Smyrna times., 1902-01-01
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THE FIREMAN'S
...WOOING
The Story of a Girl Who
Chose Not Wisely.
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Dack OF a chair that she had drawn q
llttle way out from the table. # uoS
the boast of the proprietor that he had
ihe handsomest lot of Mattresses on
the road and the queen of the coIlec-
tlon was Fanny Mccain. That's how
Sne happened to be head waitress, for
She could not know much of the bnsi-
ness. She had come to the place mart.
~ because her widowed mother was
poor and partly to crafty a consuming
uesire 10 pose as the prettiest girl
there, for she had been consulting ber
mirror.
Inc fireman frOwned, but took a seat
next to the proprietor of the Mint In
lep' Inc hreman's face, newly wash
eu ana hardly rubbed, glistened in the
glare of the electric light. and tha
same light played upon the tewelad
nanus ana immaculate shirt front Of
the Julep man. The fireman bowed
coldly' and the other, feeling a certain
superiority i'll the matter of dress and
personal appearance, smiled.
Inc mead waitress. taking a position
at one of the windows, stood loOkino
at the TWO men, both of whom had
made love to her. She had DurposeIv
seated them so as to get their faces in
one Iralne' as it were, for she had been
unable TO fOrsake one and cleave to
the other She respected the fireman.
She had loved him once and had ac-
KhOWledged it to him-but she was
uazzled by the handsome. well groom.
ed proprietor of the Mint Julep. Once
or twice the fireman ventured TO looI,
up. but each time he saw her gazing
upon his rival and his heart was filled
with dread.
What time shall | call?" he asked
as Fanny handed him his ticket
Not before 8. | detest being first ia |
a ballroom"
suppose we say $50? 1t will be 9 |
Dy the time we reach the hall"
Nine said Fanny. nodding at the |
Julep man as he passed out. with his
chinchilla thrown gracefully over his
shoulders.
But I'm on the reception commit
tee."
Then go and 'recep' and come back
for me. | shan't leave the house be-
fore y. My. how gay you arev'
Ihe fireman went out with a heavy
heart. Fanny was getting on. She
had not used such language to him be-
fore. and it cut him to the quick. He
remembered how he had begged her to
Keep out of the eating house and tried
10 mint to her mother that the place
was full of lures.
ITS only short step in the direc
ton of danger" he said. "A public
dinner room, camp meeting. the skat.
ing rink. and''-
stop" said Fanny's mother. 81 will
not have you hint even that Fanny is
capable of being bad"
ana so the fireman had been power
less to prevent the pure young girl
from putting herself in this position.
Promptly at o o'clock he called for
Fanny. She would be out in a mo.
ment. her mother said.
During the half hour in which he
waited for the expiration of a WON.
IN S moment the fireman noticed n
number of new pieces of furniture:
llso he noticed that Fanny's mother
vas little reserved. Fanny herself.
While amply deliberate. was irritable
md nervous. Conversation seemed TO
20 slowly with them. like a heavy
rain on an up grade.
When they entered the ballroom. the
iddlers were already fddling. and they
ell in line for the opening walk c
ound. t
Over in one end of the hall there was !
bank of plants and ferns. loaned hy q
eading citizens for the firemen's an =
lual ball. and just in front of the oasis !;
tood the Julep man, immaculate as I
yer and wearing the only evening a
Iress suit in the room. g
He was radiant and all the more so t
y comparison. for not a few of the e
espectable suits worn by the tiremen Il
nd their friends were beginning to I
axe on that unmistakable shine that );
ONES with age. = =
"Oh. Isaac" exclaimed Mrs. Wolf n
tine to her husband. what a beauti. +,
ul young lady. Who is she?" G.
"She ees not what you say-a lady.
he is waitress from zee eating house."
And who is the handsome gentle
IAN writing on her card?' =,
He ees not one gentleman. my dear. %
lie ees re proprietor of ze Mint 'Ulep." =
Now Mrs. Wolfstine marveled that y
lis man should be there dancing with
ne daughters of the best families in NJ
ne growing western town But why
hould he not be there? Every fire
ian on the division had sold or tried
} sell him ticket for the annual ball.
The fireman was surprised upon tax. al
lg Fanny's card to find that his riva! tL
ad already written upon it. q
A half an hour later he took the card D
gain to select number and found the in
Ice of it Hack with "Julep. Julep. to
ulep." L
This man had been called by that -
anne so much that he had come to an
wer TO 1t and write 1t. Indeed, few
eople in the place knew that he had