The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-09-21
WATKINS FOR PATTY
sy =. q EATON.

pahsapy eoo0 looking, had q splen0to
income quite outside his pay. aud was
lieutenant junior grade. In the
navy.
Orders had come detaching him
from duty at the yard apd instruct.
ing him to join the Comorant for sea
duty.
/. He stood on the steps OF the id
miral's house-the admiral was com
mandant OF the navy yard-a scowI
on his face and a heart within him
like several tons Of lead. Evelyn How.
land, TIE admirars daughter, had Just
refused him again. and tomorrow he
would be at sea for he knew not how
many years. The Comorant was head.
ed for the Philippines.
Still scowling. he began to walk
down the path; A syringa bush on
the little lawn was In full bloom
Behind the syringa bush sounded .
childish voice singing q popular song.
1t ceased as he moved down the path,
and Patty Rowland. with all the i'm
pulsiveness OF a dozen years coupled
with very strong likes and dislikes.
sped from behind the bush and threw
herself into Taps Scudder's arms.
"Oh, Taps" she cried. are you real
ly going away tomorrow"
Tonight. Patty" said he. smiling
down at her. I'VE sail tomorrow"
And you've Just been up to see
Evelyn"
He hooded.
And she turned you down again r
That's not q nice way Of putting
It," he chided mildly.
well, did she?" she persisted. You
needn't answer. Taps. see 1t in
that scowl of yours. And you look
hurt and angry. too. Did she say
she'd marry you II you'd leave the
service?"
He smiled rather wanly.
You're not going to?"
I'm sailing tomorrow on the Co
morant," said he
We'll. don't you leave the service,
Taps-not for Evelyn nor anybody
else." she said.
'Why?" he asked.
oh. well. for one thing Just be-
cause. and for another because you
are 30 awfully. awfully handsome in
uniform"
That last is the best reason, Pat.
ty." he laughed. Just for that
won't leave the service"
We'll. don't. Promise me you
won't"
Il promise"
He stopped. She lifted her pretty.
childish face and kissed him resound.
ingly, not once. but over and over.
Then he went on down the path, the
Incident forgotten. He was scowling
again and his heart was sore within
him. Evelyn Rowland, had, indeed.
intimated this last afternoon that II
he would leave the service she would
marry him.
The next day he sailed on the Co.
morant. And it was a very depressed
Taps Scudder that cruised about the
Philippines.
He wrote Evelyn often-it seemed
to be his only solace, that and wait
ing impatiently for the letters from
her. They were all of the same gen.
eral trend. Why did he stay in the
service. especially when he had plenty
Of money? He couldn't really care
very much for her II he wouldn't leave
the service for her sake.
Taps read those letters and bit his
lips and paced the hot deck. and six
years went past in this way.
Then he was ordered home, and the
waters did not foam and hiss half
loudly enough beneath the homeward
pointing Prov to suit him.
Evelyn was still heart.free, II he
could believe her letters. and in few
weeks now he would see her.
During his absence Rear Admiral
Rowland had reached the age limit
and been retired. He now lived in
an impos1pg house in an exclusive
suburb near the navy yard.
No sooner was he landed than Taps
scudder headed thither. 1t was
splendid place, with spacious grounds
and long. low rambling house set
among Lombardy poplars.
Taps stood at>the wide gates admir-
ing 1t. The carriage which had
brought him thither was rafting back
toward the little suburban station.
A motor car came whirring into the
driveway. A norm honked Its strfdent
warning. He turned about There
was q cry from the car: instantly It
stopped. .E- '.
oh. Taps. Taps, dear, I'm 30 glad
to see you-so. SO glad!"
He looked at her dazedly. He could
not realize the change in her that
six years had wrought Could this be
the little spindle-shanked girl he had
left behind the syringa bush at the
navy yard? He muttered in Devil.
dered fashion:
Patty! For goodness sake
Patty"
You've grown handsome, Taps"
she declared. why, you're awfully
distinguished lookins-not 30 boyish
as you were. Aren't you glad you
stayed In the service?"
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