Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-24
Clam
Chowder

on for parts unknown, ana IL WOalu
have interested his friends nightly
II they could have seen him living
like Robinson Crusoe on an island on
the coast Of Maine, catching his own
fish, setting his own lobster pots,
planting vegetables in tiny garden
and making chowder out Of handful
OF CLAIMS, two potatoes and an onion.
That the result OF the last-namcd
recipe was appetizing was proved ~
the fact that four people landing on
the beach from a motor boat shifted
with appreciation.
"It's clambake," said the young
est of the crowd. a girl in a white
serge suit with short blue REFER.
"Oh, I'm so glad, for am starved"
Further progress showed fire
with a small iron pot set over the
Goals. A savory steam rose from the
pot.
"But there isn't much OF it." said
the girl.
"'Who's been eating my soup!' "
quoted gay voice, and around the
corner of sandhill came Tommy.
"Oh." said the four intruders, star
ing. And well might they stare. for
while Tommy lived like Robinson
Crusoe, he wore snowy white MILDLY
blouse and white trousers. his fair
hair was brushed up from his fore
head and shone in the sunlight, and
his strong young figure showed the
effect Of good training and outdoor
sports.
1--WE don't mean to intrude." said
the oldest lady of the crowd, but We
are exploring the islands; we didn't
know this one was inhabited"
"And there's something the matter
with our boat" said the girl in the
blue REFER, "and being women. We
don't know how to fix It,"
Delighted" said poor Tommy.
"But / hope you're not keen for
chowder. There's only taste. You
see, cook for one; but such as 1t 10,
it's yours"
He busted himseN In serving the
simple meal. And while he worked
he listened. The girls name, he dis
covered, was Helena.
"You enjoy living the simple lief"
said the oldest dame. whose name
was Mrs. Griggs.
Tommy nodded. ITS great" he
said. III you will stay for supper
we'll have broiled fish and baked
potatoes. and there's some lettuce left
in my garden"
''we'll stay" said the girl. 'if youu
TX our boat"
All that afternoon Tommy tinkered
and the girl watched him while tho
three elderly ladies took nap IN
the warm sand.
Then Tommy went out and caught
fish, and broiled 1t over the Goals
"And I'm sorry to tell you, ladies'
he said, as he served 1t, that your
boat isn't mended, and that you will
have to make yourselves comfortable
for the night. shall be glad to OFFER
you the hospitality of my tent. In the
morning boat stops here with provi
sions. You can leaye on that"
Since there was nothing else to be
done, they consented, and after the
fish was eaten Tommy and the girl
walked down the beach.
They talked Of many things; and
Tommy lay awake half the night,
wondering how he had believed that
life was worth living until now.
He slept on the other side OF the
sandhill from the tent, and walked n
dawn. After plunge In the sea. he
went forth in his snowy white suit
to face the sunrise.
The girl was up and came down u
the beach to meet him in the still
ness Of the wonderful morning.
"The sea Is like pearl" she
whispered, land the sky like an
opal"
Tommy was breathing quickly
Look here" he said. "The boat
comes early. and before 1t comes rye
got something to say to you--soms
thing to say-to you"
She smiled up AZ him frankly.
Look here" he said. again. you're
tho most wonderful thing In the
world. Yesterday ! was boy trying
to 80 through college and living any
old way in the summer to help meet
expenses. Today I'm = man, ready
to fight life to the finish to-get you.
Il haven't right to ask anything
Of you, but I've got to tell you this
that II you don't ind the one man
before i can come to you and night II
out with the rest Of them, that you
won't compromise and take some
other fellow just because you're tired
OF waiting for the real thing"
Then because he saw Mrs. Griggs
at the door of the tent, he went up
the sands to meet her, and the girl
was left standing where his burning
words had beat upon her.
Breakfast was feast at which the
three older ladies' ate heartily OF lob
ster, and at which Tommy and the
girl ate nothing.
I'm not hungry" Helena insisted
when urged, "and before the boat
comes want to walk to the end OF
the island--to-to-'
And when they had rounded thA