The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-29
Clam
Chowder


the school year closed. Tommy wa,
, on for parts unknown. and It woslt
have interested his friends nightly
II they could have seen him Twins
like Robinson Crusoe on an island OF
the coast OF Maine. catching his own
hsh. setting his own lobster pots,
planting vegetables in a tiny garden
and making chowder out Of a handful
OF clans. two potatoes and an onion.
That the result OF the last.named
recipe was appetizing was proved by
the fact that four people landing on
the beach from a motor boat shifted
with appreciation.
ITS clambake." said the young
est OF the crowd. a girl in white
serge suit with a short blue REFER
"Oh. I'm so glad, for l am starved"
| Further progress showed fire
!! with 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 a gay voice. and around the
corner OF a sandhill came Tommy.
oh" said the four intruders, star.
Ing. And we'll might they stare. for
while Tommy lived like Robinson
Crusoe. he wore a 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.
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
chowdcr. There's only a taste. You
see, cook for one; hut such as it IL,
it's yours"
He busted himself in serving the
simple meal. And while he worked
he listened. The girls name. he dis.
covered, was Helena.
You enjoy living the simple lifc?"
said the Oldest dame. whose name
was Mrs. Griggs.
Tommy nodded. IT'S great" he
said. IF You will sly for supper
we'll have broiled fish and baked
potatoes, and there's some lettuce left
III my garden
We'll stay" said the girl. III you'll
fix our boat"
All that afternoon Tommy tinkered
and the girl watched him while the
three elderly ladies' took nap in
the warm sand.
Then Tommy went out and caught
a fish, and brOilcd 1t over the Goals.
"And I'm sorry to tell you, ladies'"
no said. as he served II. that your
boat isn't mendcd, 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 a boat stops here with provi
sions. You can leave on that"
Since there was nothing else to be
lone. they consented, and after the
fish was eaten Tommy ard the girl
walked down the beach.
They talked of many Thugs; 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
from the tent, and walked at
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 to
the beach to meet him in the still
ness OF the wonderful morning
Ht S'd II inc d ptdii, SHc
land the sky like an
opal"
Tommy was breathing quickly !
Look here" he said. THE boat |
comes early. and before it comes I've
got something TO say to you-some-
hing to say-to you"
She smiled up at him frankly.
Look here" he said, again, you're
he most wonderful thing in the
world. Yesterday I was a boy trying
o go through college and living any
I'D way in the summer TO help meet
expenses. Today I'm man. ready
o fight life to the finish tO-get you.
II haven't right 10 ask anything
u you, but I've got TO tell you this
hat il you don't find the one man
'efore l can come to you and fight it
ut with the rest OF them, that you
ron't compromise and take some
Their fello W just because you're tired
I waiting for the real thing"
Then because he saw Mrs. Griggs
t the door of the tent. he went up
he sands to meet her. and the girl
as left standing where his burning
'ords had beat upon her.
breakfast was feast at which the
lree older ladies ate heartily of lob
ter, and at which Tommy and the