.
bearing their son TO NJ feiyI instead he
was standing 4; the foot oe the stair
case which led to the. bunnang stony,
shivsring
''Gsorge. for heavea's- sake. goi The
child will be lost"
George turned toward her a face
whtfs with fear.
'-Ob. Georser'
This was all. SIe saw that hsr was
terror stricken. a yoieran at standing
up, against shot and she'll. he was a
raw recruit ut meeting fire. She gave
q spring and dashed up the staiTcase.
The act Of his brave iitth wife waa
needed to enable Gssegr Converse to
master u constitutional wea kness Ida
had not reached tbe top STRIP before
her husband darted past her with the
cry go baekr' How he got through
the fire and smoke that inberyenedi be-
tween him and his boy. why he was
not burned mortaily by the one or
sufrocated by the other. he nor anJ one
else ever knew. Reaching the room he
sought. knowing that he could not
bring the child out by the way he had.
come. he cried to hts wife:
60 below the windowi"
Ida ran down and out SELLING
blanket by the way. In tho yard she
found several neighbors who had been
attracted by the fire. At tb. same mo,
ment George threw mp sash above
without word those pgeseut seized
the blanket. and the boy was dropped
safely into IT.
As soon Ms George Converse saw that
his sos was safe he began to remeu-
ber the fear Of Gre that had paralyzsd
him. 1t was all gone. the shame he
felt only remaining. But one idea Hll-
ed his mind-to wipe out the stain.
Jump cried those below. holding
the blenket under the window.
George sat down on the window sill.
took pipe and a tobacco pouch from
his pocket filled the pipe. lighted 1t
and began to pun aF coolly as II there
were no fire.
Jump repeated the crowd. "The
roof may fall at any moment"
I'm going back the way ! came"
he said doggedly.