The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-15
500 Goge g. -: {: {: (: (

the bluc dress whose claim on
Jerry had been so mysterious and
urgent. Il hope he gets sick OF
hear" she said fierccly to MUS
ance. Sick"
Nuisance only flicked his ear,
but an elderly man sitting be-
side Polly exclaimed, What say,
Miss? You're sick? I'm
not surprised, the way this coach
mrches about. Can l offer you a
piece of candied ginger to settle
your stomach
Why. yes. thank you," Polly
repiied: and since he seemed a
well-intentioned man, rather ia
thcrIy. she entered into Il con-
vcrSation with him about Eng
lands war policies.
I've Just been wondering" she
said. IF any ladies would be al
lowed TO cross to France?"
If they're French, Miss, they'd
probably be permitted to 90 home,
and rood radiance. That is to say,
if there's a way for them to get
hcmr. If they're English and loyal
they'd not want TO go to France
Now would they"
II reckon not. But suppose,
nov. an American girl wanted TO
eros, 10 France?
The man eyed her with sudden
disFryrr. Like all knwliShmen, he
hated 10 see the French and
Americans getting together. IF
m American woman has the good
fortune ID BE- in England" he re-
marked pondcrously. "let her APP
ureciatr il. Let her thank Heaven
shes escaped from land of bar
barianS and raSCalS.'
Polly turned her shoulder to-
ward him and made no reply, for
she was offended. But presently
she was moved to turn and say
frankly. There are some Amcri-
can raScals. sir, | grant you. I've
got one in mind now. But homes
home. and | want 70 get there. SO
| ask you, sir, what would be tire
safest way for a lone girl to criss
the English Channel?'
Il doubt" replied the man, ''if
there is any safe way to count
on" He was John Bull persona
fled. respectable. intelligent, hon
orablc and solf-satisfied: he
loathcd Americans collectively, so
it surprised him to find that they
could be individually intriguing.
NO, there's not safe way for
any pretty friendlcSS girl to cross
the Channel in war time. She
might meet gallantry, and again
she might not. II it was my
daughter had to do it. I'd advise
her to make herself into an old
crone."
THANK you. sir" Polly said. 81
don't know why | didn't think of
that myself"
Along the flagstone pavement
in Lyme, Conn, an elderly man
with a seagoing gait made his way
home. assisted by two homemade
sticks. He had been to
Pelps store. His purchases were ,
in his pockets, for he bought only
such necessities as tea, sugar and
coffee, and as little of these as
possible.
People spoke to him in a friend
" way, but absent-mindedly. He
was only Trepid Chelsey, a retir-
ed skipper without ship, afflict-
ed with rheumatism and no longer
useful to the community.
Evening, Mr.. Chelsey." :
"Howdy, Trepid." Those who
greeted him respected him for
his worthy life and his good an
cestry. But life moved rapidly
even in Lyme, and Trepid Chel-
sey, who had once been vigOr-
Gus man named Intrepid, and had
had a well-bOrn London wife to
be a credit to the village and a
ship named the Proud Lyme to
keep up the little ports reputa-
ton, now had none Of these
things. not even his health.
In the old shabby house with
the tangled gardens there was
only the crippled Dick who mulled
over his books and would never
carry on the family tradition of
going to sea. There had been
the girl Polly, who had done all
the hOuSework since the year her
father had lost his ship and his
wife. But she had gone to Lon
don now, on the ship of old Tim
ChclSey, down at New Haven.
People rarely spoke of Polly's
unfortunate trip to her father, for
with the var going on, she must
be having difficulties. Only Mrs.
Pcll, who was relentless in her
quest for news, dared mention it
today. "Trepid," she said, stop
ping him not far from his own
gate, "Polly'll have to stay on
with her Dart relatives in London,
won't Shc?"
81 ikplv - TrnniJ ouSvrroJ Ia.