The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-02-11

the sound seemed a premonition OF
what might happen to Eben's bold
rival II he did not cease his thunder
the world.
Miss Nettie Blake's got tired of en-
tertaining two callers every Wednes-
day, only she's too polite to say so!
II you'll go away you'll find that she'll
open the door quick enough for me!"
Eben's voice rasped on the still night
air as Caleb Brown ceased from his
knocking.
"She doesn't answer because she
thinks It's you.!" snapped Caleb. re-
Stunning his bombardment.
Il always knock special" retorted
Eben. Miss Nettie always recognizes
my knock. II you'll just move along
rights here He paused suggestively.
There was an explosive snort from
Caleb Brown. and the knocker fell for
the last time with u little angry thud.
The first assistant keeper Of the light
a down the steps and faced his
rival in the moonlit space before the
house. His nose advanced within an
inch OF Eben's implacable countenance.
and his head wagged violently.
"Say 1t again" he challenged squeak
lily.
Eben repeated his remark, with a
few embellishments regarding Mr..
Browns personal appearance.
After this Interchange Of pleasant
ries 1t is not surprising that another
rolling wildly on the gravel. now in
the neat borders. where their heels
played havoc with Miss Nettie's
choicest plants. again coming in con-
tact with q spiny cactus that pricked
them to greater ferocity.
At last they fell heavily against a
rotten tree stump that supported n 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 filled
their eyes. ears, noses and mouths
brought the warfare to n swift close.
Stif1y they arose and faced each
other in the pale light, dirty. dishev-
eled. with b%lackened eyes and bleed
ing noses, their best blue clothes caked
with yellow loan, while every crevice
Of skin and clothing was filled with
fine earth from the flower tub.
AS by one accord they turned and
marched u 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 limped after him.
They crawled into the bobbing dory
and rowed silently down the red path
that the lighthouse flung across the
glimmering waves.
A 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
additions there was q marked exchange
Of courtesies between the rivals. They
passed the single cake Of soap back
and forth and shared the healing con-
tents of q huge bottle of vaseline with
amazing affability.
The fierce. brief battle in front Of
Miss Nettie's cottage had seemed to
relieve them Of twelve months accu-
mulated venom. AS they quietly trod
the winding iron stairway to their
room III the tower above the sitting
room they paused to fill their pipes
from Eben's tobacco pouch. Each was
mindful of his own bruised eye and
aware of the futility Of attempting to
conceal it from al inquiring world
/. e., Captain Peter and his visitors
should they be discovered.
A light cleaned under the sitting
room door. and as they passed 1t 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 a 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 Nettie 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 at the par
sonage tonight, and everything was
ready and waiting; but. seeing that
you two boys was set on going court
ing on this particular night. I just sent
word to the parson for the hull lot Of
'em to come over here and 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 to eat. You're
too late for the wedding, for the knots
all tied. but you can have some Of
Mrs. Captain Fane's cake. and she's Q
royal good cook. Now. Nettie"
Mrs. Fame blushed prettily as she
took the huge knife the captain gave
her and thrust 1t into the thick white