The Ordway new era., 1914-08-28
For Joseph's Sake

tionnl festival.
She was ten years old and he was
nve. He was very small for his age,
with wrinkled and grave little face.
He was always suffering from some ILL.,
ness. and he was permanently bedrid.
den. as his legs refused to carry him
along.
Two years had passed since their
mother had died, and It was Georgette
who took care Of him now. The faith
ar was fond of wandering about and
was very seldom at home. He strolled
around, working here and there, re-
turning with some money and q secret
fear that the children might have died
of starvation in the meantime. He
cried and kissed them and accused
himself of being an unnatural father
and swore never to leave them again.
Then he would stay at home for some
: days without doing any work and COM
plain Of unemployment. This made
him nervous and uneasy and at last
he would make his escape. leaving
his last money with Georgette.
They lived. on the top floor of .
house in one of the suburbs, an un-
healthy house 1t was, 30 miserable that
1t had become a proverb. even in this
shabby quarter. Its tenants were most
ly rag pickers. beggars and drunkards.
whose number was always decreased
by sickness and death.
In this house, in small. shabby
room with one single window facing
. dark yard, room which was always
dark even on . bright day, Georg-
cite spent all her time with her broth
er. Once she had persuaded q ply.
sician to visit him and he had given
her some medicine. but what was most
needed was fresh air and more
heaithfui place in which to live.
From the beginning Of July he had
talked to his sister Of all the wonderful
things he had seen that year when he
himself had been able to go out in
the street and look at the festival, and
Georgette, who wished that he
shouldn't be disappointed this year
and who did not dare to try to carry
him through the crowded streets. had
made up her mind to make an iilumi-
nation for Joseph alone.
She began her preparation in good
time. She helped her neighbor to un-
wrap colored lamps and got three Of
them in return. Near the mayors
house one day she found four. colored
glasses filled with oil, and for her
last few centimes she bought small
Roman candle.
As the boy lay In bed she could not
surprise him. and he enjoyed Georg-
cites preparations very much. She
hung the lamps on cord.
In the evening when all the streets
were illuminated the sister lighted the
colored lamps, and the colored glasses
she put in the four corners OF tie room.
II was wonderful. Joseph lay In his
bed and laughed with Joy. but the
lamps smoked and Gcorgette had to
open the window facing the ill-emell.
ing yard. At 10 O'Clock she lighted
the Roman candle. It was q very cheap
one. and at first 1t would not burn. but
suddenly caught fire and filled the
room with q red light and horrible
smoke.
rushed to the door and opened It. In
the draught the flames in the lamps
reached the wall paper. In few min.
utes the fire reached the wooden
frames Of the window and the door.
In vain Georgette tried to stop the
FIRE, and with little Joseph clinging to
her neck she rushed to the stairs.
At midnight the old house had burn.
ed down and only heap Of stones was
left.
A crowd Of people had collected in
the square. together with the former
occupants Of the old house. The au'
thorities Of the suburb had arrived
and one OF them, tall gentlemen,
put some questions to the concierge.
'It was the little one on the top
only she and I were in the house
when the fire broke out. I won't say
she did 1t purposely. but shouldn't
wonder II she did"
Where is she?"
The concierge caught hold Of q small
shadow who was carrying something
on her back.
Georgette, who was black with
smoke and still carrying Joseph. stood
before the stern Judge. trembling and
unable to say q word.
"Is It you who put the house on
are?" the tall gentleman asked her
harshly.
Georgette did not try to lie. II she
was to be put into prison and her iit.
tie brother taken away from her 1t was
better to get through 1t ~ quickly ~
possible. She confessed with trem-
bling voice: ~
Yes. 1t was me. did not do 1t ON
purpose. 1t was for Joseph's sake. He
was III and I wanted to amuse him BY
Illuminating the room-and then 1t
began to burn as opened the door to
get some fresh air into the ROOM"
She stopped. awaiting her sentence.
Everybody was looking at her and the
fear nom rly chcked hnr