Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-08-07

Well, you needn't think" said Mapes,
" that after your marriage you're going
to tell that story, and make me a laughing,
slock.'
III never speak of it." whined Timms.
Perhaps YOU won't, said Mapes; but
I'm going to swear you before l get
through. There's another thing you won
the woman by your d trickery, and
know it is in you to abuse her so I'm 60
.ng to swear you to treat her kindly
"Ill swear" said Timms.
Hold up your hand,' said Mapes
Timms held up his hand.
-' Now, repeat after me: L, Silas
Timms solemnly swear that | will never
bring to the knowledge of any human be-
ing that | sawed the log whereby Daniel
V Mapes fell into the creek and lost a wife J;
and futher, that will, she consenting, mar
ry Eliza Reed, and always treat her kind
y so help me God"
Timms repeated the oath, rer6ztinl.
Now, get up and 90 home" said
Napes. " don't think you'll be married
. till your eyes get out of mourning, and by
that time I'll be far enough away. But
don't think I'll lose sight of you; and if
Timms arouse from the ground, SHOOK
off the dust, and walked away; but when
he had secured a safe distance, he shouted
back, ezuItDgIy:
Napes, she's an angel
/ In twenty years, Daniel Mapes had
/ learned many things, and among them this.
\ Life S very much as we make it. In 9TH
er words. the world is like a mirror, and
looks at us with the face we present. 1t
! returns scowI for scowl, and smile for smile.
. 1t echoes our sobs and our laughter. To
The cold, it is as icy as the northern seas
to the loving, it is as balmy as the isles Of
the tropics. He had learned still har-
der lesson which was, TO forget the griefs,
. the sorrows, the sights, the wrongs, and
;he hates Of the past. The effect OF this
4 lesson was to make it appear that the lines,
70 him, had fallen in pleasant places. His
rotunI form and firm muscle bespoke a
GOOD digestion while a cheerful cOunte-
nance told of mental peace. A fair wo-
man named him husband, and children
called him father A beautiful home in
the Santa Clara Valley was theirs; besides
which, Mapes had many broad acres of
land, as well as many head Of stock run
ming nearly wild in the counties of Monte
rev and san Luis Obispo.
4 Once in each year the cattle that Craze
on California; thousand hills are gathered
ln bands at convenient places, to be claimed
aud branded by their owners-such assem-
5ages being called r0de0S Mapes had
been down across the Salinas Plains, in
attendance upon a rodeo : and, being on
bis return. jogging along on his mustang,
ls saw, far in the distance, but nearing
HIM. au equally lone traveller. Slowly the
distance between them decreased and. as
,ley approached, Mapes-wi.h California
pruIeuce-siipped his revolver upon the
belt which sustained it, from his back.
round to his left side, bringing the hiit un-
der the shadow of mis- bride arm, and
within easy reach of his rignt-hand. A
near look assured Mapes that he had no
occasion for weapons the coming man
was Of middle age, but his look was worn,
weary detected, and hopeless-in local
phrase, his manner was that Of a man who
dds lost 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 long inquiring
gaze. when from their lips simultaneously
burst the words. " Mapes -" Timms
After d moment Of mute surprise, Mapes,
-purring his mustang, drew nearer Timns
SO-we meet, at last. / have been
wanting 70 see you, this many year
The movement seemed ominous to
Tmms, and he cried out: Don't-don't
shoot, | have no weapons Besides, I've
kept NV oath-at least, as well as | could
never told the reason why you didn't at
tend the apple bee, nor ever breathod a
syllable about the sawed log-upon my
solemn oath
Il wasn't thinking Of the ducking, said
Napes
Don't come any nearer, returned
Iimms d" [ have always tried to use that
woman well but she wouldn't be used
well. 1 have done my best to treat her
kindly. but she wouldn't be treated kind
iy."
IL is no use to 20 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, tin ! amt half a man
So | see, said Mapes.
No, you don't see" replied Timms
You don't see half Look at this scar -
taking off his hat, and showing long
seam on his scalp: that was done with
the skillet"
You have suffered, said Mapes.
Suffered returned Timms. You
ought to have sworn her, too If you on
ly knew how have thought Of you. and
OF my oath to you and how have borne
blows, and been quite-how l have been
called brute and fool, and kept silent
how l have endured taunts and sneers,
hunger and discomforts, without a word of
reproach-you would forgive me you
wouldn't harbor thoughts Of revenge"
Thoughts Of revenge!" answered
Mapes. Let Us dismount, and have a
settlement for [ see my chance has come
at last"
q" Napes, would you take the life of an
unarmed man.
" Timms, you're crazy! Let me ex-
plain. | have no wrongs to avenge. 1t
isn't for vengeance that | have wanted to
see YOU. | have heard about you often
know all your life ard experiences and
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, for the inestimable 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 remon-
strance, and they travelled on in silence.
e. oubiIa Tinnp,c raised his ewes