The Red Cloud chief., 1906-07-13

lIOIl tHe DOdt
N quay to the placid waters Of
Penzance harbor a stoutly built
craft was moored. 1t had two occu-
pants this bright January morning,
and they were sufficiently diverse in
appearance to attract the attention of
the local squad Of that great army of
loungers which seems to thrive In to-
bacco blessed content at all places
where men 60 down to the sea in
ships.
The pair consisted of a weather beat
en- fisherman and a girl.
The man was Scared and blistered
by wind and wave until he had attain
ID much outward semblance to his
.raft. Nevertheless, man and boat
looked reliable. They were sturdy and
strong; antiQuated, perhaps, and greatly
In want Of new coat, but shaped on
lines to resist the elements together for
years to cone Ben Pollard and his
pilchard driver, Daisy, were Cornish
celebrities Of note. Not once, but
mortal-with the uncertain immortal
sty Of art-by painters Of the Newlyn
school.
The girl, an animated cameo, to
which the shabby picturesqueness Of
old Ben In his patched garments and
old Daisy in her unkempt solidity sup
piled fitting background, merited the
tacit approval she received from the
pipe smokers.
Flaxen haired, blue eyed, with face
OF a delicate, f1owerlike beauty, which
added to It's mobile charm by the
healthy glow of skin frightened and
deepened in tone by an abiding love Of
the open air. she suggested, by her
attire, an artistic study Of the color ef-
fects derivable from the daringly trust
ful little plant which gave the boat its
name. She wore a coat and skirt Of
green cloth, lightly hemmed and cuffed
with dark red braid. Her large white
hat was trimmed with velvet Of tone
to match the braid, and her neatly ft-
ting brown boots and gloves were OF
the right shade. Beneath her coat
there was a glimpse Of knitted jersey
of soft white wool, this being tribute
to the season, though a winter In
Lyonnesse can usually shrug its COM
Portable shoulders at the deceitful
vagaries of the Riviera.
That she was young person OF
some maritime experience was visible
to the connoisseurs above at glance.
She was busily engaged in packing the
spacious lockers of the Daisy with GER
90
etables-ranging from the lordly new
potato ian aristocrat at that time of
the YEAR, to the plebeian cabbage-and
her 1.-the, active figure moved with an
ease born of confidence In the erratiC
principles of gravitation as codified
and arranged by rocking boat.
Pollard, too, was Overhauling his
gear, seeing that the mast was secure
ly stepped and the tackle ran free
While they worked they talked, and, OF
course, the critics listened.
'Do you think the weather will hold
Benz" asked the girl over her shoulder
stopping to arrange some clusters OF
daffodils and narcissus so that they
should not suffer by the lurch of some
hesyS package when the boat keeled
over.
The glass be a-fallin', sure, missy
said the old fellow cheerily, "but wi
the wind backin' round to the norrard
1t on'y means drop O. Wet"
"You think we will make the rock In
good time?'
"We'm do our best, Miss Enid"
She sat up suddenly.
Don't you dare tell me, Ben Pollard
that after all our preparations we may
have to turn back or run for inglorlou'
shelter into Lamorna."
Her mock indignation induced mass
i've grin. "A mahogany table break
Ing into mirth," was Ends private de
scriptipn of Ben's face when he smiled
zee. knaw the coast as well al
most" he said. Farther go, stronge
blow, zee knaw."
"And not so slow. eh. Ben? Really