The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-01-03
THE FIREMAN'S
...WOOING
The Story of a Girl Who
Chose Not Wisely.

oit utre, pietsS, Sdiu rduuy as sue
stood with her shapely hands upon the
back of a chair that she had drawn q
little way out from the table. 1t was
the boast of the proprietor that he had
the handsomest lot Of mattresses on
the road, and the queen of the collec-
tion was Fanny NcCann. That's how
she happened to be head waitress. for
she could not know much Of the busi-
mss. She had come to the place part
ly 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. but took seat
next to the proprietor Of the Mint Ju-
lep The fireman's face, newly wash
ed and hardly rubbed. glistened in the
glare OF the electric light. and the
same light played upon the Jeweled
hands and immaculate shirt front Of
the .Julep man. The fireman bowed
coldly. and the other. feeling certain
superiority in the matter of dress and
personal appearance. smiled.
The head waitress. taking a position
at the two men. both Of whom had
made love to her. She had purposely
seated them 30 as to get their faces In
one frame. as 1t 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-
knowledged Il to him-but she was
dazzled by the handsome. well groom.
ed proprietor Of the Mint Julep. Once
or twice the fireman ventured to look
up. but each time he saw her gazing
upon his rival. and his heart was filed
with dread.
what time shall I call?'' he asked
as Fanny handed him his ticket.
mot before .. detest being nrst In
a ballroom"
Suppose we say S:3O7 II win be
by the time we reach the hall"
Nine" said Fanny. nodding at the
Julep man az hr passed out. with his
chinchilla thrown gracefully over his
shoulders.
But I'm on the reception commit
Itee."
Then 60 and :recep' and come back
for me. I shunt leave the house be.
fore 0. Ny. how gay you are!''
The fireman we..i out with 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 ber to
l .t,.r .sxA It'd
to hint to her mother that the place
was full Of lures.
.'lf's only a short step In the direc.
tion of danger" he said. "a public
dinner room. camp meeting. the skat-
ing rink. and
stop" said Fanny's mother. II will
not have you hint even that Fanny Il
capable of belng bad"
And so the fireman had been power
less to prevent the pure young girl
from putting herself In this position.
Promptly at 0 o'clock he called FOL
Fanny. She would be out In . mo
ment. her mother said.
During the half hour In which hs
waited for the expiration OF . WON
nn's moment" the fireman noticed 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
and nervous. Conversation seemed te
train on an up grade.
When they entered the ballroom. thu
6ddlers were already fiddling. and they
fell In line for the opening wall
round.
Over In one end OF the hall there wa!
q bank of plants and ferns. loaned By
leading citizens for the fremen's an
nual ball. and just In front OF the oasis
! stood the Julep man. immaculate a!
| ever and wearing the only evening
| dress suit In the ROOM
He was radiant and all the more d
by comparison. for not few OF th'
respectable suits worn by the dremer
, L and their friends were beginning Il
, take OH that unmistakable shine tina
: comes with age.
, "Oh. isaac" exclaimed Mrs. Wolf
, sflne to her husband. what q beauti
> full young lady! Who Is sheT'
"Sbe ees not what you say-a lady
, She is waitress from zee eating house
7 "And who is the handsome gentle
4 man writing on her card?"
. He ees not one gentleman. my dear
He ees ze proprietor Of ze Mint 'Ulep.'
, Now Mrs Wolfstine marveled tha
|. this man should be there dancing will
a the daughters of the best families b
the growing western town. But VIII,
should he not be there? Every 6re
man on the division had sold or triet
: TO sell him a ticket for the annual ball
The fireman was surprised upon TAX
Hing Fanny's card TO lind that bis riva
bad already written upon 1t.
: A half an hour later he took the car
t again to select number and found tn
8 face Of 1t black with "Juiep. JuleI
:. Julep."
g This man had been called by tina
o name so much that he had come to an
g swpr TO II and write II. Indeed. feS
people In the place knew that he ha
g another name.
O 1t was two hours after midnigh
when the fireman opened the gate I
e front of the little frame cottage wher
e the girls mother lived.
k We'll" said the girl. putting th
5 gate between them. was the ball
successT
t "For some people It was q decide
success"
Q And for othersf" SO.
"A dat fallurA" +c.~s1xsss!