The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-08-15
THE STORY-TELLER.
TIMMS' STRATEGY.
A STORY OF TWO RIVALS.

Mapes was chivalrous by nature; he
believed in seeking the bubble reputa-
ton, even in the cannon's mouth" His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital OF
stories of deeds of desperate daring;
while he had nothing but contempt for
even success won by crooked and indi-
rect means. Timms, on the contrary,
believed that 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 sohol-
astic and such other honors as the local
ity afforded, without even momentary
break IN their friendship. But now, in
early manhood, they struggled for prize
of incalculable value, with an ardor that
threatened a complete rupture of friend
ly 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 competi-
tion as that of Mapes and Timms. They
alone-each by virtue of his own per-
sonality and position-had right to
lay siege to the heart of that variable,
irritable, imperious beauty, and for
months the strife between had gone on.
Each one had called into play all his
personal and social resources; for the
local society had taken such an interest
that it was divided into two factions,
known as the Mapesites and the Timms-
ties. And yet Miss Eliza could not be
brought to express preference If she
rode with one to-day, she was careful to
walk abroad with the rival tomorrow.
Coquetry is delicious to woman and
Eliza would not have been feminine had
she been in haste to have made an cleo
ton. Nevertheless, she did not intend
to miss her opportunity. She knew well
the war could not always last, and feared
that when one of the aspirants 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 opportunity, she
would signify to Mapes that his suit, SO
often pressed, was at last accepted. The
opportunity, it seemed, was not to be
long wanting; for invitations were given
for an apple-bee in the neighborhood,
and Eliza found means to convey an in
timation to Mapes that she expected to
meet him there, and counted on his
escort home at the conclusion of the
frolic.
The appointed evening looked for with
such nervous anticipation by Mapes,
came at last. He felt that it was the
most important of his life, and arrayed
himself as only rustic dandy can. His
way lay across meadow, through which
ran-or rather loitered-s deep, but
narrow stream, spanned by single log.
1t was so dark when he reached this
primitive bridge that he was compelled
to feel his way slowly across. As he
progressed it commenced to swing light
ly-something very unusual-until he
reached the centre, when to his utter
confusion, it gave way, and he. was
launched into the water. He scrambled
out then suddenly the night became
luminous with that lurid light to which
people refer when they say, in speaking
of some profane wretch, "He swore
until all was blue" Whatever illumi-
mating qualities this lurid light possessed,
it had no drying oles and Mapes was
forced to bid adieu for the night to all
hopes of plighting his troth to the loved
Eliza.
In the rural districts Down East, in
carly times, the good people had such
habits of industry and rigid economy
that they seldom gave, or attended par
ties, unless snch as were cloaked under
the names of raisings, cuttings, husk-
ings, or apple-bees; thus, the appls-bee,
fraught with momentous consequences
to Mapes and Timms-was but social
party in disguise-a few apples being
pared, quartered, cored, and strung in
the early evening for appearance sake.
AS usual, Eliza Reed was the belle OF
the occasion. Good looks, entire self
possession. and keen, satirical wit