The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1907-12-10
The Sailors Return
lOTiginal J

IOriginaIl
There is nothing to do in this story
TO turn feet into fiction but 10 select
one or two fictitious names. The names
are all the fiction there is in il.
One morning Il young man appear
ed at the brooklyn navy yard anu ship
ped as 4 machiniSt. The cruiser he
was assigned TO steamed across the
Atlantic. through the Mediterranean
and the Suez canal for the China sta
ton.
Young VIheelock. as we shall call
him. was o skilled mechanic. Though
he had been all over the world. he said
very little about his wanderings or
himself He had left u girl at home,
and possibly this is why he was 50
quiet Men in love either like 10 talk
all the while about their sweetheaTts
or do a lot of thinking about them.
Wheelock was of the thinking kind.
For three years the cruiser was
steaming about in Chinese and Japa-
nese waters. then was ordered home.
The term Of Wheelocks enlistment was
nearly expired. Indeed. when the ship
left Japan just three weeks of it were
unexpired. He was privileged 10 stop
off at any port the vessel stopped at
after the expiration of his term or TO
go on with the ship TO the place of his
enlistment. When he reached Homo
lulu Wheelock had just five days to
serve No one supposed he would
wish to leave the ship in those far
away islands. but if he did he couldn't
unless 1t remained among them for the
remainder of bis term. He showed no
anxiety TO do so. and as at his enlist
ment he had given San Francisco as
his birthplace his shipmateS supposed
he would remain aboard until that city
was reached.
Four days were consumed in coaling
at Honolulu, and the cruiser was ready
| to continue her voyage across the Pa
/ cific on the very day that Wheelock
was free to leave the navy. Still, he
said nothing about remaining in the
! Sandwich Islands and outwardly AZ
| least showed no concern whether the
! vessel left two hours after or before
! the expiration of his term. Before re-
! turning to America, however. the
! commander decided to make a short
cruise among the islands recently ac-
| auired by the United States. On the
morning the vessel weighed anchor for
this cruise Wheelocks term in the
navy expired. He remained on board,
however and that afternoon when they
reached the port of Labaena. on the
island of Maui, he went on deck. Aft
er looking awhile at the quiet little
port set in a very beautiful country
with a pair Of eyes lit with pleasure
he went to the officer of the deck and
asked to see the captain. The COM
mander came out of his cabin and ask
ed the man what he could do for him.
"My enlistment is expired. I'd like
my discharge" replied Wheelock.
What, here? Don't you wish to go
to Brooklyn, where you enlisted?"
NO. sir"
but surely you don't want to get
off at this out of the way place. Hadn't
you better go back with us to Homo
lulu?"
mo, sir; I'd rather so ashore here"
The captain looked puzzled. Pres
emily he asked, would you mind tell
ing me why"
Certainly not. There" pointing to
the island. SIS my home. My father
and mother my brothers and sisters
are there. They live at Spreckelsville
not far from that port. There. too is
my sweetheart"
But" said the captain, were you
not born in San Francisco:"
81 was, but when l was a little child
my father came here. with his family
to take the position of engineer Of q
sugar plantation"
The captain was too astonished tC
reply at once. When he did he said
do you mean tc tell mel know it
you don't need to tell me-that after 2
three years cruise from New York
very day of the expiration Of your en-
listment:"
a singular coincidence. captain
Il should think SO, And you-didnt
you feel some emotion at the prOSpec
of going past all those you love with
out seeing them
Il didn't intend to do so. | waited
And said nothing. It's pity there
are not more silent people in the world
They're rare. All right; you shall have
your discharge"
That evening the young sailor enter
ed the village of Spreckelsville anC
made his way TO his home. That b.
{ was in the navy his relatives knew
but if they had any idea Of his where
abouts they supposed him to be on TIT
sea of Japan. Not even the girl wht
had been so long waiting for hin
dreamed that he was on the island
When she saw in the distance the IA
miliar figure coming toward her sh
trembled. fearing that il was hi
wrath. On he came. his features be
coming more distinct NJ every STEP
That he did not speak at first CAV
color to her fear that he was not in th
flesh, but she remembered that he wa