Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-07
The Argus Daily Story
Shipwrecked-By Ethel Edna Sanger.
Copyrighted. 1912 by Associated Literary Bureau

was we'll skilled in her work and re.
Ceived every attention and encoura ge-
ment, as did all survivors OF that ter
rihle shipwreCk
Aud SO time passed The widow
worked hard and saved that she might
educate her child. Amelia was still
young and comely, with the fair hair
and complexion of the people OF the
north and a pair Of melancholy blue
eyes. Suiiors came. hut she listened
TO none of them. From childhood she
had been Adolph Stairs sweetheart.
and there was little prospect OF her
ever giving herself TO any other man.
Six years passed. Little Lena Stair,
who was now old enough to be amused
by pageants, when Labor day came
round besought her mother to take her
to see the procession.
So Mrs. Stair, putting on the child's
best clothes. took her into the city and
found vacant stoop where they would
be sufficiently elevated to see the
marching men. There they waited.
The child was wild with that excite
ment children CT her sEs display .:
parade. When necks were Craned In
the direction the trades unions were
expected she would shout, Here they
come" and when disappointed would
begin to look forward FOR the next fore
cast of the approach. In this way an
hour passed when u distant roll of
drums was heard. followed by faint
strains Of martial music. Then Lena
danced and Clapped her hands and
laughed with anticipation.
At last came the band. headed by the
drum major, whose tossing OF his stat
was a delight TO all Unlocking children.
Then the grand marshal, surrounded
by his aids, passed by, followed by one
union after another. When the masoni
passed suddenly a 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 his arms.
The man was Adolph Stair. her huS-
band. Amelia saw him and knew him
before he reached her. Almost before
his arms were about her she lost con.
10 herself was to point to Lena.
Adolph understood, and. taking tho
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. He
was cool and took forethought for
possible saving OF his life. He secured
bottle OF water and some meat and
bread. These. with a small flask OF
liquor he had brought with him on his
journey, he slowed away as best he
could on his person, then, returning to
the deck, gathered what loose material
he could to make a 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 among
a very few who did so. 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 drtfted 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 his bread and
meat he kept dry till 1t had been con
sumed This, with his 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
manned of his strength by an occasion
al draft from his flask.
He was passing into semiunconscious-
ness when he was aroused by a shout
and saw a small boat pulled toward
him. He was taken on board a sailing
ship bound on a trading tour around
the world and found no means for
leaving her and making America for
"A long while When he did succeed in
this his Amelia had been lost track OF
by those who had known of her land
ing.
Stair did not return TO the ranks.
He found something more interesting
than parading-a wife, and a daughter
whom he 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 IL
not been for that parade that Mrs.
/ Stair and her daughter were looking
! at, their paths might never have Joined.
/ Stair called their meeting a coinci-
/ dence, but Mrs Stair. who is a de-
/ vout Christian. looks upon il as dis
/ pensation Of a merciful 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
binary workman.