The St. Mary banner., 1903-06-06

THE HBR0ISM OF MICHAEL MCMILLAN.
Ely Ed. w. Riis.


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Michael McMillan's heart was heavy
and it was all on account of Rhoda
Ehoda was pretty brown-eyed, light
fhaired girl, whose mission 1t was tC
iron shirts In a downtown laundry
and Michael was her ardent suitor
Ardent, but not successful. In TACT
on this very day in which our story
"opens he had presumed to tell her oi
his love, after many attempts. IN all
Of which his heart had failed him al
the critical moment. The secret out
at last he stood before her blushlns
and shifting from one foot to the other
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 l cannot say that | love
you. You're a very good fellow 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 l don't believe you. |
do, but if l said yes to you l 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
what had made her so romantic OF late
so set on 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 to Michael's view.
with 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 lover rode
out with his lady's favor on his sleeve
to fight for her in valiant combat. Mi
chael laid it 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
r. c'eman and had accepted more pro-
sale occupation only until he saw his
way clear to take the civil service
examination for fireman's place.
Now that Rhoda had refused him the
uneventful routine of a 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 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 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
luick glance in her direction and nod
led. then gathered up the reins, while
,e devoted his entire attention to max
ng the turn without accident He
soon became one of the most skillful
lrivers in the department.
The city long remembered that fate
ul Saturday afternoon when the peace
# an unusually dull day was broken
~ an alarm calling the firemen to a
ierce blaze in downtown Office build
ng. The newspaper reporters in the
,usy hives on Mulberry street counted
he strokes, and when the first alarm
vas followed in quick succession by
second, third and fourth, seized their
oats to rush to the fray. They knew
he seriousness of it all So did the
operators in police head
quarters over the way. Soon they
we're busy sending in telephone mes
ages to half a dozen precincts to or
Ter out the reserves that the scene OF |
he fire might be properly policed.
Engine "a went out on the first alarm |
he last stroke of the gong was still |
choing behind him as Michael Sc |
urely strapped in his seat, bent low
ver the horses. urging them to their |
est speed. How they did fly through |
he crowded streets. Through all the |
ustle and turmoil, the tangle of carts |
nd cars. Michael steered them safely,
ool and vigilant. Turning out of a
arrow side street into Broadway the |
xtent Of the fire burst full on him.
Twenty.four engine was the first on
be spot. but already clouds Of smoke
enrn biJfnV,in0 from Sha uu1Av Annrn |