Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-04-06
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TOM GROGAh'S EASTER
Ey Edith Sessions Topper

Gee, Toms in luck." said Larry
Finn as he watched two of the pref
test girls in the ward sail by the en-
CINE house and give Tom Brennan, the
handsomest fireman of hook and lad
der company No. -, perfect fusillade
OF eye alteration.
TO the divil wild Tom" said Dooley
Bryan, struggling his brawny Shout
ders in downright disgust. He don't
be human. What ails him OF dunno
all the gurrils in the parish crazy over
his black eyes an he not noticln'
thim."
WAS he always so?" inquired Larry.
He was returned Dooley, liver
aimee Maggie Harrigan tux the VEIL"
"Oho!" said Larry.
They were engaged" said Dooley,
enraptured with himself as a gossip,
when Maggie got the vocation 1t
was near KILN Tom, but av course he
could do nothin'."
He couldntY" said Larry. "Why
didn't he carry her OFF,
y
In? IT'S the bride of heaven she is
It's ashamed ay you OF am, We haste.
No; poor Tom had to submit, but he's
niver been the same OF suppose now"
concluded Mr.. Bryan meditatively, IF
wan av thin Numbers av the Four
Numbered were to come by and give
Tom the glad eve he'd niver Encourage
her. Ills sthrange thot the nuts allus
fall to the toothless divils'
With which sage observation Mr.
Bryan betook himself to the FURNISH
ing of the hose cart as a relief to his
oyereharged emotions.
All was true. Since the day Tom
Brennan tore his manly heart out liz
bidding an eternal farewell to the
beautiful girl who renowned him for
her vocation the big fellow had never
been the same.
All women were like shadows to him.
He had loved one truly, devotedly, and
he had been forced to give her up to
heaven. He could never love another.
Tom never noticed women. He sim
ply went shout his business of saving
property and lives as if there were
nothing else in the universe for big,
handsome, athletic fellow.
Often as he lay in his bunk at the
engine house, as he rode tempestuously
through the crowded streets, as he
fought the flames, he repeated to him
self the last words he had said to his
beloved: II love you, Maggie, darlin'.
/ would live for you or | would die for
you, and since you bid me tear out my
heart l must do it."
The Easter morning dawned-the
very easter on which Tom had hoped
10 lead his sweetheart to the altar. He
thought OF her as he reused from his
dreams Of her sweet face Life was
over for him, he said. He saw again
the crowded church, the white ROBBED
novices. He smelled the incense. he
heard the roll of the organ, the solemn
voice of the priest. He shivered and.
turning, buried his face in his pillow.
Suddenly the alarm reused him. He
listened. He sprang from his bunk
and a moment later was down the pole
and in his place on the truck His
face was like the face of the dead. AS
in a dream he heard the cry, Where
is itf'' and the answer from a dozen
lusty threats, The convent
The convent and the orphans home
adjoining were ablaze. 1t was evident
ct r-1o haF no
doomed. The main business was to
save the sisters and the children.
The bravery of the nuns and their
proteges was only second to that of
the magnificent fellows who fought for
the lives Of these helpless people. Ev-
cry one recalls the amazing fortitude
and courage displayed at this fright
full hour
The children had been well drilled |
for just such moment of peril. and |
nobly did they now obey their instruc- |
tors. Such deeds Of heroism as were |
done that bitter morning are never lost. |
Their memory remains as an eternal |
inspiration.
Tom Brennan thrust ladder up to |
q window Of the dormitory just be- |
meath the huge gIlded cross that sur /
mounted the roof OF the convent.
In this window, serene, calm, her |
lips moving In prayer. stood a sweet |
faced sister holding in her arms a tiny |
crippled boy. SO symbolic was the at
titude Of this holy woman that not one !
Irish heart in the vast crowd below |
failed TO respond,
1T is Sister Mary Beatrice" moaned
the mother superior She knelt upon
the bare ground and crossed herself
When Tom Brennan, his face black
ened with smoke and his eyes blazing
with heroic excitement, reached the
window Sister Mary Beatrice looked I
steadfastly at him with her old sweet
smile the smile he had loved.
He held out his arms.
The child first, Tom she said rs
she laid the little boy on the broad
breast OF the fireman.
A mighty shout went up from the
crowd below. All had seen that sub
lime act All realized what IT meant.
A dozen hands received the child,
aud Tom Brennan turned back up the
ladder.
He lifted Sister Mary Beatrice from
the wiadow.
For one instant he held her on his
heart.
Then as the frenzied spectators
groaned and cursed and prayed the
convent walls swayed in.
And at the foot OF the cross Tom
Brennan 6iad for his Maggie dsrlln'."
New York Herald.
His Easter Musings.
He picked up the Easter Statements and
read