The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-17
SHE MADE
HIM BRAVE
GOriginaL.1

lOrfgfnall
There is in every one, however
strong, some weakness which is bound
to show itself sooner or later. Such
was the case with George Converse,
who at twenty-eight had served two
enlistments in the United States army
with credit. He had entered as a pri-
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 en-
list for another term was because he
had fallen in love with a pretty seam
stress, who adored him, and they were
to DE married. Ida Harker was very
proud of her lovers prowess.
The ex-sergeant found a job as Dor
ter In store. The couple were mar
ried and went to housekeeping in q lit
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 porter. He missed
the out of door 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 at last began to shirk
bis duties. This in time cost him his
position. He was not sorry, because
he thought he would find something
better suited to his taste. His little
wife encouraged him to think thus,
though in her heart she worried that
| their income should be cut OF.
George tried several other occupa-
lions. but did not show any more ap-
J titude for work in them than in the
nrst. From some of them he retired
voluntarily; from others he was dis
charged. Meanwhile children were
born to the couple. and since there
| were SO many mouths to feed the wife
resumed the work Of seamstress, which
| she had lain down at her marriage.
She still had the same admiration for
her husband and delighted to hear him
tell his friends of his battles, listening
| herself demurely and watching with
pride the effect on the others. How
ever. Georges position as a do-nothin9,
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 1da's eyes So long as George was
an ex-herO of many battles she could
brook his inability to labor at ordinary
duties. though she was obliged to sup
ply the deficiency herself. 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 her hus-
band. she bade him go to the upper
floor and bring their eldest boy, while
| she carried down the other two chill
dren. who slept in a room opposite to
her own. Leaving George to his task,
she executed her own, but since he did
not appear her anxiety led her back to
discover the cause of the deiay. She
expected to see him battling with the
flames. half suffocated with smoke.
bearing their son to safety. Instead he
was standing at the foot of the stair
case which led to the burning story,
shivering.
George, for heavens sake, gol The
child will be lost
George turned toward her q face
white with fear.
"Oh. Georgew
This was all She saw that he was
terror stricken. A veteran at standing
up against shot and shell, he was q
raw recruit at meeting fire. She gave
spring and dashed up the staircase.
The act of his brave little wife was
needed to enable George Converse to
master a constitutional weakness. Ida
. had not reached the top step before
her husband darted past her with the
cry Go back" How he got through
the fire and smoke that intervened be-
tween him and his boy. why he was
| | not burned mortally by the one or
suffocated by the other. he nor any 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 his wife:
go below the Window
Ida ran down and out, seizing q
blanket by the way. In the yard she
, found several neighbors who had been
attracted by the fire. At the same mo.
ment George threw up a sash above.
| Without word those present seized
, the blanket and the boy was dropped
I | safely into it.
, As soon as George Converse saw that
| his son was safe he began to remem.
ber the fear of fire that had paralyzed
, | nim. 1t WAS all gone. the shame h<
: felt only remaining. But one idea ill
I'd his mind TO wipe out the stain.
! Jump" cried those below. holding
4 | the blanket under the window.
George sat down on the window sill
took a pipe and a tobacco pouch from
q his pocket. filled the pipe. lighted Il
and began to puff az coolly as if ther(
I were no fire.
Jump repeated the crowd. Tht
o roof may fall at any moment"
I'm going back the way ! came,
4 he said dOggedly.
? IF you do you are a dead man"
"Then I'll be a dead man."
. He turned from the window, but
hearing the agonized call of his wife
. bent over the SILL The look she CAV,
him told him that he had no need Il
, vindicate himself in her eyes, and b.
remembered that if he were lost sh
O would be left to continue to supper
:, herself and their children. He jumpet
into the blanket.
- From that moment George Convers
became an industrious worker AM
q made his family happy and conforta
BILE. In one way only did he show
! weakness. After his experience wit
. fire he was in constant dread Of its viz