River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-09-06
TIMsIS' STRATEGY.

Mapes was chivalrous by nature he
believed in seeking the bubble reputa-
ton even in the lannon's mouth" His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital
Of stories of desperate daring while he
had nothing but contempt for even sue.
cess won by crooked or indirect means.
Timms, on the contrary, believed there
was policy in war, and that the end
justified the means; particularly if the
end was attained. Companions from
infancy, their lives had been spent in
competition for scholastic and such
other honors as the locality afforded,
without even momentary break in
their friendly relations. The heart and
hand of Eliza Reed, the neighborhood
belle, were to be won and to these
none others might aspire, in the face of
such formidable competition as that of
Mapes and Timns. They alone-each
by right of his own personalities and
position-had right to lay siege 10 the
heart of that variable, irritable, imperi.
Gus beauty, and for months the stri e
had gone on between them. Each one
had called in play all his personal and
social resources for the local society
had taken such an interest that il was
divided into two factions, known as the
Mapesites and the Timmsites. And
yet Miss Eliza could not be brought to
express preference. If she rode. with
one to-day, she was careful 10 walk
abroad with the rival tomorrow.
Coquetry is delicious to woman, and
Eliza would not have been feminine
had she been in haste to make an cleo
zion. Nevertheless, she did not intend
to miss her opportunity. She knew
that war could not always last, and
feared that when one of the a. pirants
for her favor withdrew from the contest,
the love of the other, wanting the
stimulus of competition, would grow
cold hence she had made up her mind
that upon the first favorable opportuni.
ty she would signify to Mapes that his
suit, so often pres sed, was at last accept.
ed. The opportunity, it seemed, was
not TO be long wanting, for invit5tons
were given out for an apple-bee in the
neighborhood, and Eliza found means
TO convey an intimation to Mares that
she expected TO meet him there, and
counted on his escort home at the con.
clusion of the f.olic.
The appointed evening looked for
with such nervous anticipation hy
Mape1, came at last lie felt that il
was the most important of his life. and
arrayed himself as only rustic dandy
can. His way lay across the meadow,
through which ran, or rather flowed. a
deep, narrow stream, spanned by a
single log. Ii WAS so dark when he
reached this primitive bridge that he
was compelled u feel his way slowly
across. As he progressed il began to
swing lightly, - something yerv un.
usual, he reached the center.
when, to his utter confusion, il gave
way, and he was launched into the wa.
ter. He scrambled out, then suddenly
the night became luminous with that
lurid light to which people refer when
they say, in speaking of some proiane
wretch, lie swore until he was blue. "
Whatever illuminating qualities this
lurid light possessed, il had no driving
ones, and Mapes was forced to bid adieu
for the night 10 all hopes of plghting
his troth TO the 10y ed Eliza.
In the rural districts down East. in
early times, the good people had such
habits of industry and rigid economy,
that they seldom gave or attended ptr.
ties, unless such as we're cloaked under
the names of raisings, outings, husk.
ings, or spple-bees thus, the apple bee,
fraught with nome ltous consequence,
10 Mapes and rimuls, was but a soc al
party in disguise,-a few apple, being
cored, quartered, pared and strung hi
the evening for appearance sake.
As usual, Eliza Reed was the belle Of
the occasion. Coco looks, entire self
possession, and a keen, satiric9l wit. al.
ways assured her that position; and
this night she shonD with upusual bril-.
liancy, until as tn hours wore away.
and Mapes came not, she began To lose
herself in bordering why, and she at
last asked Hmms;
Is your friend Mapes ailinrg'
guess not replied Timms.
II saw him to-day. / q wasn't complain.
ing"
lie denies himself much pleasure.
aid Elizl I'm not coming here to.
night 70! this is the place where we Al
ways have "a good time Aunt Judah
know how 10 give a. applt.bee'
"Nal let Napes alone answered
Imm, he knows what hes about.
What doyou me n o. asked F. "a.
ooh. ! mean, answered rmms,
That Mapps i the prince u good eel.