The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-02-11
-rE
A Triangular
Courtship
The Ending Was q Surprise
to Those Who Lost.
} BY CLARlSSA MACKIE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association


and his two assistants stared aggres.
sively at one another across the din
ner table.
Its against the rules for less'n two
men to stand by the light, as you both
we'll know" said the keeper sternly.
II don't see why it's Necessary for
the two Of you to go counting on the
same night. Besides. l forgot to say
I wanted to be away myself tonight"
"You promised that l should have
tonight off," expostulated Eben Gail.
"You said l should have every We'd
nesday night OF. l have a lady
friend His voice trailed into signif-
cant silence.
II have a lady friend, too" cut in
Caleb Brown ,angrily. Il spoke to
Captain Peter about It this very morn
ing. l says to him. l says. My lady
friend III be looking for me most par
ticular tonight, and l can't disappoint
no lady, And you said as how l
could be off for the evening" He
scowled across the table ut his fellow
worker, and Eben Gail frowned back
quite as fiercely.
"Great fury! You can both 60. and
good luck to your courtinge."
Maybe we could get the parson to
come over and set a SPELL" they chant
ed sheepishly.
maybe nothing!" snapped Captain
Peter. rising noisily from his chair and
leaving the o
That night after the lamp was duly
lighted and it's beam had sent q long
ray across the water the engine re-
ceived it's 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 a give this letter to Parson
Wilson," called Captain Peter genial
~, following them down the winding
iron staircase. "Be Ire you give it to
him as soon's you get ashore, SOS he
can come out and stay with me till
you two lady killers come home"
Without a word Eben Gail crammed
the letter in his breast pocket. and
then, with a gruff 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 DOR and. throwing
himself into a 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-
ity 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 a background for the minis
ter's surprised face. Eben noted that
he was dressed in his Sunday coat.
and over his shoulder peered Mrs. Will
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 a party on hand
maybe a donation. l don't see how
the parson can get over to the light
this evening. l hope Miss Nettie amt
gone to any donation. l don't know
when I ear get of again." His steps
fastened as he drew rear the abode
Of Miss Nettie Blake.
Now, Miss Blake was q most fasci-
mating little lady, with soft brown
hair and eyes Of tender blue. Her
equally soft and tender heart had be.
reft her of the power to give pain to
any fellow creature. Perhaps this
was the reason why neither Caleb
Brown nor Eben Gail had been able to
wiring a definite answer from the lady
both mutually adored.
For q 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 upon
Wednesday evening as a proper and
fitting one for a lovers attention, and.
as neither could be dissuaded from
his purpose, first one and then the
other had supplied a substitute to
| watch with Captain Fame ON Wednes.
day evenings.
And this dual courtship did not dis.
4urb Miss Nettie's equanimity. She
was as sweet and kind as ever. and
she impartially set forth her tooth
some apple pies and elderberry wine
while the rivals glowered at each 9TH
er across her snowy damask.
Tonight, however. the little white
cottage was dark and silent. A shad-
owy form on the doorstep indicated
the whereabouts Of Mr.. Caleb Brown.
Eben paused at the gate and coughed.
Caleb Brown banged the brass
knocker fercely on the door. cleaning
family white behind the shadow
vines.
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