Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-07-11
Misfellaneous. ri
~ ......
Timms' Strategy.

believed IN seeking the bubble lepu-
tation. even III the Cannom's mouth"
His enthusiasm was aroused by the re-
clta! OF stories of deeds of desperate
daring while he had nothing but con-
tempt ior even success won by crooked
and indirect means. Timms. on the
contrary. believed there was policy in
war. and that the end justified the
means. particularly if the end wa, at
tanned. Companion, from infancy.
their lives had been spent In compcti-
ton for scholastic aud such other hon
ors as the locality afforded. without
even inomentary break ia their
friendship. But now. in early man.
hood. they struggled for a prizc of in
calculable value. with an ardor that
threatened a complete rupture a
friendly relations. The heart and
hand Of Eliza Reed. the ncighborhood
belle. were 10 be won and Ia these
none Others might aspire. in the face
Of such formidable competition as tlrat
OF Mapes and Iimms. They alone
each 10y virtue OF his own personality
ami position had right TO lay siege
10 the heart of that variable.ir ritab,c.
imperlous beauty, and FOR months tile
strife between them had gone on. Each
one had called into play all his person
al and social resources for the local
society had taken such an interest that
II was divided into two fractions.
known as the Mapesitcs and the Timms-
ties. And yet Miss Eliza could not
be brought to express preference if
she rode with one to-day she was care
fol TO walk abroad with the rival to-
morrow.
Coquetry is delicious 10 "a woman:
and Eliza would not have been fcmin-
Inc had she been in haste TO have made
an election. Nevertheless, she did
not intend TO miss her opportunity.
She knew well the war could not last
forever, and feared that when one OF
asplrants for qer favor withdrew from
the contest, the stimulus of co,npeti-
tion, would grow cold hence, she had
made up her mind, that. upon the first
favorable opportunity. she would siy-
Nifty 10 Mapes that his suit, so often
pressed,was at last accepted. The OPP
| portunlty, 1t seemed. was not 10 be
long wanting flor invitations were civ
en- out for an apple-bee in the neigh
borhood, and Eliza found means to
convey an intimation TO Mapes that
she expected to meet him there, and
counted on his escort home at the con
clusiCn of the frolic
The appointed evening looked for
with such nervous anticipation by
Mapes, came at last. He felt that it
was the most important of his fe.and
arrayed himself as only rustic dam
dy can. His way lay across medow.
through which ran-or rather loitered
"a deep. but narrow stream, spanned
by single log. 1t was SO dark when
he reached this primitive bridge that
he was compelled to feel his way slow
ly across. As he progressed it COM
menced TO swing lightly something
very unusual-until he reached the CEN
tire. when, TO his utter confusion. it
gave way. and he was launched into
the water. He scrambled out, then
suddenly the night became luminous
with that Iurid light to which people
refer when when they say, in speaking g
of some profane wretch, :. He swore
until all was blue" Whatever iIlum-
mating qualities this lurid light pos
ssessed, it had no drying ones. and
Mapes was forced TO bid adieu for the
night to all hopes of plighting his troth
TO the loved Eliza.
In the rural districts Down East, in
early times, the good people had such
habits of industry and rigid economy
that they seldom gave,or attended par
ties, unless such as were cloaked under
the names of raisings. quiltings. husk-
ings, or apple-bees thus, the apple
bee, fraught with Inomentous conse-
quences to Mapes and Timms, was but
a social party in disguise "a few APP
pies being pared. quartered, cored and
strung in the early evening for appear
ances' sake,
As usual, Eliza Reed was the belle
of the occasion. Good looks, entire
self possession, and keen, satirical wit
always assured her that position and
this night she shone with unusual bril-
liancy, until, as the hours wore away
and Mapes came not, she began to lose
herself in pondering why and at length
she asked Timns.
$ Is your friend Mapes ailing!"
IL guess not" replied TiInms ''saw
him to-day. He wasn't complaining
"He denies himself much pleasure,
said Eliza, '.in not coming here to-nigh,
for this is the place where we always
have a good time. Aunt Judy knows
how to give an apple-bee."
"You let Aapss alone," answered