The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-03-20
Partners OF
the Tide
BY.
JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Author y "cap'n Err
Copyright, 1906. by A s. Barnes & Co.

The kitchen door had swung to, but
there was a great clatter Of voices be-
hind it. Miss Tempy was exclaiming
and arguing; CLARA Hopkins, who was
visiting the old maids during the alb
sence of her folks from town, appar-
emily, was saying very little, and
third person, in a deep bass rumble,
was explaining something or other.
Land of goodness" cried Miss Pris-
sy, 81 hope 1t amt the minister and
me in this old wrapperw
The kitchen door was opened, Miss
Tempy appeared beamlng, and there
followed her into the sitting room no
less a parsonage than Captain Ezra
Titcomb. The captains face was the
least bit redder than usual, but he was
otherwise as suave and unmoved as II
the time of his previous call had been
but yesterday instead of four years
before.
"Wen, Prissy," he said, shaking
hands with the invalid, chow are you
tonight? Most ready to come on deck
and take command? No don't git up.
Evenin', Brad"
Poor Miss Prlssyi She patted her
tumbled hair into the most present
able shape possible, hurriedly pulled the
red and white knitted afghan" over
the wrapper and managed to gasp that
she was glad to see the captain. Then
she sat still and stared reproachfully
at Miss Tempy.
But that lady was too excited to
notice her sisters agitation. She flut-
tered about the visitor like a hen with
one chicken. trying to hang up his hat,
dropping it. bmshlng violently as she
collided with him I'm the attempt to
pick IL mp and generally behaving, as
Miss Prissy said afterward, Ike a
born gump.
"Set right down, cap'n," she pleaded.
"We're reel glad 10 see you. What
made you come to the kitchen door?
I couldn't think who twas. could YOU.
Prissy? Oh my sakes'
In her nervous haste she had pushed
forward the big armchair that had
once been the throne Of Captain Dari-
us. but which. owing to the nfrmitics
Of age. had FOR some time been kept
I'm the corner for show purposes only.
It had q veal, leg and when Captain
Titcomb planted himself on the worn
black Oilcloth cushion the infrm mem
Der promptly bent inward, and the
captain slid gracefully % the floor
"Tempvr exclaimed Miss Prissy i'm
freezing tone BRADLEY laughed and
ran TO assist the fallen one. Miss Tenn
pv. now I'm a perfectly helpless state
wruug her hands and suffered.
"Tho idea of aiviu him fathers
chair cried Miss PrisSy. "Tempy
have YOU gone loony? I hope YOU amt
hurt Cam Ezra We never use that
chair now. II used tn belong TO IA
ther."
Miss Tompy was heard To remark
fechly. that il looked $50 like him"
She declared aftcrwarl that she didn't
say H.
The cart,iu made light Of the acct
dent and selected another seat. care
fullv Testing IL beforehand He at once
began tY mIk about the weather and
Miss Tris-y's illness But the older
sister iutprrupIcd him a~ soon as the
OUBIrtmIfE offered.
.Whlt made you come 10 the back
door" She asked.
There wasn't an metauts heSitancy
I'm tho captains reply:
"Oh." he said lightly. ITS rainin'
little. and / thought I wouldn't muss
up them floors of yours. 7 know them
floors of old" he added. and laughed
heartily. lie continued TO talk about
the floors and seemed TO think his fear
Of soiling them a great Joke. Miss
Tempy. who was triAe more rational
by this time. laughed with him. but
Miss Prissy seemed still curious
"Y1u used to come TO the dinin' room
door even when il showed" she said.
"Yes but | had on nv sea boots this
time. and they're so big I tote ha'f the
road along with me. Reminds me-" he
added hastily. lust in time to cut off
another question. "of what the old man
my dad | mean-said about a colored