The Prescott daily news., 1912-07-30
Clam Chow1er

Tommy Dewitt managed by living frugally in summer to pay his win ter's expenses at college As soon as the school year closed, Tommy was or for parts unknown, and 1t wosld have interested his friends nightly If they could have seen him living like Robinson Crusoe on an island off the coast of Maine, catching his own fish. 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 sniffed with appreciation.
 Its a clambake," said the young. est of the crowd, a girl in a white serge suit with a short blue reefer. "Oh, I'm so glad, for am starved"
 Further progress showed a fire with small iron pot set over the coals. A savory steam rose from the pot.
 But there isn't much of it." said the girl
 "'Whos been eating my soup2'" quoted a gay voice, and around the corner of a 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 middy 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 reefer, "and being women, we don't know how to fix it.
 Delighted" said poor Tommy, But I hope you're not keen for chowder There's only taste. You see, I cook for one; but such as it is. 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 life?" said the oldest dame, whose name was Mrs. Griggs.
 Tommy nodded. "Its great" he said. If you will stay for supper we'll have broiled fish and baked potatoes, and there's some lettuce left in my garden"
 Well stay" said the girl, eff you'll fix our boat"
 All that afternoon Tommy tinkered and the girl watched him while the three elderly ladies took a nap in the warm sand.
 Then Tommy went out and caught a fish, and broiled it over the coals,
 And I'm sorry to tell you, ladies, he said, as he served it, that your boat isn't mended, and that you will have to make yourselves comfortable for the night. I shall be glad to offer you the hospitality of my tent. In the morning a boat stops here with pTovi sions. You can leave 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 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.
 "The sea is like a pearl" she whispered, and 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' thing to say-to you
 She smiled up at him frankly.
 Look here" he said, again, "you'rc the most wonderful thing in the world. Yesterday I was a boy trying to go through college and living any old way in the summer to help meet expenses. Today I'm a man, ready
 fN
 "I haven't a right to ask anything of you, but I've got to tell you this that if you don't find the one man