The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-05-26


think Of her In the long cruises later
on. I've neater, sweetsr maiden in
cleaner, greener land" (
She had boxed his ears. but she had
also Gll suwittingly given him q new
ideal Of girlhOod, and IN his own way
he had Cried to At hfs Standards u
life to the new picture.
Somewhere he had learned tast abe
played the organ up at little st. AnG'E>
by-the-Sea, and he had slipped into one
of the back peWB to Listen to her just
for one Sunday, his 'neater, BWOetor
maiden" Also, before the ships had
slipped away toward Newport, he ha6
found q chance Of meeting her father
The old man had been busy calkinE
the seams in his sailing boat and
Tinkham 1hd spent ell 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 thoy
had met properly and rightly, and 10
had held her hand in srOetipG.
His time was up in September. y
he could only be sure she was stiiI
there in the little white house on the
shore road. He stayed on board and
hugged his memory Of her, afraid to
RISK the truth. Then Grinmsn came
back and tCid him, big Grinman Of the
gunneTs' mess
She's still here, Tlnk," eKcitOdiy-
"seea her today myself. she's all
alone tib there. Lost her father in
the March blows"
"Dead?" asked Tinkham.
Sure. She's all alone, I'm telling
you Thought you'd like to know"
Thanks" answered Tinkham, Gnd
the next day he Got shore leave. ~
he turned up the beaten track to the.
cottage, he lifted his cap and tucked
IL tifder his arm for all the WoTla the
way he had ghO day he went TO hear
her play in church. Then, finally, he
stood at the green screen side door,
| tappiBg, he, Tinkham Of the HGvy, with
a year between him and . Gira who
had boxed his ears.
But he had full revenge. She same
/ quickly from thefnner r0om and saw
him, and the color rose to her ace ds
she gave a quick indraWn little gHsp
and lauehed to c0v0r t.
Tinkham had rehearsed all sorts Of
proper speeches all the way along the
road, and now he stood siIent, edoyinG
hes, and all he could think to say was.
MY tines MP in September. I'm on
shore leave today"
She gave him chair on the little
porch looking seaward, and they eae
down.
ibid you think I'd Gomez" he asksd.
Didn't you even remember mel"
She glanced from him to the boat
lying keel up down on the sends.
Yes, / remembered. Dad liked 70
talk to you best OF the boys that cane
up here FROM the ships."
You'll Revar like me, cause spoke
to you that day, will you?" no asked
hsnGrily. Il didn't say snythiaS
only
"I remember what you said" she
smiled at him from under her lOnG
Iashes. "Its Just what all Of them
say to any girl
IF / said It today It wouldn't BE
/ the same" said Tinkham doggsdly.
, oTd--Fd mean It. That'S What came
ashore for. guess I've thought abOut
, you every day for year, and ~hsn
, heard about your trouble ] had to
come. I've only got one more mouth
I to serve then I'm going out home to
B see my mother and sisters. But I'm
] coming back. / can't get away from
r the sea. like 1t right here. Maybe
its you that makes the Island seem
/, wonderful / don't know, but / feel
It right here"
Tinkham stopped and waited. Hs
/, was not given to sloquencs. Love
Z seemed to leave him Wordlsss and
r smitten with It's glory. Deborah wA'
n looking past him out % sea, where TIE
y warships lay. gun metal gray II th'
morning light on the sapphire water
'Ym coming back in September. 4
/, there isn't anybody else" She shOol
!, her head quickly, and Tinkham's bl0'
IS eyes sparkled. He leaned toward be-
IS eagerly, throwing his chqllonGe 7
'f fate.
&c Hello, sweetheart" he whispered
n not as be had said It that hrst dAy
. but with ell his hearts lOnGinG IN hi
le voice, all his life's hope in the call
Of Hello. sweetheart"
to And Deborah, blushing softly
stretched out her hand to him.
Hello. boyi" she answered. u hin,
is Of thought you'd come ashore
ls Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure ReWpSa