The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-07-01
1T WAS A
NANTUCKET
COMEDY
GO by D. ]. walsh.l

| WlluOul udIIelluS anu Lhc
| sun discreet enough to brim
the summer girls enjoyment to the
verge of color and tan, there is no
place superior to the shore waters
OF Nantucket. If Blanche Wilmot and
Tom Howard did not think so in
stereotyped form, 1t was all in the
vivacity of their eyes and voices and
motions.
Nov you trim the sail while / do
the rudder," cried Blanche. "And
which Is the port and which is the
starboard, so can call out, and what
Is down bridge?' Susie Mills is for
ever telling me about their down
bridges when they go sailing, and
say it's such fun. And bailing out
can't we bail out, Mr.. Howard? We
stay only a month at Nantucket. l
want to learn it all so can talk, too"
"Mr. Howard!" scornfully. I'm
Tom and you are Blanche. Weren't
we properly introduced at the break
fast table, not an hour ago. and didn't
that Susie Mills of yours mention that
Nantucket has no frills? No one can
like down bridge and preserve dig
nifty"
"No?" doubtfully. "Susie didn't
speak of that-Tom. But what is it,
and the rest?"
"Oh, just ducking your head to
keep from being knocked overheard
by the boom when it swings round.
It's anything but fun, 1 can tell you,
Blanche. Some boatmen are forever
lacking when they're in narrow chan
nels, and that keeps the boom swing
ing like pendulum. And bailing-
that's when boat leaks. You can
thank your stars not to have any
Of that"
"Pshaw! You're no true sailor"
disdainfully. I'D just love to have
the boat leak. Couldn't we snag
something foul a rock or
| strain q seam so she would spring
leak? 1t would be so salty, you
know. But you didn't explain port?"
"Oh, that-that's the side one turns
out when driving, thinker maybe
it's the other side. I'm not quite sure,
just now. But, anyway, we don't need
1T. They say that and starboard in
battles, you know, when they're 60
ing on board with cutlasses. But look
out % sharply. "You will spring a
leak, sure, if you run into rocks that
way"
swell, how could help it," Blanche
retorted, with your chattering? /
couldn't listen to you and trim the
rud-I mean do the rudder, at the
same time. Sailors always look at
the sky and things and mediate.
Now, how shall we get off? The boat
spins round like a hobby horse turn
ing on a pole. I'll bet folks are look
ing at us from the hotel and laugh
ing"
Tom gazed into the water specu-
latively.
II suppose could get out and push
Off," he said. ut isn't over three or
four feet deep. But I'd get awful
wet"
"Then you sit right there and hold
on for your life!" cried Blanche, with
eringly, as she sprang to her feet
'I'll jump overheard and push off
myself. I'd just love to get wet. L
WELL" as Tom splashed into the water,
"if you will, do it, you're slow for
| emergencies"
AS the boat was pushed off the rock,
| almost causing her to lose her bal
ance, and Tom clambered ON board,
she said: Suppose you trim the sail.
1 want to learn it ALL"
"Crazy!" growled Tom as he edged
by her to the cockpit and grasped the
rudder. 81 could have pushed off
with an oar and saved this wetting-
If I'd thought. Luff little, Blanche"
Lets see," sweetly, that has to
be done with the rudder, doesn't it,
TOm?"
"Oh, well, maybe it does" irritably,
"but you'd be owlish If you had
streams Of water coursing down your
back and flooding your shoes. And
| we're right in front of the hotel. Like
ly 299 of the 800 guests are looking
at us and making remarks" He was
| silent for some moments, then added:
"And / Dragged whole lot to some
of the fellows about my-my salti-
ness"
Poor Tom," laughed Blanche.
'But I'm in the same boat. My talk
was horribly salty this morning. I'm
| afraid we're in for general congratu-
lations when we get back"
Tom groaned, kicked the water from
his shoes, then laughed.
"Only a month, did you say,
| Blanche%
"That's all. And papa made a
whole lot of trouble about that. He
doesn't like the seashore, and only
gave in when promised to be good
girl and consider his wishes in the
fall. You see, I'm escaping and want