Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-12-03

and complexion OF the people OF IN.
north aud a pair of melancholy blut
eyes. Suitors came. but she listened
to none Of them. From childhood sht
had been Adolph Stahrs sweetheart
and there was little prospect Of bel
ever giving herself to any other man.
Six years passed. Little Lena stahr
who was now old enough to be amuset
By pageants. when q Labor day came
round besought her mother to take hel
to see the procession
So Mrs. Stair. putting on the child'i
best clothes. took her into the city and
found a vacant stoop where they woult
be sufficiently elevated to see ths
marching men. There they waited.
The child was wild with that excite
ment children Of her age display a
some unusual occurrence. especially
parade. When necks were craned II
the direction the trades unions wert
expected she would shout "Here the!
come!" and when disappointed would
begin to look forward for the next fore
cast Of the approach. In this way an
hour passed when distant roll Of
drums was heard. followed by faint
strains of martial music. Then Lens
danced and clapped her hands and
laughed with anticipation.
At last came the band. headed by the
drum major. whose tossing Of bis stafI
was delight to all unlocking children
Then the grand marshal, surrounded
by his aids. passed by. followed BY one
union after another. When the masonf
passed suddenly q man darted from the
ranks, pushed his way through the
crowd that lined the sidewalk and
leaping over several small boys and
disarranging the big hats Of a number
Of women. clasped Amelia In bis arms
The man was Adolph Stahr. her hus'
band. Amelia saw him and knew him
before he reached her. Almost before
his arms were about her she lost con,
sciousness Her first act after coming
to herself was to point to Lena.
Adolph understood. and. taking the
child In his arms, the three were united
In one embrace
Stair. after parting with his wife on
the sinking vessel. began to think OF
himself. First he picked up a life
preserver and put 1t about him BE
was cool and took forethought for q
possible saving Of bis Life. he secured
q bottle Of water and some meat and
bread These. with a small flask OF
liquor he had brought with him on bis
journey. he slowed away az best he
could on his person. then, returning to
the deck. gathered what loose material
he could to make q raft
The latter stood him In good stead,
for, embarking upon II. he managed to
paddle himself far enough away from
the ship not to be drawn down with
her when she sank. he was amonk
a very few who did 90. and soon after
the ship went down he became separat'
ed from that few.
he saw the steamer that came and
took up those in the boats, but he had
meanwhile drifted away from them too
far to be seen or heard. but he re-
joiced at the knowledge that those In
the boats. especially his young wife.
were saved. He drifted slowly on till
there was nothing in sight except the
sky and the ocean The sea was COM
paratively calm and bis bread and
meat he kept dry till It had been con
sumed. This, with bis bottle Of wa
ter, kept him alive for three days-days
Of horror. but not bereft Of hope. Ships
passed. but they were too far away to
be attracted At last he kept what re
mained of his strength by an occasion
al draft from his fask.
He was passing into semiunconscious-
ness when he was aroused by shout
and saw a small boat pulled toward
him. He was taken on board sailing
ship bound on trading tour around
the world and found no means for
leaving her and making America for
a long while. When hs did succeed In
this bis Amelia had been lost track OF
by those who had known Of her land.
ing.
Stahr did not return to the ranks
he found something more interesting
than paradlng-a wife. and daughter
whom be had never seen. Of whose ex'
istence he had had no knowledge Be
tween the two, the wife leaning on his
arm. the daughter lovingly holding the
hand Of her newly found father. they
went to the mothers home to lay plans
for their future.
Since that fortunate meeting. that
blessed reunion. the Stair family take
an unusual interest in Labor day. for
It Is their main anniversary. Had II
not been for that parade that Mrs
Stahr and her daughter were looking
at. their paths might never have Joined
Stahr called their meeting coinci
dence. but Mrs. Stair. who Is a de
vout Christian. looks upon It as dis.
pensation Of a merclful providence.
They have prospered. the husband and
father having made money as a con
tractor. but he never fails to join In
the parade on Labor day like an or
dlnary workman.