The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-09
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
How Pelly Paid.
BY WILL T. AmEs.
pyright. 1920. by the Mcclure

y
l,eople tc the markets Of another were
otting on the floor OF the sea, sent
hero by the Germans, and because
n consequence freight rates were sol
high that II paid better to take mad
finances with the lives OF sailors than
70 lay vessel up for repairs, the Twin
Sisters dragged a jangle of looscl
Plates through West Indian tornado
or fourteen hours, and then, after
screaming for aid till her wirelessl
broke down, iammed her nose under
and went TO the bottom in the midst
d howing darkness.
Five days thereafter Fenton Pelly,
messed in the completely new clothesI
that had replaced the outfit he lost
IN the Twin Sisters, called at the home
OF Constance Brand. bringing her the
story OF sunny Frank Sudbury's trag.
ic end
Tney had known each other long
these three-eyer since Constance
was pupil in the grammar, school
where she taught, and the boys, older
by year or two, played the part of
rivals for her favors. Later, in their
yrownup time, Pelly had taken It
Mther badly when Constance spur.
red by his persistence, had told him
aatly that her choice OF Frank Sud-
Jury was deliberate, '-revocable and
iuite beyond his undoing.
Fenton sneered little at her choice
Tor already he was seagoing man
NTH an engineers papers, while Frank
bad not yet found himself. Then
came tho war, and Frank, serving
In the navy, by the time 1t was over
had discovered that his lines of life
lay on blue water, too.
That's how he came to be second
pfficef of the freighter Twin sister,
that night when she went down in
the tropic storm, and how Pelly came
TO be the bearer of the tidings, for
late had shanghaied them into the
iame ship.
Constance, white faced, dry eyed,
s elingfng to her womans' pride and
courage, with fingers that were
Noodles where they grlpped the
nook in her lap listened without a
FORD or sign. Pelly was respectful,
nnimaginatiye, bit stolid as always.
He talked along in a monotone, as IL
he had rehearsed the tale over and
over. on his way, to make easier the
breaking of the news.
AT the last" he said,. "although
we'd been expecting it for hours, the
end came sudden like. She preached
TO and twisted herself all out Of
shape like rotten stick; you could
feel the slump under you when those
old rfvets began to go. It was Just
like the tearing of a worn out rag.
She ripped wide open and the whole
Thlantic ocean came in. OF course
II was a case Of piling into the boats
ind getting AWAY from her-if We
sould. There were nineteen people
N our company; and four boats
more than enough. Six of us got
q into one Of them and got 1t into the
water right side up by good luck
Something happened to the other boat
On that side OF the ship, for 1t came
Town tail first, as near as we could
see, and dumped the crew into the
sea.
The lights were burning-they
burned to the last, for the electrical
plant was on the main deck-and
could make out Franks white
yweater, the only one on the ship.
He was in that boat. When the boal
zane down by the run we put about
md headed for the spot The sea
vas running in enormous great
wells. with very little chop.
Those men shot out from under
he lee of the ship like chips and we
contrtyed TO get them all except
u
aged to get as close to US as am to
YOU ] reached out both hands to
grab him-and he threw UP his arms
and won't down"
That was the story 1t made in
Constance Brands lonely life the
Inference between noon and mid
night, between a dream day in May
and stark mid-winter blizzard.
Her parents were dead; serious
purposeful, she had made few light
Friendships; outside her work Frank
Sudbury had filled her existence for
years. She found herself now Twins
In q spiritual vacuum. A vast, re-
sentful unrest filled her. She be-
came afraid OF her own rebellious
thoughts.
In this mood Fenton Pelly supplied,
IN some accountable way, a link with
her dead happineal. She had not
liked the man too well, but he had
been there in the last terrible scene
and he had tried to save her lover.
AS the weeks passed she admitted
linn to some share In her life. as he
lad bean sharer in its tragedy. AMI
Pelly, with a tactfulness and delicacy
beyond what she had deemed him
capable OF found ways of making
himself we'll nigh indispensable. He
Mas Win nef great deal
He had decided TO stay ashore, he
said He had saved eou money
md was looking into the . age bus
mess.
At last Pelly poured out his heart
lgain. Constance, softened toward
he man and thinking of herself Us
mo whose wrecked life could there
ifter yield some. shreds OF content
inly in giving happiness to others,
Lid not definitely deny him. 1t was
too soon, she said, for such thoughts.
AS for the future-who could tell?
At the end OF four months, because
he had been cautious and discreet
and very kind, and devoted himself
20 her wholly. there came an eve
E.ng when the Tina seemed ripe &c
Pe.iy TO cAnch his chain. They
stood at the gate of Constance's
boarding place. Pelly, with a world
OF Difference and an obvious strug
Ele TO muster the needed courage,