Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-05-28
Tad, a Creature
of Impulse
20. 1925. Western Newspaper Union)
By WALTER T. FIELD

20. 1925, Western Newspaper Union.)
LIE WAS ten. but no one would have
1 = thought him as old mite of a
boy, thin. sharp-featured, brown-eyed,
with tangle Of dark hair that had
seldom felt the influence of a comb or
known the BARRIERS shears. His name
was Tad, and his father was lobster
man up on the Maine coast
enc August afternoon, as he was
pursuing a fiddler crab along the edge
OF the island beach, he looked up and
shied Euniee Harring and a half-dozen
OF her girl friends in an old dory row
ing away from the wharf toward the
mainland. Tad was a creature of fm-
pulse, and when he saw the boat
turned landward, he remembered that
he had business over at the barber.
There was a jellyfish that he had shut
up among the rocks the day before and
he wanted to see how it was prosper
ing. Sc, without a moments hesita-
ten, he suam cut across the path Of
the derry, seized the prev, and ciiMbea
In.
What are You doing?" cried Bunice.
We didn't invite you to ride with as"
Tn goin over to see my jellyfish,"
said Tad, ignoring the latter part Of
the remark.
But, Taddy dear you're not proper
ly dressed for boat ride with young
ladies'"
my name amt 'Taddy dear, and
Pm dressed all right-as much as I
genaIly am. I've got to see my jelly
fish"
Several of the orners seconded Eu-
nices objections, and the Wilkens girl,
who was usually somewhat perverse,
threatened to push him off
'Lemme alone or I'll splash water
on you" said Tad.
As the girls were dressed in freshly
Numbered organizes and were on their
way to an afternoon party at the hotel,
it seemed the part of wisdom not to
argue with Tad, So he had his way.
II don't think you're very polite.
but you may stay If you want to" said
Eunice.
But you mustn't follow us up to the
hotel" added the Wlkens girl.
you must think I'm fond of you"
said Tad. "Y' amt half as in'strin'
as my jellyfsh."
1t was more than mile to the main
land. When they neared the middle of
the channel, Tads practieed eye saw
a storm coming in from the sea. It
was one of those sudden squalls that
often visit the Maine coast and al
most without warning whip the sea
into a fury and toss improvident small
craft upon the rocks.
you better row back if you don't
want to get wet" said Tad Look
a. them Clouds"
The girls were frightened Beyond
the island was background of green
ish yellow which was rapidly spread
ing upward, and covering the sky. AL
ready the sound was dotted With white
caps, and chilly wind blew in from
the open sea.
They turned the dory with difficulty,
and began to row against the rising
storm. Eunice and the Wilkens girl
each took an oar, while Gladys, Eu-
nice's younger sister, sat in the stern,
steering as well as she knew how.
The wind was increasing every mo-
ment, and the waves now tossed the
clumsy boat violently about, drenching
the occupants with spray.
"You better let me take a hand"
said Tad from the bow.
You're not big enough to do any
good" said Eunice, as she strained at
her oar
Turn 'er around and row with the
wind into the harbor," said Tad. IF
you don't well get smashed ON the
rocks"
The girls now realized that the small
boy knew something about boats. They
tried to follow his advice, and turn the
prov Of the old dory toward the har-
boris mouth, but as they were broad
side to the storm, the dory lurched
and the oar that Eunice was using
went into the air. The frightened girl,
in trying to recover herself. lost her
hold upon it and it floated away.
They were now badly handicapped.
The remaining oar was worn and I'M
wieldy, and the WnksnS giEk cid not
know how to manage II. Every mo-
ment the waves were increasing, and
the wind was steadily driving the boat
nearer the rocky mainland
But Tad's small mind was working.
Like fash he leaped into the sea,
and few strokes brought him to the
oar. He seized it and tried to swim
back to the dory. Unfortunately, that
was much more difficult task than
to capture IT, The boat was now
drifting away from him. Twice by
vigorous swimming he almost reached
it. and twice the great waves beat hin
back Eunice collected herself suf-
ficiently to grasp the oar while Tad
seized the gunwale of the boat-and
moment later, in a cloud of spray
he was over the side and in the midst
of the now thoroughly demoralizeC
croVU