River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-09-06

don't know for sure, answered
fimms. " He told me to-day there
were special reasons for his coming
here, but that he had an invitatiod to
the rich and aristocratic Squire Hun.
toon's, who is celebrating his daughters
birthday, and that he didn't know
which way he would Cos and Timms
turned away to the next prettiest girl
in the room.
Petted young women are seldom logi
cal or patient. When the party broke
up Eliza accepted Trims escort to her
home, and before they arrived there
She had consented 10 become Mrs.
Trims. The next morning the en-
gagemeGt was announced, and prepare.
tions for the wedding commenced
Timms was exultant-happy Timms.
For a few days Timms was not 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
| man cannot make arrangements for
has wedding from a fixed standpoint,
and he was compelled to venture out.
in a 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 bust
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.
You'll knock me down again" said
Timms.
" Yes" returned Mapes, 81 will"
"Then | won't get up said Trims.
" You are an internal scoundrel,"
said Mapes.
1" can't help your saying so" said
Timms.
"You sawed the log ?" said Mapes.
"What log ?" asked Timms.
"You sawed the log?n repeated
Mapes, advancing step.
Yes-stop," Said Timms. :" sawed
the log"
"Well. you needn't think" said
Mdpes, that after the marriage you're
going to tell that story, and make me
laughingstock."
Pm 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"
"l'll swear" said Timms.
"Hold up your hand said Mapes.
Timms held up his hand.
"Now repeat after me-" 81, Slas
Emms, 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 wife; and further, that | will, she
consenting, marry Eliza Reed, and al
ways treat her kindly, so hep me G ID. /"
Timms repeated tine oath verbatim.
"Now, get up and 20 home, said
Mapes, 81 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 III lose 81 ht 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 safe distance he
shouted back exultingly:
'Mapes, she's an anger
In twenty years Daniel Mapes had
learned many things, among them this:
Life is very much as we make it In
other words, the world is like a mirror,
and looks at us with the face we pre-
sent. 1t returns scowl tor scowl, and
smile for smile. Ii echoes our sObs and
our laughter. To the cold il is IS lev 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 10 forget the grie!s, the SORROWS, the
wrongs, and the hates of the past. The
effect Of the lesson was 10 make il an
pear that the lines, to him, had fallen
in pleasant places. His rotund form
and firm muscle bespoke a good diges
ton, while a cheerful countenapce told
of mental peace A fair woman named
him husband, and children called him
i@bhti' "a lANdeduA lOule III santa Tiara
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; thousand hills are
gathered in bands at convenient places.
TO be- claimed and branded nv thar opr
ers, such assemblages being called rodcos.
Mapes had been down across the Sala.
mus plains, in attendance upon rodco,
and, being on his return, Jogging along
on his mustang, he saw, far in the dis.
lance, but nearing him, an equally lone
traveller Slowly the distance between
them decreased and, as they ap.
preached, Mapes, with California pru
dence, slipped his revolver on the belt
which supportad IL from HE bocl,