Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-09-14
TIMMS' STRATEGY,

l"MS 81 IA EE1s
Mapes was chivalrous by nature he
believed in seeking the bubble reputa.
ton even in the cannon's mouth" His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital
OF stories OF desperate daring while he
had nothing but contempt for even sue.
cess won by crooked or indirect means.
Ilmms, on the contrary, believed there
was policy in war, and that the end
IustIhed the means; particularly if the
end was attained. Companions from
infancy, their lives had been spent in
competition for scholastic and such
other honors as the locality afforded,
without even u momentary break in
their friendly relations. The heart and
hand of Eliza Reed, the neighborhood
belle, were to be won; and to these
none others might aspire, in the face OF
such formidable competition as that of
Mapes and Timms. They alone-each
by right of his own personalities and
position-had a right to lay siege to the
heart of that variable, irritable, imperi-
GUS beauty, and for months the STRIFE
had gone on between them. Each one
had called in play all his personal and
social resources; for the local society
i''t' o@htii oueii lIIlcltsI tlIul III WIS
divided into two factions known as the
Mapesites and the Timmsites. And
yet Miss Eliza could not be brought to
express preference. If she rode with
one to-day, she was careful to walk
abroad with the rival tomorrow.
Coquetry is delicious to woman, and
Eliza would not have been feminine
had she been in haste to make an cleo
ton. Nevertheless, she did not intend
to miss her opportunity. She knew
that war could not always last, and
feared that when one OF the aspirants
for her favor withdrew from the contest,
the love of the other, wanting the
stimulus of competition, would grow
cold ; hence she had made up her mind
that upon the first favorable opportuni-
ty she would signify to Mapes that his
suit, SO often pressed, was at last accept
ed. The opportunity, it seemed, was
not to be long wanting, for invitations
We're given out for an apple-bee in the
neighborhood, 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-
clusion of the frolic.
The appointed evening looked for
with such nervous anticipation by
Mape', came at last. He felt that it
was the most important of his life, and
arrayed himself as only rustic dandy
can. His way lay across the meadow,
through which ran, or rather flowed, Il
deep, narrow stream, spanned by Il
single log. 1t was so dark when he
reached this primitive bridge tnat he
was compelled to feel his way slowly
across. AS he progressed it began to
SWING lightly, - something very un-
usual, until he reached the center.
when, to his utter confusion, it gave
way, and he was launched into the wa
ter. He scrambled out, then suddenly
the night became luminous with that
lurid light to which people refer when
they say, in speaking of some profane
wretch, " He swore until he was blue"
Whatever illuminating qualities this
lurid light possessed, 1t 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, cuttings, husll-
lngs, or apple-bees thus, the apple bee,
irausht with momentous consequences
to Mapes and Timms, was but social
party IN dlsguise,-a few apples being
cored, quartered, pared and strung in
the evening Tor appearance sake.
AS usual, Eliza Reed was the belle of
the occasion. Good looks, entire self
possession, and keen, s,tirical wit, al.
ways 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 she at
last asked Timms:
"Is your friend Mapes ailing?"
guess not" replied Timms;
81 saw him to-day. He wasn't complain,
ing"
He denies himself much pleasure y
said Eliza, q in not coming here to-
night, fol this is the place where we al.
ways have a good time. Aunt Judah
knows how to give an apple-bee."
"You let Mapes alone" answered
Tmms che knows what he's about"
What do you mean ?" asked Eliza.
"Oh, | mean," answered Timms,
that Mapes is the prince of good fel,
lows, and gets invitations where the
rest OF us don't"
"Where's Mapes to-night?" asked
Eliza, now fully aroused.
It" 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 invitatiod tc
the rich and aristocratic Squire Hun
toon's, who is celebrating his daught.r's
birthday, and that he didn't know
which way he would go;'' and Timm,
turned away to the next prettiest CIR
in the room.
Fetted young women are seldom iogi
cal or patient. When the party hrok.
~ hl'se accepted Timms' escort TO he