Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-10-12
ALABOR DAY ROrlANCE


far almost as the eye could reach this
dense mass of humanity, men, women
and children, cheered aud waved para
soils, hats, handkerchiefs and miniature
flags.
The Labor day parade passed slowly
"tong, and parties of picnickers filed the
street cars and other thoroughfares.
Fathers, husbands and sons were in
the ranks of the men ON parade. A few
were working in miniature shops erected
as floats representing some particular line
Of industry and drawn along the streets
by gaily-decked horses: but the multitude
were in the ranks, each in his respective
union doing his little to swell the show
ing in the army of the laboring man, the
bone and sinew of a great nation.
Ted Gardner. as usual, was IN line.
IedS friends always looked for him on
one of the huge floats that preceded the
various unions and labor organizations
representing the different branches of me-
chanlcal art. For six wears Ted had
been with the Westchester company, and
there was not 4 man of the 500 and more
employees who earned his livelihood with
III the walls but had a CHEEKY word for
Ted. Since the last Labor day parade
however, to MS most intimate friends
Ted had NOT appeared to be just as cheers
full as in the old days. Moreover, he
was doing too much night work at home.
Its enough TO work your eight hours
each day, Ted said Fitson 20 him the
morning of the parade, land put i'll your
evenings knocking around
Not the kind that knocks around,
Fits replied Ted.
Go over and see the girl. then, my
boy, responded Fitson, as parting shot.
That's better still
Good advice" muttered Gardner to
himself. But | quit that II year ago"
The Westchester employees always met
after the Labor day ceremonies and had
an excursion of their own, in Il general,
good, old-faShioned picnic style. This
year Ted had decided to take charge Of
the two floats that came from the West
chester shops and see them safely re-
turned. lie was not going to the picnic.
On one float, showing small marine
engine and three benches with the same
number of men buSlly at work, was Ted.
attlred III working clothes and doing
nothing in particular, but moving about.
lis mind was evidently on the other
Heat ahead. for he continually glanced in
that direction. On this float was a genu-
me. If small. naphtha launch, and to add
to the realistic effect, three women of the
once staif and as many men from the
same department, bccomingly attired in
boating costumes, were lounging about on
the cushions. The small engine in the
craft was not working, but the naphtha
was occasionally lighted to keep steam
up Tor the purpose of blowing the ear
splitting whistle at stated intervals
IL was not the float itself that attract
ca inc attention of young Gardner, bus
little Nell Fowler, one of the three wom-
en-. Nell was the oldest uaugnter-.af ls1.ss
ioe roWler, Tor many years foreman Of
the Westchester works, and q man wha
thought well of Ted and had kept his
eye on the boy in the early DAYS. fer
there's something more than ordinary IN
that cuss. he would say. But Joe CON
tracted diphtheria during the epidemic
in the shops in 80, and was the third
OF the eight men carried off in that new
er-to-be-forgOtten spring.
The company did something hand
some as the boys put it, for each Of
the bereaved families, and, in addition in
FoWler'S case, took into the office at n
fair salary his daughter Nell, young
woman of some twenty summers.
The day of JOe's death, Ted had met
Nell walking down 10 the works to de-
liver the message. She was weeping. He
had never spoken to her before, but he
suspected her mission, and raising his
cap politely, said feelingly: please, Miss
Fowler. I'll tell them at the works
Don't you go down there"
Nell hesitated a moment. looked an
pealin@ly at him, then Thank YOU" She
said. You are very kind" Quickly shf
retraced ner steps, and Ted, watching
the retreatinG figure for a moment, saun-
tered off to break the news to the Office
staff.
Yes, he remembered all that as though
it were yesterday, yet it was almost
three years ago. Labor day of that year
Nell was not at the picnic, but on tho
next holiday She was there and OH that
very day he had told her.
1t needed no telling, for Nell had
known long ago, as every woman does.
and she WAS proud Of it; but she sat
silently picking a wild flower to pieces
as he spoke and finally, when he asked
that she give up the Office and come with
nm TO a new nome of their own, she rose
to her feet and moved away.
lie had followed. From then on she
seemed to change. At least Ted thought
50. Again he had spoken and this time
he got an answer. 1t was No" If she
had any love for him, it was hidden deep
somewhere beyond the vision Of hui
man eyes.
IF its on account Of your mother.
Nell Ted ventured. why, Of course,
shell live with us. / want her to. Why,
bless you, Nell" he went on with cheer
full smile. II believe | want her as bad as
| do YOU
But Nell only shook her head, and day
al A'A va! as tti IdSStN the hliIt. tF
watched her bending over the desk and
she seemed to be slipping further and
further away from him and his love.
All this flashed through his mind as
the parade moved on. and he glanced
from the cheering crowds to the little
figure in the float ahead
The procession was now near the end
of the line Of march and had stopped
temporarily at the bridge over the river,
which rushed past the south entrance 10
the park, whore the final review and
sports were to take place In the small
launch ahead the occupants were taking
advantage Of the stop to change seats.
The engineer was starting the flow Of
naphtha under the boiler TO produce more
steam for 4 final screeching of the little
whistle as they entered the grounds.
Nell had moved Gown the stern Of the
boat. Before she was seated. however.
there came a deafenina report and
blaze of light followed the screams Of
women.
Ted heard and saw it all For n SER
oAd he did not move. could not, but IT
was only for n second Then he leaped
over into the crowd: he was climbing up
the burning float.
The naphtha hal exploded.
The horses almost mad with fright.