The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-11
A Triangular
Courtship
The Ending Was a Surprise
to Those Who Lost.
BY cLAR1ssA MAcK1H.
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.
BY cLAR1ssA MAcK1H.
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9 Copyright. 1910, by American Press .
Association, o
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The keeper Of the Ledge rock light
and his two assistants stared agrees
sively at one another across the din
ner table.
tits against the rules for less'n two
) men to stand by the light, us you both
well know" said the keeper sternly.
Il don't see why it's necessary for
the two of you to go counting on the
same night Besides. forgot to say
! wanted to be away myself tonight"
"You promised that should have
tonight off," expostulated Eben Gail.
you said I should have every We'd
nesday night of. have a lady
friend His voice trailed into signifi-
cant silence.
II have lady friend, too" cut in
Caleb Brown angrily. Il spoke to
Captain Peter about 1t this very morn
ing. l says to him. l says, MY lady
friend II be looking for me most par
ticular tonight, and l can't disappoint
no lady, And you said as how l
could be OF for the evening" He
scowled across the table at his fellow
worker, and Eben Gail frowned back
quite as f1ercely.
Great fury! You can both go. and
good luck to your courting."
Maybe we could get the parson to
come over and set SPELL" they chant
ed sheepishly.
Maybe nothingl' snapped Captain
Peter. rising noisily from his chair and
leaving the room.
That night after the lamp was duly
lighted and its beam had sent long
ray across the water the engine re-
ceived Its last attention from the as
sistant keepers. In sullen silence they
washed up the supper dishes, and then
each, dressed In his best clothes and
with hair plastered wet on his brown
forehead, went down into the boat
that was to take them ashore.
"You can give this letter to Parson
Wilson," called Captain Peter genial
~, following them down the winding
iron staircase. BE sure you give 1t to
him Us soon's you get ashore, SOS be
can come out and stay with me till
you two lady killers come home"
Without word Eben Gail crammed
the letter In his breast pocket. and
then. with gruf Good night" to the
keeper on the landing, they unlocked
the davit chains from the boat and
rowed away into the darkness.
Captain Peter Fame went back into
the coy sitting room and. throwing
himself into huge rocking chair.
laughed until the tears rolled down his
weather beaten cheeks.
Once on shore the two assistant
keepers of the Rock ledge light part
ed company In an ominous silence that
had not been broken since leaving the
lighthouse.
Caleb Brown took the lower road
and soon disappeared from view,
! while Eben Gail made his way
through an upland path that led him
to the parsonage on the hill.
There was an unusual air of festiv.
fly about the snug house. Bright
lights shone from every window, and
when the front door was thrown wide
open a red glow from. the hall lamp
formed q background for the minis
.ter's surprised face. Eben noted that
he was dressed in his Sunday coat
and over his shoulder peered Mrs. vii.
sons rosy face.
Eben delivered the letter and turned
away. AS he went down the path
Mrs. Wilson's voice arose, shrill with
disappointment and protest.
"S'pose they've got party on hand
maybe donation. don't see how
the parson can get over to the light
this evening. l hope Miss Nettie ain't
gone to any donation. l don't know
when can get of again." His steps
hastened as he drew near the abode
Of Miss Nettie Blake.
Now. Miss Blake was most fasci.
nating little lady. with soft brown
hair and eyes Of tender blue. Hel
equally soft and tender heart had be
reft her Of the power to give pain tc
any fellow creature. Perhaps this
was the reason why neither Calet
Brown nor Eben Gail had been able tc
wiring q definite answer from the lady
both mutually adored.
Eqr a whole year now the assistant
Keepers Of the lighthouse had courted
Miss Nettie Blake. At first they Wis
tied her on different evenings. but as
jealousy waxed hot they fell upor
Wednesday evening as proper and
fitting one for lovers attention, and
as neither could be dissuaded from
his purpose, first one and then thu
other hnd supplied substitute tt
watch with Captain Fame on Wednes
day evenings.
And this dual courtship did not dis
turb Miss Nettie's equanimity. Sh'
was as sweet and kind as ever. and
she impartially set forth her tooth
some apple pies and elderberry win'
while the rivals glowered at each 9th
er across her snowy damask.
Tonight, however. the little whit
cottage was dark and silent A shad
owy form on the doorstep indicates
the whereabouts Of Mr.. Caleb Brown
Eben paused at the gate and coughed.
Caleb Brown banged the bras
knocker aercely on the door, gleamin
family white behind the shadow
vines.
All was silence.
The gate creaked under Eben Gail
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