Evening journal., 1912-08-09
Shipwrecked
A Story For Labor Day.
By EMERY c. TUCKER


the patches of ground belonging to
their respective parents. Carl was
trife darker than Gretchen. but that
was because Gretchen's hair was like
cloud streak. with the falntest tint
OF yellow sunlight on II. and her eyes
were blue as the heavens against which
the cloud rests. Both were light com.
plexioned. as most north Germans are
both had chubby red cheeks and white
teeth
When Carl came to be eighteen years
old and Gretchen sixteen he was fuil
Of ambition to make a home for him
self and his sweetheart. The little
farm was too small even for his father
and mother and the younger children,
and he bad no hope Of making home
for himself in land where persons al
ways remain the same. SO he resolv-
ed TO go TO America.
He had never spoken of love TO his
little playmate. not even when she had
grown old enough to think of marriage.
He did not speak OF II when he told
her he was going to America. He did
not need TO speak of II OF to ask for
a reply In words. When he announc-
ed his purpose Gretchen looked at him
with her big blue eyes. and they filed
with tears. He took her Ia his arms
and told her he was going away TO
make n nest for them both. and when
he had made enough he would send
her the passage money TO follow him.
But when she asked how long that
would take he said be would have to
learn a trade before he could begin to
lay up money for the home. which
would require several years. her heart
sank.
For at her age even one year seemed
interminable.
Carl reached the new world I'm safety
and. being a bright young fellow, sue.
ceeded in getting a carpenter to take
him as an apprentice and teach him
the trade. He mastered It readily.
though he was Obliged to serve out the
time Of his apprenticeship before he
could begin TO work for himself and
earn money. And when that term was
finished he was obliged TO buy tools
before he could be regularly employed.
SO It was three years before he could
60 to work as a member Of the union.
and even then he was put on merely as
helper.
But the time came at last when he
earned enough money to send for Gret
chen, and he didn't walt to earn enough
to buy the home. He had got his trade
and could lay up money, and he felt
that with Gretchen to comfort him he
would get on just as well pecunlarily
as IL separated from her. SO he sent
her the passage money. and when she
received his letter containing the draft
her heart bounded for Joy There was
the regret at leaving her poor old IA
ther and mother, but II is the nature Of
fhe young TO leave the parent nest to
make one OF their own.
II was sprlngtime when Gretchen
sailed from Bremen in the steerage Of
liner for New York. Carl had writ.
ten her that he would meet her at the
immigrant station, where they would
be married. so that she would not be
sent back lest she be a charge on the
nation.
Carl didn't think 1t necessary TO
tell her where TO come to him In case
he should miss her. for she could not
get through unless he married her.
One morning a few days before the
ship bearing his sweetheart was due
Carl took up a newspaper and saw IN
large headlines an announcement that
the vessel had fouled In fog with an.
other vessel. The passengers had all
been removed to the colliding ship,
which had carried them to Halifax.
Carrs Joy In learning that his Gret-
chen had been saved was dashed at re-
membering that she would not enter
New York as he had expected. and
having only funds sufficient TO bring
her across the ocean. she might not bs
able 10 come to New York at all. Ever
ff she could how would she find him N
30 large city?
Carl spent what money he had in :
trip to Halifax to End her. but coulC
find no trace OF her He and Gretchen
were irrevocably separated. and there
was no hope Of finding each other ex
cept by accident
Five years passed. Carl had becoml
a master carpenter and was makinl
money. When Labor day approached
that year be was chosen TO lead hi
fellow workmen in the parade and wa
made one Of the 6oor managers at tn
ball in the evening He was malzini
- a ~ot fo- a doroo aud tkoro hofn,
only three couples available. looke'
about for a partner for himself. See
ing a young woman with hair almos
white sitting alone. he approached he
and asked her 10 dance. He was sur
prised to hear cry, sob:
"Carlr'
Then he knew Gretchen. They hal
found each other Though it was 4
q ballroom with hundreds OF person
hooking on. they few into each other
SSms. conscious Of none except eac
ether.
Gretchen on arriving at Halifax ha
&saFfed to go TO New York. stoppiu
by the way to earn money enough I
pay her way on the trains. II took he
three months TO reach the metropoli
and when she arrived Carl had left N
place where he had last written he
Then she began to earn her livin
ever hoping that among the counties
throngs she might meet him.
SHELLPOT ATTRACTIONS.
There was a large attendance at Il