The Washburn leader., 1916-02-04
SHORE Leave.
BY ELLIS wAkEmAN.


When the Reliance dropped anchor
OF Block island during the maneuvera
around. Newport and Point Judith,
Tinkham appeared to have . settled
melancholy descend on him.
Deborah. That was her name,
Funny. sweet, little old-fashioned
name. he thought. Deborah Allan. She
had been born right there on the 10
land, Is miles out from the mainland,
and to Tinkham she seemed az sweet
and rare as one Of her own island
pond lilies the barefooted boys brought
around the hotels and docks.
All he had done that first day was
to look at her and say, Hello, sweet
heart!"
And she had cuffed him soundly, hez
big, dark eyes ablaze with swift an
ger, her little hand stinging in its re-
buke.
You boys from the ships think you
own the island the minute you land
here" she had told him. "And we're
not that sort"
She wasn't that Sort" either. A bit
of "Mandalay" had always made him
think of her in the long cruises later
on. 1--WE neater, sweeter maiden in
q cleaner, greener land"
She had boxed his ears. but she had
also all unwittinsly given him a new
ideal of girlhood, and in his own way
he had tried to fit his standards OF
life to the new picture.
Somewhere he had learned that she
played the organ up at little St. AIMS
by-the-Sea, and he had slipped into one
of the back pews to listen to her just
for one Sunday. his 'neater, sweetel
maiden" Also, before the ships had
slipped away toward Newport, he had
found chance of meeting her father
The old man had been busy calking
the seams in his sailing boat and
Tinkham had spent all his morning
one day helping him and telling him
stories of navy life. His reward had
come when Deborah came down to
call her father to dinner, and they
had met properly and rightly, and be
had held her hand in greeting.
His time was up in September. u
be could only te sure she was still
there in the little white house on the
shore road. He stayed on board and
Rugged his memory of her, afraid to
risk the truth. Then Grinman came
back and told him, big Grinman of the
gunners' mess.
She's still here, Tink." excitedly
Seen her today myself. She's all
alone up there. Lost her father Ii
the March blows"
"Dead?" asked Tinkham. ~
"Sure. She's all alone, I'm telling
you. Thought you'd like to know"
Thanks" answered Tinkham, and
the next day he got shore leave. Al
be turned up the beaten track to the
cottage, he lifted his cap and tucked
It under his arm for all the world the
way he had the day he went to heal
her play in church. Then, finally, hs
stood at the green screen side door
tapping, he, Tinkham of the navy, will
year between him and girl whit
had boxed his ears.
But he had full revenge. She came
quickly from the inner room and saw
him, and the color rose to her face al
she gave a quick indrawn little gasI
and laughed to cover 1t.
Tinkham had rehearsed all sorts O.
proper speeches all the way along th'
road, and now he stood silent. adorini
her, and all he could think to say was
my times up in September. I'm OF
shore leave today"
She gave him a chair on the littl'
porch looking seawrd, and they -
down.
Did you think I'd conner" he asked
Didn't you even remember me-"
She glanced from him to the boa
lying keel up down ON the sands.
"Yes, 1 remembered. Dad liked u
talk to you best Of the boys that cam
up here from the ships"
You'll never like me, cause spok
to you that day, will you?" he aske'
hungrily. II didn't say anything
only" n.
Il remember what you said" sh
smiled at him from under her lon
lashes. Its Just what all Of then
say to any girl.' IA
IF I said 1t today 1t wouldn't b
the same" said Tinkham doggedly
"Id-Id mean 1t. That's what cam
ashore for. l guess I've thought abou
you every day for . year, and when
heard about your trouble had t
come. I've only got one more mont
to serve then I'm going out home :
see my mother and sisters. But II
coming back. I can't get away fror
the sea. like it right here. Mayb
It's you that makes the island seer
wonderful. don't know, but fee
it right here"
Tinkham stopped and waited. H
was not given to eloquence. Low
seemed to leave him wordless an
smitten with its glory. Deborah wa
looking past him out to sea, where th
warships lay, gun metal gray in th