Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-14

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and Michael was her ardent sutton.
Ardent. bat net successful. In fact.
on this very day in which cur story
opens ne had presumed 10 tell her OF
his love, after many attempts. in all
OF which his heart had failed him at
the critical moment. The secret ont
at last he stood before her blushing
and shifting from one foot TO the o'her
like an awkward schoolboy. Rhoda
looked at him kindly from under her
long lashes-there were no such eyes
as hers-and replied:
Michael. you know like you well.
| do not know of any young man | like
better; but | cannot say that | love
You. You're very good fellow Mike.
but the man whose wife become
must be more than that. want him to
be brave and able 10 show by some
great sacrifice or the performance OF
q 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 ii | said yes TO you should
not only be acting a falsehood but
untrue to my ideals as well.
Poor Mike. He was speedily made
to see that Rhoda's determination was
adamant and he left her with mourn
full steps. AS he went he wondered
Ghat had made her so romantic OF late
so set Oh what Michael termed
strange ideas. Most young girls were
romantic. he knew. at certain age.
but Rhoda should have passed that
period in the natural order OF things.
She should have been more practical
satisfied. according 10 MichaeFs view.
with good husband. who would pro-
vide her comfortable home. and not
gone gallivan;ing around after heroes.
This was no longer an age of knight
hood-the days when a lover rode
put with his lady's favor On his sleeve
to fight for her in valiant combat. Mi
chael laid il all TO the books she had
rcad-the ones he had seen her pour
iDs over of late at the laundry. No
doubt the germ Of ner 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
c'eman and had accepted a more pro-
sale occupation only until he saw his
way clear To take tho civil service
examination for a fireman's place.
Now that Rhoda had refused him the
uneventful routine of letter-carrier's
life was 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 donled the blue uni
form of an engine driver was one of the
prcudest moments of his life. Rhoda
learned of his rev employment with
out any comment. Often after that.
when the gong rang in engine 24's
quarters. striking cut the signal which
meant q 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
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 Gre OF the most skiilful
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 firemen to a
fierce blaze in downtown Office b3id-
ing. The newspaper reporters in the
busy hives Oh Mulberry street counted
the strokes. and when the first alarm
was followed in quick succession by
a second. third and fourth, seized their
coats to rush TO the fray. They knew
the seriousness of it all. So did the
watchful operators in police head
quarters over the way. Soon they
were busy sending in telephone mes
sages 10 half 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 al! the
hustle and turmoil. the tangle OF carts
and cars. Michael steered them safely.
cool and vigiiant Turning cut OF n
narrow side street into Broadway the
extent OF the fire burst full On him.
Twenty-.cur engine was the first on
the spot. but already clouds of smoke
were billowing from the upper floors.
On either side. the building was flank
ed by lean sky-scraDers, which were
in imminent danger. AS Michael
eprang from his seat he saw this and
then. in one Of the upper windows,
something else which made his heart
leap into his throat. Now hidden by
the swirling and ever ;hickening
smoke. now revealed as the wind car
ried the cloud away. Michael made out
the agonized features of a man plain
iy bewildered by his peril The flames
licked the lntels of the floor below
md stretched out hungrily toward