The Opelousas courier., 1903-06-13
THE HEROISM OF MICHAEL MCMILLAN.
By Ed. w. Riis.


Michael McMillan's heart was heavy
and it was all on account of Rhoda.
Rhoda was a pretty, ~brown-eyed, light
haired girl, whose mission it was to
iron shirts in a downtown laundry,
and Michael was her ardent sutton.
Ardent, but not successful. In fact,
ON this very day in which our story
opens he had presumed to tell her OF
his love, after many attempts. IN all
Of which his heart had failed him at
| the critical moment. The secret out
at last he stood Before her bsushing
and shifting from 8ne fod to the other
Ike an awkward ~schoolboy. Rhoda
looked at him kindly from OAder her
long lashes-there we're no such eyes
as hers-and replied:
l. Michael, you know I like you well.
7 do not know Of any young man like
better; but I cannot say that I love
you. You're a very good. felloV Mike,
but the man whose wife become
must be more than that. | want him to
be brave and able to show by some
great sacrifice Or the performance OF
a deed of merit that his love does not
lie in words alone. Don't think me
selfish or that | don't believe you. |
do, but if | said yes to you l should
not only be acting a falsehood but
untrue to my ideals as we'll"
Poor Mike! He a speedily made
to see that Rhoda's determination was
a6amant and he left her with mourn
full steps. AS he went he wondered
what had made her SO romantic OF late
so set on what Michael termed
strange ideas. Most young girls were
romantic, he knew, at a certain age,
but Rhoda should have passed that
period in the natural order of things.
She should have been more practical
satisfied, according to Michael's view.
with a good husband, who would pro-
vide her a comfortable home, and not
gone gallivanting around after heroes.
This was no longer an age of knight
hood-the days when a lover rode
out with his lady's favor on his sleeve
to fight for her in valiant combat. MI.
chael laid 1t all to the books she had
rcad-the ones he had seen her pour
ing over of late at the laundry. No
doubt the germ of her fancy original
ed in them.
Now, If Michael had been like GER
tain other young men the prospect
would have discouraged him. But his
love for Rhoda was founded strongly.
After the first bitterness of his dis
appointment he took his rebuff philo-
sophically and made up his mind that
he would win Rhoda in spite of her
whims. His chance was not long in
coming.
Michael had always wished to be a
f,eman and had accepted a more pro-
sale occupation only until he say his
way clear to take the civil service
examination for a ireman's place.
Now that Rhoda had refused him the
u~neventful routine of a letter-carrier's
life raj more than ever distasteful to
him. He wanted some excitement to
take his mind off his trouble. so he
buckled down to the preliminary prep
GRAFTON for the examination
with vigor. He came through
the test with flying colors and
the day when he donned the blue uni
form OF an engine driver was one of the
proudest moments of his life. Rhoda
learned of his new employment with
out any comment. Often after that,
when the gong rang In engine 24's
quarters, striking out the signal which
meant a fire In the home district, she
looked UP from her ironing in time to
see Michael guide the three splendid
bays around the corner. AS the heavy
engine rumbled past, Michael shot a
quick glance in her direction and nod
ded, then gathered up the reins, while
he devoted his entire attention to max
ing the turn without accident. He
soon became one of the most skillful
drivers in the department.
The city long remembered that fate
full Saturday afternoon when the peace
OF an unusually dull day was broken
by an alarm calling the iremen to a
fierce blaze In downtown office build
ing. The newspaper reporters in the
busy hives on Mulberry street counted
the strokes, and when the first alarm
raj followed In quick succession by
q second, third and fourth, seized their
coats to rush to the fray. They knew
the seriousness OF 1t all. So did the
watchful operators In police head
quarters over the way. Soon they
were busy sending In telephone mes
sages to half a dozen precincts to or
der out the reserves that the scene of
the fire might be properly policed.
Engine "a went out on the first alarm
The last stroke Of the gong was still
echoing behind him as Michael Sc
curely strapped in his seat, bent low
over the horses, urging them to their
best speed. How they did fly through
the crowded streets! Through all the
hustle and turmoil. the tangle Of carts
and cars, Michael steered them safely,
cool and vigilant. Turning out of a
narrow side street into Broadway the
extent of the fire burst full on him.