The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-08-05

A Triangular
Courtship
The Ending Was q Surprise
to Those Who Lost.
By CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Acy0o{o~n
sssseeee&ssesss

The keeper Of the Ledge rock light
and his two assistants stared aggres.
stvely 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
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. l forgot to say
! wanted to be AWAY myself tonight"
"You promised that | should have
tonight Off" expostulated Eben Gail.
you said l should have every Wed
nesday night of. have a lady
friend His voicettrailed into signif-
cant silence.
Il 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 II be looking for me most par
ticular tonight, and l can't disappoint
no lady, And you said as how |
could be off for the evening"" He
scowled across the table at his fellow
worker, and Eben Gail frowned back
quite US fiercely.
Great fury! You can both go, and
good luck to your courting."
Maybe we could get the parson to
come over and set a,spell." they chant
ed sheepishly.
Maybe nothingy' 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 q long
ray across the water the engine re-
ceived Its last attention from the as
sistant keepers. In sulen silence they
washed up thet supper dishes. and then
each, dressed In his best clothes and
with hair plastered wet on his brown
forehead. vent down into the boat
that was to take them ashore.
you a give this letter to Parson
Wilson," called Captain Peter genial
ly. following them down the winding
iron staircase. ''Be sure you give it to
him as soon's you get ashore. SOS be
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 gruf Good night" to the
keeper on the landing, they unlocked
he davit chains from the boat and
rowed away into the darkness.
Captain Peter Fame went back into
the cozy sitting room 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-
ssy 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 turped
away. AS he went down the path
Mrs. Wilson's voice arose. shrill with
disappointment and protest
u.
"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. hope Miss Nettie amt
gone. to any donation. l don't know
when l can get off again." His steps
fastened as he drew neal the abode
Of Miss Nettie Blake.
Now. Miss Blake was a 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.
cOA q WuOlo year low the ASSISTANT
keepers Of the lighthouse had courted
Miss Nettie Blake. At first they Wis
tied her on different evenings. but as
jealously waxed hot they fell upon
Wednesday evening as a proper and
hitting 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
turb 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 MI. Caleb Brown.
Eben paused at the gate and coughed.
Caleb Brown banged the brass