The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-08-15

this night she shone with unusual DILL
liancy, until, as the hours wore away,
and Mapes came not, she began to lose
herself in pondering why, and at length
she asked Timms:
els your friend Mapes ailing p
at guess not" replied Timms "saw
him to-day. He wasn't complaining"
He denies himself much pleasure"
said Eliza, "in not coming here tonight,
for this is the place where we always
have good time. Aunt Judy knows
how to give an apple-bee."
"You let Mapes alone" answered
Timms she knows what he's about, you
may be sure"
"What do you mean Z" asked Eliza.
"Oh, 1 mean," replied Timms, "that
Mapes is the prince of good fellows, and
gets invitations where the rest of us
don'tp
"Where is Mapes tonight" asked
Eliza, now fully aroused.
az don't know, for sure,' answered
Timms. "He told me to-day there were
special reasons for his coming here, but
that he had an invitation to the rich and
aristocratic Squire Huntoon's, who is
celebrating his daughters birthday, and
that he didn't know which way he
would go;" and Timms turned away to
talk to the next prettiest girl in the
room.
Petted young women are seldom logi-
cal or patient. When the party broke up
Eliza accepted Timms' escort to her
home, and, before they arrived there, she
had consented to become, with the least
possible delay, Mrs. Timms.
The next morning the engagement was
announced, and preparations for the
wedding commenced. Timms was ex-
ultant-happy Timms
For few days Timms was not much
seen in public-perhaps for want OF
courage to wear his blushing honors
openly perhaps for want of courage to
meet other contingencies-who knows
But a man cannot make arrangements
for his own wedding from fixed stand
point, and he was compelled to venture
out.
In quiet and secluded by-way he
met Mapes. The meeting to him was a
surprise; he smiled feebly, and extended
his hand. But Mapes, intent on bust
ness, strobe squarely up to Timms and
planted vigorous blow on one of his
eyes, which caused that gentleman to
measure his length in the dust. Timms
sprang to his feet, and showed fight but
another blow on the other eye sent
him again to grass, where he continued
to lie.
"Get up" said Mapes.
you'll knock me down again." said
Timms.
"Yes," returned Mapes, 81 will"
"Then I won't get up" said Timms.
"You're an internal scoundrel," said
Mapes.
II can't help your saying so," answer
ed Timms.
"You sawed the log" said Mapes.
"What log 7" asked Timms.
"You sawed the log" repeated Mapes,
advancing step.
Yes-stop," said Timms: II sawed
the log"
"Well, you needn't think" said Mapes,
"that after your marriage you're going
to tell that story, and make me laugh
ing-stock."
"Tn 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 going 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: Il, Silas
Timms, solemnly swear that 1 will never
bring to the knowledge of any human
being that 1 sawed the log whereby
Daniel Mapes fell into the creek and
lost wife and, further, that will, she
consenting, marry Eliza Reed, and
always treat her kindly: so help ME
God.'"
Timms repeated the oath, uerJatim.
"Now, get up and go home" said
Mapes. 81 don't think you'll be mar
ried 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 you don't keep your oath,
you'll see me-"
Timms arose from the ground, shook
off the dust, and walked away but when
he had secured a safe distance, he shout
ed back, exultingly:
| Mapes, she's an angel"
In twenty years Daniel Mapes had
learned many things, and among them
this Life is very much as we make it,
In other words, the world is like mir
ror, and looks at us with the face we
present. 1t returns scowl 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 as balmy as the isles of the tropics.
He had learned a still harder lesson
which was, to forget the griefs, the sor-
rows, the sights, the wrongs, and the
hates of the past. The effect of this les
son was to make it appear that the lines
to him, had fallen in pleasant places
His rotund form and firm muscle bespoke
good digestion, while cheerful count
enance told of mental peace. A fair
woman named him husband, and child
rem 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 running nearly wild in the counties
of Monterey and San Luis Opispo.
Once in each year the cattle that
Craze on California's thousand hills are
gathered in bands at convenient places
to be claimed and branded by the own
ers-such assemblages being called rodeos
Mapes had been down across the Salinas
Plain, in attendance upon a rodeo and
being on his return, jogging along OF
his mustang, he saw, far in the distance
| 1,.A 4 los. kx.ax aI