The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-09-06

perhaps for want of courage to meet
other contingencies-who knows? But
| M, cannot make arrangements for
| has 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 sur
prise; he smiled feebly and extended
his hand. But Mapes, intent on busi-
ness, strobe quickly up to Timms and
planted blow on one of his eyes which
caused him to measure his length in
the dust. Timms sprang to his feet
and showed fight; but another blow
on the other eye again sent him to
the grass, where he continued to lie.
SECT up" said Mapes. t
You'll knock me down again." said
Timms. 81.
:" Yes" returned Mapes, =" will"
"Then I won't get up," said Timms.
" You are an internal scouhdrel,"
said Mapes. '-'
81 can't help your saying so," said
Timms.
"You sawed the log ?" said Mapes.
"What log ?" asked Timms.
| "You sawed the log?" repeated
Mapes, advancing step.
"Yes-stop," said Timms. {" sawed
the log"
"Well, you needn't think" said
Mapes, "that after the marriage you're
going to tell that story, and make me a
| laughing-stock." .--
"I'll never speak of it," whined
Timms.
Perhaps you WON'T said Mapes.
"but I'm going to swear you before |
get through. There is another thing
| you won the woman by your id
trickery. and | know it is in you to
abuse her; so I'm going to swear you
| to treat her kindly"
am swear" said Timms.
"Uold up your hand" said Mapes.
Timms held up his hand.
Now repeat after me-" 81, Silas
Timms, solemnly swear that | will not
bring to the knowledge of any human
being that | sawed the log whereby
Daniel Mapes fell into the creek and
lost a wife; and further, that will, she
consentin,, marry Eliza Reed, and al
ways trea, her kindly, so help me God"
Timms repeated the oath verbatim.
'Now, get up and 90 home," said
Mupes, II 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 sirht Of you;
and il you don't keep your oath you'll
see me-"
| Timms arose from the ground, shook
oil the dust, and walked away: but
when he had secured a safe distance he
shouted back exultingly:
..Mapes, she's an angel!'
In twenty years Daniel Mapes had
learned many things, among them this:
| Life is very much rs we make it. In
other words, the world is like mirror,
and looks at us with the face we pre-
sent. 1t returns scowl for scowl, and
smile for smile. II echoes our sobs and
our laughter. To the cold il is AZ icy as
the northern seas; to the loving it is as
balmy as the isles Of the tropics. He
had learned still another lesson; which
| was TO forget the griefs. the sOrrows, the
wrongs, and the hates of the past. The
effect of the lesson was to make it ap.
pear tha, the lines, to him, had fallen
in pleasant places. His rotund form
and firm muscle bespoke good diges-
ton, while cheerful countenance told
of mental peace A fair woman named
him husband, and children called him
father. A pleasant home in Santa Clara
valley was theirs; besides which Mapes
had many broad acres of lands, as well
as many head of stock, running nearly
wild, in the counties OF Monterey and
San Louis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that
Craze on California's thousand hills are
gathered in bands at convenient places,
10 be claimed and branded 10y their own.
ers, such assemblages being called rodcos,
Mapes had been down across the Saia
mus plains. in attendance upon rodoo
and, being on his return, jogging along
on his mustang, he saw, far in the dis
tance, but nearing him, an equally lone
traveller. Slowly the distance between
them decreased, and, as they ap
preached, Mapes, with California pru
dence, shipped his revolver on the belt
which supported it, from his back
around to his left side, bringing the hill
) under the shadow Of his bride arm, anC
! within easy reach of his right hand
A near look showed him that he had nj
occasion for weapons; the coming mar
was of middle age, but his look wa
worn, weary, detected and hopeless,-il
local phrase, his manner was that o
one who had 'lOst his grip" and thos
4, who have met that terrible misfortun
are never highway robbers, "grip" bein
the very quality needed in that hazard
> Gus pursuit. .-.l5
The travellers met, with long, inquil
| ing gaze. when from their lips simu
tapeously burst the words "Mapes!
I" imms!" After a moment OF NUT
) surprise, Mapes, squirting his mustang
/ drew nearer Timms. E....
$50, we meet at last. | have bee
wanting to see you this many year"
n The movement seemed ominOus
!, Ti1nms, and he cried out: "DoD't-don
shoot! have no weapons. Besides,
:, have kept my oath--at least rs well rs
:, could. | never told the reason why yo
didn't attend the apple bee, nor eve
9 brcathed syllable about the sawed 10
i upon my OATH" .g," -.
= Al wasn't thinking of the ducking
> said Mspss. .a .z.rrs. .a
ID "Don't come any nearer" :" retasne
Timms. 81 have always tried to Use Il
ID woman we'll, but she wouldn't be us'
re well. have done my best to treat h
,g kindly: but she wouldn't be treat'
to kindly"
n. ats no use to go over the grounds
Is me, Timms." H.
w "But,' replied Timms, "you have