Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-09-06

lome, aud. before they arrived there,
had consented to become, with the
oo~. 49, Nossible delay, Mrs. Timms. The
nounoa,1p ming the engagement was an-
din, conoS.d Sd preparations for the we'd
; -hannr n; ED, Timms was exultant
,oan /, nnhl;o rimms was not much
- oon..aa - mot Shaps for want of
openly; perhaps for 's"s non'.s
meet other contingencies
But man cannot make ,nam.n,.
for his own wedding from -
point, and he was compelled to '
out. In quiet and secluded bys
meets Mapes. The meeting to him
a surprise; he smiled feebly, and
tended his hand. But Mapes, intent on
business, strobe squarely up to Timms
and planted a vigorous blow on one of
his eyes, which caused that gentleman to
measure his length in the dust. Timms
sprang to his feet, and showed fight; but
another blow on the other eye sent him
again to grass, where he continued to
! lie.
SECT up" said Mapes.
You'll knock me down again." said
| Timms.
"Yes," returned Mapes "I will"
"Then / won't get up. said Timms
You're an Internal scoundrel.' said
Mapes.
81 can't help your saying SO" answer
ed Timms.
You sawed the log said Mapes.
"What log?" asked Timms.
You sawed the log repeated Mapes
advancing step.
"Yes-stop," said Timms: sawed
the log
Well, you needn't think said
Mapes, that after your marriage you're
going to tell that story. and make me
laughing stock"
"Pll never speak of it," whined
Timms.
Perhaps you won't said Mapes; but
| am going to swear you before get
through There's another thing, you
won the woman by your trickery, and
know it is in you to abuse her so am
going to swear you to treat her kindly"
| "Pll swear" said Timms.
"Hold up your hand" said Mapes.
Timms held up his hand
"Now, repeat after me Il, Silas
Timms, solemnly swear that will never
bring to the knowledge of any human
being that sawed the log whereby Dan
iel Mapes fell into the creek and lost a
wife; and further, that will, she con-
senting, marry Eliza Reed, and always
treat her kindly; so help me God"
Timms repeated the oath, verbatim.
Now, get up and 60 home," said
Mapes. q don't think you'll be mar
ried till your eyes get out Of mourning,
and by that time III be far enough away
But don't think I'll lose sight 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 shout
ed back, exultingly:
"Mapes, she's an angel"
In twenty years, Daniel Mapes had
learned many things, and among them
this: Lille is very much as we make it.
In other words, the world is like a mir
ror. and looks at US with the face we
present 1t returns scowl for scowl, and
, smile for smile. 1t echoes our sobs and
our laughter To the cold, it is icy as
the northern seas to the loving, it is
as balmy as the isles of the tropics. He
had learned still harder lesson which
was to forget the griefs. the sorrows, the
sights, the wrongs and the hates of the
past. The effect of this lesson was to
make it appear that the lines, to him
had fallen in pleasant places. His ro-
tund form and firm muscle bespoke q
good digestion, while a cheerful counte-
nance told of mental peace. A fair wo-
, man named him husband, and children
: called him father. A beautiful home in
the Santa Clara Valley was theirs; be-
sides which, Mapes had many broad
acres of land, as we'll as many head of
| stock running nearly wild in the coun-
: ties of Monterey and San Luis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that Craze
l ON Californias thousand hills are gath
cred in bands at convenient places, to
be claimed and branded by their owners
such assemblages being called rodeos.
Mapas had been down across the Salinas
Plains, in attendance upon a rodeo; and
' being on his return, jogging along on his
mustang, he saw, far in the distance, but
nearing him, an equally lone traveller
Slowly the distance between them de-
; creased /; and as they approached, Mapes