The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-14
CHAPTER V

CE1AT ! Ell
 "Are you making joke, Jerry?" Polly asked in an uncertain voice. People don't talk of marrying when they've just met"
 Jerry held her hands and looked down into her face. Look at me, Polly! Do I look like man that's joking? I figure there are troubles ahead of us. Dangers, even. We can face them better as man and wife"
 "Oh! So it's convenience you're thinking of"
 "It's love I'm thinking of, Polly. But I'm not denying the convent ence of the arrangement. Well? What have you to say?"
 "This is the most upsetting thing that ever happened to me-" Polly answered. There was miller in Lyme that proposed to me before I left home. And last Christmas Eve, after carol singing a young farmer did the same. But it did nothing to my heart, either time" Has my proposal done some JIlulS LO yOul 1lCdl OllJ
 The girl looked up at the bronzed young seaman and an- swered honestly, My hearts go- ing like a loud ticking clock, Jerry"
 Polly went and sat down se- dately. "There's something about English marriage laws you've yet to learn, Jerry. There must be a publishing of the banns in a church for three Sundays before the wedding day. Then, if any soul objects, the marriage can be stopped. My mother was Mary Dart, London girl. She fell in love with my father when she met him here in her cousins counting house. It was his first voyage over as captain of his own brig, the Proud Lyme. He courted her whirlwind fashion and she &C., cepted him, but the Darts were wild. My fathers sister, my Aunt Kate Chelsey, had come over with him to see London. So it was that my mother went back to America with them and was married in Connecticut, simple fashion. That way, they got around the banns and outwitted the Darts"
 Jerry said impatiently, "Banns! So the crazy English have us in another tangle, have they?"
 
 He walked back and forth across the room while his anger seethed. He was not one to take defeat meek ly. It was a while before he could say in a natural voice, Very well, Polly. Of course we can't wait for banns to be published. If I must abide by English laws, must. I'll be merely your cousin and stop counting you till can do it with honor. Good night, Polly. I'll see you tomorrow after I've planned 8 way to get us to France"
 "Well, now!" Polly exclaimed, somewhat taken aback at having stopped his courtship so effective ly. T bid you good night, Cousin Jerry Whitfield!"
 "There's the matter of your trunk" Jerry said from the door way. Tt would be better for me to go and get it tonight than to wait till morning. Tell me just how to get to the Dart house in Hempill street."
 Polly told him. But I dread for you to go to that house, Jerry. If there were only my clothes in the trunk I'd never let you go. But there's my mothers miniature and my money. We'll need the money to get me out of England. Will you be careful not to excite MT. Dart?"
 I'll not wave an American flag or strike him." Jerry answered with a grin. T promise. Go to bed now, and to sleep" He kissed her on the forehead, much as her brother Dick might have done, and went out.
 It was 10 o'clock when Jerry got out of the gig before Oliver Darts house and knocked on the oaken door. Mrs. Broggs admitted him. When he said, I've come to get Miss Polly Chelseys things, she gave an exclamation of concern.
 'Lud, sir! Do you know where she is?"
 Yes, I do. She's safe with me at tavern. I'm a cousin of her fathers, from America, and I mean to look after her. I've got q gig waiting outside. Tell me where her trunk is, and I'll fetch 1t down to the street."
 "Lud!" exclaimed Mrs. Broggs again. Masters got it! He found out tonight that she'd run off, so he had it carried down to his study, to go through"
 "Where is his study?" asked Jerry, visibly angry.
 At the head of the stairs on the floor above, sir. But wait! I can see you're hot-tempered. You'll throw MT. Dart into a rage, likely
 "Well, he's already thrown me into one. Whats he searching Miss Chelsey's clothes for? Fireams? Take me to him."