Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-06
gelerten Mlscellaug.
TIMMS' STRATEGY.
A Story Of Early California Life.

Mapes was chivalrous by nature-he
believed in seeking the bubble repu-
tation even at the cannon's mouth -
His enthusiasm was aroused by the re-
cital of stories of deeds of desperate
daring; while he had nothing but con-
tempt for 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 was at
tanned. Companions from infancy,
their lives had been spent in competi-
tion for scholastic and such other hon
ors as the locality afforded, without
even momentary break in their friend
ship. But now, in early manhood,
they struggled for prize of incalcu-
liable value, with an ardor that threat
ened complete rupture of friendly re-
lations. The heart and hand of Eliza
Reed, the neighbohood belle, were to
be won; and to these none other need
aspire, in the face of such formidable
competition. as that of Mapes and
Timms. They alone-each by virtue
of his own personality and position
had right to lay siege to the heart of
that variable, irritable, imperious beau
ty, and for months the strife between
them had gone on. Each one had call
ed into play all his personal and social
resources; for the local society had
taken such an interest that it was di-
vided into two factions, known as the
Napesites and Timmsites. And vet
Miss Eliza could not be brought to ex-
press a 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 femi-
nine had she been in haste to have
made an election. Nevertheless, she
did not intend to miss her opportuni-
ty. She knew well the 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 J; hence she had made
up her mind that, upon the first favor
able opportunity, she would signify to
Mapes that his suit, so often pressed,
was at last accepted. The opportuni-
ty, it seemed, was not to be long want
ing; for invitations were given out for
an apple-bee in the neighborhood, and
Eliza found means to convey an init
nation to Mapes that she expected to
meet him there, and counted on his es-
cort home at the conclusion 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 life, and
arrayed himself as only rustic dandy
can. His way lay across a meadow,
through which ran-or rather loitered
"a deep but narrow stream, spanned
by a single log. 1t was so dark when
he reached this primitive bridge that
he was compelled to feel his way slow
lyacross. AS he progressed it commen-
ced to swing ighly- something very
unusual-until he reached the centre
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 thai
lurid light to which people. refer when
they say, in speaking of some profane
wretch, @He sWore until all was blue.
Whatever Illuminating qualities this
lurid light possessed, it had no drying
ones, and Mapes was forced to bid a
dleu for the night to all hopes of plight
ing his troth to the loved Eliza.
In the rural districts down East, il
early times, the good people had sucE
habits OF industry and rigid economy
that they seldom gave or attended par
ties, unless such as were cloaked under
the names of raisings, quilting, husk.
ings or apple-bees; thus, the apple
bee, fraught with momentous conse