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

TIMMS STRATEGY. -.
Mapes was chivalrous by nature h.
believed in " seeking the bubble reputa-
ton even in the cannons mouth" His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital
of stories Of desperate daring while he
cess won by crooked or indirect means.
Timms, on the contrary, believed there
was policy in war, and that the end
justified the means; particularly if the
end was attained. Companions from
infancy, their lives had been spent in
competition for scholastic and such
other honors rs the locality afforded,
without even a momentary break in
their friendly relations. The heart and
hand of Eliza Reed, the neighborhood
belle, We're to be won; and to these
none others might aspire, in the face of
such formidable competition as that OF
Mapes and 'l'imms. They aione-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 stri
had gore on between them. Each one
had called in play all his personal and
social resources for the local society
had taken such an interest that i; was
divided into two factions, kDogn 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 n woman, and
Eliza would not have been feminine
had she been in haste TO make an eiec.
;ion. Nevertheless, she did not intend
to miss her opportunity. She knew
that war could not always last, and
feared that when one o. 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 opror,uni-
" she would signify To Maps that hs
suit, SO often pressed, was at last accept.
ed. The opportunity, it seemed, WAS
not To be long wanting, Tor invitations
were given out for an appe-bee in the
ncighborhood, and Eliza found means
10 convey an intimsiion to Mapes that
she expected 10 meet him there, and
counted on his escort home at the coI.-
clusion OF the f-olic.
The appointed evening looked for
with such nervous anticipation 10y
Mape came ri last. lie felt that 1t
was the most important of his life, and
arrayed himself AS only u rustic dandy
can. His way lay across The meadow,
| through which ran, or rather flowed, 4
| deep, narrow stream. spanned ly Il
single log. 1t was 50 dark when he
reached this primitive bridge tnat he
WAS compelled to feel his way slowly
across. As he proer .ssed it began 10
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, III speaking OF some profane
wretch, He swOre until he was blue.
Whatever illuminating qualities tuis
lurid light possessed, it had no drying
ones, and Mapes was forced TO bid adieu
or the night TO all hopes of plightlng
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, husk,
ings, or apple-bces thus, the apple bee
fraught with momentOus consequences
to Mapes and Timms, was but q soc:a
party IN Disguise few apples being
cored, quarlercd, pared and strung il
the evening for appearance sake.
AS usual, Eliza Reed WAS the belle o
the occasion. Good looks, entire self
possession, and keen, satirical wit, al
ways assured her that position; an,
this night she shone with unusual bril-
liancy, until as the hours wore away
and Mapes came not, she began to lost
herself in .pondermg why, and she a
last asked Timms: -... ..
"Is your friend Mapes ailing?"
al guess not replied Timms
81 saw him to-day. lie wasn't complaiu
ing" ~
Gle denies himself much pleasure,
: said Eliza, ain not coming here tC
, night, fol this is the place where we u
7 ways have u good time. Aunt Juda
: knows how to give an apple-hee."
Y "You let Mapes alone" answerc
r Timms g he knows what he's about.
t Whnt do you mean y asked Eliza.
J. "Oh, l. mean," answered Timm
d "that Mapes is the prince Of good ft
), lows, " gets invitations where tt
d rest o. m don't" . ...r.......
: "Where's Mapes to-night?" aske
Eliza, now fully aroused.
b IL don't know for sure,' answere
n Timms. Z" He told me to-day, the
t were special reasons for his comir
G here, but that he had an invitatiod
&c the rich and aristocratic Squire Hu
1t toon's, who is celebrating his daught.
., birthday. and that he didn'r knc
o which way he would gol" and 'Fiinf
a turned away 70 the. next prettiest 9
K. III tirc room. 1- new. -.,
il. Pv:r.d youua wrp,er art seldcgst in
c,, .. pssisns. whsn the party s,s