Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-03-19

| Ing at the door OF the one Wolnan IN
the world.
Miss Ncttie Blake's got tired OF en-
tertaining two callers every WedDes-
day. only she's too polite to say so!
II you'll go away you'll lind that she'll
open the door quick enough TOT me"
Eben's voice rasped OH the still night
mir as Caleb Brown ceased from his
knocking
"Shc doesn't answer because she
thinks It's you.r' snapped Caleb, re-
suming his bombardment
Il always knock Special retorted
Eben. Miss Ncttie always recognizes
my knock. II you'll just move along
and let gentleman that has some
rights here He paused suggcstively.
There was an explosive snort from
Caleb Brown. and the knocker fell for
the last time with n little angry thud.
The first assistant keeper Of the light
ran down the steps and faced his
rival In the moonlit space before the
house. His nose advanced within an
inch on Ebcn's implacable countenance,
and his head waggcd violently.
Say II again" he challenged squeak
lily.
Eben repeated his remark. with a
few embellishments regarding Mr..
Browns personal appearance.
After this interchange OF pleasant
rics 1t is not surprising that another
instant found the assistant keepers
rolling wildly OH the gravel. now In
the neat borders. where their heels
played havoc with Miss Nettie's
choicest plants. again coming In con-
tact with II spiny cactus that pricked
them to greater ferocity.
At last they fell heavily against n
rotten tree stump that supported a red
painted flower tub. The stump quiv
cred and then yielded TO the onslaught.
The flower tub descended, just escap-
Ing serious injury to the combatants.
The shower OF loose dirt that filed
their eyes. ears, noses and mouths
brought the warfare TO a swift close.
StlnIy they arose and faced each
other In the pale light. dirty. dlshev-
eled. with blackened eyes and bleed
ing noses. their best blue clothes caked
with yellow loan. while every crevice
Of skin and clothing was filed with
fine earth from the flower tub.
As by one accord they turned and
marched out Of the gate, leaving the
scene of havoc to greet Miss Nettie's
Mortified eyes when the sun arose.
Caleb Brown strobe on ahead, and at
an unfriendly distance In the rear
Eben Gail llmped after him.
They crawled into the bobbing dory
and rowed silently down the red path
that the lighthouse flung across the
glimmering waves.
4 smart little launch was moored at
the lighthouse landing. and with the
idea OF avoiding the parson or other
possible callers who had taken pity on
Captain Peters loneliness the two as
sistants crept quietly down into the
engine room. where they noiselessly
scrubbed the marks of combat from
their faces and clothing. During these
ablutions there was marked exchange
OF courtesies between the rivals. They
and forth and shared the healing con-
tents OF Il huge bottle of vaseline with
amazing affability.
The fierce. brief battle IN front OF
Miss Ncttics cottage had seemed To
relieve them of twelve months accu-
INFLATED venom. AS they quietly trod
the winding iron stairway to their
room in the tower above the sitting
room they paused 10 ill their pipes
from Ebcn's tobacco pouch. Each was
mindful of his own bruised eye and
aware of the futility OF attempting TO
conceal 1t from m inquiring world
1. e., Captain Peter and his visitors
should they be discovered.
\ light CLEANED under the sitting
room door. aud as they passed IL the
portal swung wide. and Captain Peter
himself. smiling and happy. resplen-
dent In his best suit of blue cloth. con-
fronted them and laid friendly hand
on each shoulder
"Come In, boys. You're just In time.
Here's parson and his wife and Benja-
min Green and Uncle Nehemiah Blake
and her that was NettIc Blake. now
Mrs. Captain Fame"
The two assistants stared open
mouthed at the merry company that
filed the little sitting room. and the
lighthouse keeper continued:
'Yes. stree. Miss Nettie and me
counted on getting married ut the par.
sonagc tonight. and everything was
ready and waiting; but. seeing that
you two boys was set on going court
Ing on this particular night. ! just sent
word 10 the parson for the hull lot OF
'em 10 come over here aud get married
at the light. Benjamin. he brought
'em over In the la'nch. wedding cake.
lemonade and all. Now. everybody set
up and have something 10 eat. You're
too late for the wedding. for the knots
all tied. but yon can have some "
Mrs. Captain Fane's cake. and she's a
royal good cook. Now, Nettie"'
Mrs. Fame blushed prettiiy rs she
took the huge knife the captain gave
her and thrust Il into the thick white
Icing. and as she presented n slice to