The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-10-17


smile. 1t echoes our sobs and our
laughter. TO the sold, it is as icy
as the northern seas; to the loving,
it is as balmIy as the isles Of the
tropics. He had learned still hard.
cr lesson; which was, to forget the
grieis, the sorrows, the sIights, the
wrongs, and the hates Of the past.
The effect of this lesson was to
make it appear that the lines to
him, had fallen in pleasant places.
His rotund form and firm muscle
bespoke Il good digestion, while Il
cheerful cCuntenanco told of mon,
tai peace. A fair woman named
him husband, and children called
him father. A beautiful home in
the Santa Clara Valley was theirs
besides which, Mapcs had many
broad acres Of land, as well as
many head of stock running wild in
the counties Of Monterey and San
Luis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that
Craze on Caifornia's thousand hills
are gathered in bands Mt various
places, to bo claimed and branded
by their ownors-such assemblages
being called rodeoS. NIapes had
been down across the Salinas Plains,
in attendance upon u TOdcO and,
being on his return, Jogging along
on his mustang, he saw, far in the
distance, but nearing him, an equal.
| ly lone traveller. Slow y the distance
between them decreased ; and, as
they approached, Mapes-with Cali
fornia prudence slipped his revol-
yer upon the belt which sustained
it, from his back, round to his left
side, bringing the hilt under the
shadow of his bridle-arm, and with
in easy reach of his right hand. A
near look assured Mapes that he
had no occasion for weapons the
coming man was Of middlo-age, but
his look was worn, weary, detected,
and hopeless-in local phrase, his
manner was that of person who
has "1ost his grip ;" and those who
have met that terrible misfortune
are never highway-robbers, grip"
being the very quality wanted in
that hazardous pursuit.
The travellers met, with u long,
inquiring gaze, when from their
lips simultaneously burst the words,
"NLapes" s"-"Timms." After II mo-
ment of mute surprise, Mapes, spur
ing his mustang, drew nearer
Timms.
"So-we meet, at last, | have
been wanting to see you this many Il
year"
The movement seemed ominous
to Timms, and he cried out "Dont
don't shoot! l have no weapons!
Besides, | have kept my oath at
least, as well as | could. | never
told the reason why you didn't at
tend the apple-bee, nor ever breath
cd a syllable about the sawed log
upon my solemn oath y
81 wasn't thinking Of the duck
ing" said Mapes.
Don't come any nearer return
ed Timms. Il have always tried to
use that woman well but she
wouldn't be used well. | have done
my best to treat her kindly but she
wouldn't be treated kindly"
"It is no use to go over the
grounds to me, Timms"
"But," replied Timms, "you have
no idea what that woman is; you
wouldn't blame me if you only knew.
She's brow beat me, till | amt half
a man"
$50 l see," said Mapes,
"No, you don't see, replie1 Tlmms.
"You don't SEQ half. Look ut this
scar" taking off his hat, and show
ing long seam on his scalp: "thaC
was done with the skillet
"You have suffered" said Mapes.
Suffered returned Tlmms.
"You ought to have sworn her, too.
If you only knew how | nave thought
of you, and of my oath to you ; and
how | have borne blows, and been
quiet--how [ have been called IL
brute and a fool, and kept silent
how | have endured taunts and
sneers, hunger and discomforts,
without word of reproach-you
would forgive me; you wouldn't
harbor thoughts of revenge"
"Thoughts of reyenge!' answered
Mapes "Let us dismount, and
have q settlement /; for | see my
chance has come at last"
"Mapes, would you take the life
Of an unarmed man p
"Timms, you're crazy! Let me
explain. | have no wrongs to
avenge. 1t isn't for vengeance | have
wanted to see you. | have heard
about you often-know all your life
and experiences and L have only
wanted to meet you, to offer you a
home and friendship, employment
and opportunities for prosperity,
here in california. | owe you no
debt but one of gratitude, Tor the
ineetimable service you did me by
that little job of carpenter-work
and that | mean to pay. Come
with me-" He took Timms' horse
by the bride, turned him about
without remonstrance, and they
travelled on in silence.
After awhile, Timms raised his
eyes timidly from the ground, and
said:
"Mapes, she's the devil T'-Orer-
land MOnthlH