The Carlisle independent., 1906-10-11
Friendship vs. Woman 'sLove A By WILLIAM FORSTER BROWN

oAH uCdlu doh you u, retorted Capt. Amos, ungraciously. I've al'lus taken care of myself so fur an l reckon 1 kin keep on a-doin' of it without any extry help. If I wuz y3u-"
 Then I'll jest give you chance to git yourself to Fairport, you pigheaded old cuss!" yelled Capt. Higgins, with know you'd signed the pledge I sh'd think you'd been drinkin'-or was out of your head; I'm goin' home"
 Hold on minit!" shouted Amos, scrambling down the slope of the ledge, Don't be so tetchy. 1 didn't say didn't want to De took off at all, did I? I only said I want pertic'ler bout il if I had to do any more swim min. Mebbe 1 won't hev' ter.'
 And Capt. Amos-with a deep-water sailors unerring spring, landed square ly on the boats half-deck. The red of the sunset faded into pearl-and darkening gray. From the 1 lighthouse on Fort Point golden fin ger shot seaward and the frosted edge VI tlC lu'i liiOon StOPI SiebuuoiiJ AhCO the clCudless sky. An inexplicable spell, conjured perhaps by the half mysterious peace breeding under the wings of the coming night, flooded Capt Amos soul, awakening old and potent memories.
 "Lem?" he said diffidently-uncon- sciously using the familiar diminutiye +1,ot I,o h i, 1i,NC for arc -'j'you notice how terribly pretty the sky looks over there to the westard? l ain't seen it look like that for years, an It sorter reminds me of the time we was young fellers-with old man Bragg in the Dreadnaught-in '63.'
 Yes" assented Capt Lemuel, thoughtfully, "an' speakin' bout the Dreadnaught, do you remember how we uster hook a share of the grog bein' too young to hev' any, regular. Blamed if I don't wish I had that oP tin pannikin O mine here now, with some ill it."
 Capt. Amos heart gave a sudden throb of anticipation.
 Say" he remarked deprecatingly, "'course I ain't a-sayin there is any thing O that sort aboard this dory; but s'posin' there wuz? Would you prom ise-on the Bible if we had one-not to say anything to-to-Fairport, bout my beln' capsized-if l gin you some?"
 Capt Higgins stopped his oar and reaching forth, grasped his dory- mates shoulder, whirling him around unceremoniously.
 Do you mean to say you've got some flicker, Amos Stubbs?" he de- manded Sternly.
 Capt. Stubbs explained and produced the flask.
 Capt Higgins elevated l. for long minute and returned it with deep sigh of satisfaction.
 Its curious how set some women is agin little licker," he commented, with glistening eyes; ''all fOolishness, too."
 ''So 'tis-sO 'tis," concurred Capt. Amos, raising the flask in turn. "I aP- Jus said so; specially if their fust hus- bands couldn't stand much; women is all-fired queer, anyhow" They certainly be-" acknowledged the tall captain, eyeing the flask hope fully, "an' that's one reason I've been so everlastin' s'prised at seein' you a. chasin' one of 'em at your time of life, throwin' over oP friends an actin stubborn an cont'ray-'s if you was a young feller O 20"
 Me a-chasin' of 'em!" retorted Capt. Amos indignantly. What hev' you been dCin' yourself, I'd like to know? Ain't you been a-goin' up to the wid der's every Thursday night for the last three years? An tryin' to pizen her mind agin' me? Faint your fault she ain't Mis- Lemuel Higgins this