The “SPRIGHTLY LADY” and her Hurricane and Short Stories from Capt. Gardner M. Kelley Thelma a rich, “SPRIGHTLY LADY” with a nice yacht named for herself. She was very disappointed. She had been planning for a cruise to the Abaco’s, in the Bahamas before going north for the summer. She was looking at a picture of a body in a dingy, behind a sailing yacht. The body was not mentioned in the news. Probably was dumped overboard to save trouble for the officials, just another Bermuda Triangle mystery. The lady decided that she would have to put off going there, until she had some protection devises installed aboard. This would be done at City Island, New York Yacht Yard on the cruise north. She had no intentions of letting her world, her precious floating home be hi-jacked. The furthest we would go this winter would be Miami, Florida. The New River Yacht Yard is where the “SPRIGHTLY LADY” would soon be hauled out. This was for anti-fouling paint to be put on her bottom. She had a long cruise ahead. Thelma had spent much of her time at the lovely beach. It was not as nice as she remembered it from the past. The owner of the “SPRIGHTLY LADY” had enjoyed the winter months in Florida, the lavish parties aboard the yacht and her visits ashore to see her friends. Threats from the cold northerly winds were over for now. She sat with her husband Dennis and two other couples at Patricia Murphy’s elegant restaurant. She made the announcement, “We will be off for New York tomorrow.” Dennis protested, “I have a golf date tomorrow.” She said, “You have had enough golf for a while, now you can keep me company. The foliage along the banks is already changing, I am anxious to see it all.” Photo by Jeremy D’Entremont

Kathleen Olsen called Svenska Flicker by her grandmother is of Swedish stock. The old grandmother wants better than a shack on these beautiful Outer Banks Sea Shores; she wants her to have the whole world, as she did sailing with her husband. Kathleen is guarded well, not allowed to run loose as are many of the young girls of the Outer Banks. She is pure and innocent when a young captain flaunts his skill and daring to bring his schooner, white sails full into the inlet. Kathleen sees the captain and his ship, as her prince charming on his white charger. It was love at first sight and the romance blossoms. Married, the lovers sail on and on. Then Svenska shows a wild streak in her so demure ways and has to be punished. All is forgiven, the crew was happy. Then tragedy strikes, Kathleen dives from aloft in the rigging and hits the rail. Broken and bloody she is almost feed for the sharks. Bunk ridden, Kathleen tries to kill herself; she wants to set her young husband free to live a life without an invalid wife. Captain Kelley saves a man from being killed by muggers while docked in New York. He was once a famed surgeon turned into a drunk; he is signed on as ship doctor. He tends and studies Kathleen. Months later as a skilled surgeon again he operates on Kathleen's ailments. The good doctor is so pleased and once more acclaimed. He makes the down payment on a small freighter for the man that saved his life, and the little lady that gave him back his confidence. The good doctor waved good bye as the small freighter weighed anchor. Kathleen was tucked under her Captain's arm as the ship turned into the sinking sun.