Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-01
'TE1GW'S STRATEGY.
Or :Eso story og Rival California
E0yGwSs


Or 'Eso story Of Rival California
EOvers.
Mapes was chivalrous by nature He
believed in ''seeking the bubble reputa-
ton, even in the lannon's mouth" His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital of
deeds Of desperate daring; while he had
nothing but contempt even for success
won by crooked and Indirect means.
Timms, on the contrary, believed there
was policy in war, and that the end JUS
tilted, the means if the end was at
tanned Companions from infancy. their
lives had been spent in competition for
scholastic and such other shon0rs as the
locality afforded, without even a mOmon-
tary break in their friendship. But now,
in early manhood. they struggled for a
prize Of incalculable value with an al
dor that threatened complete rupture
of friendly relations The heart and
hand of Eliza Reed, the ncighbOrh0Od
belle, We're to be won; and to these
none others might aspire, in the face Of
such formidable competition Us that of
Mapes and Timms. They aIone-each
by virtue of their own personality and
position-had a right to lay svigr TO the
heart of that variable. Irritable impr-
riOus beauty. and for months the strife
between them bad cone on. Each one
mao caIeo N}to pay all MS personal ana
social resources; for the local society
had taken such an interest that it was
divided into two factions. the MaVesites
and the Timmsites. And vet Miss Eliza
could not be brought to express a pref
erence. # she rode with one to-day
She was sure TO wax abroad with the IL
val Tomorrow.
CoquotTY IS GeicjoUS to woman, and
kIlza would not have been feminine
had she been IN haste to have made an
election. Nevertheless she did not in
tend to miss her opportunity. 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 o,hcr, wanting the slim
illus Of competition, would CROW cod
hence. She had made mp her mind, that
upon the first favorable opportunity. She
would signify ic apos that his suit. SO
often pressed, was ut last accepted. The
opportunity, it seemed, was not TO be
long wanting. Invitations were giyen
out for an apple bee in the neighbour
hood, and Eliza found means to convey
an animation to AlaDeS that She expect
Ell to meet him there. and counted ON
his escort home at the conclusion Of the
froHc.
The appointed evening looked for with
such nervous anticipation 10y NaprS.
came at last. IL" tt!t that it was the
most Important OF ms NE, ana afraTcd
hlmSel1 as only rustic dandy can. Ii1S
way lay across meadow. through
when rah-or rather loltercd-a deep,
but narrow stream, spanned by single
log. 1t was dark when he reached this
prlmitlVe bridge that ne was compelled
to feel ms way slowly across. As he
progressed IL commenced to SWING light
lY-Somethlng unuSual-unuIh he reached
the center, when, to his utter confusion,
1t gave way ana ne was launched INTO
water. ne scramDled OUT, then suddenly
the night became luminous with That ll-
rld HGht TO winch people refer when
they say, IN speaking OF some protane
Wretch' ne S#ore I'LL all was ojuc.
W hateYer Illuminating qualities this lu-
rid light possessed, 1t had no drying ones,
and Mapes was forced to BID adleu tor
the night to all hopes OF pHghtmg his
troth to the loved hilZa.
In rural districts Down East, In
early times, the good people had such
habits OF industry and economy that
they seldom gave or attended parties, I'M
less such as were Cl0aked under the
names OF raiSlngs, cuttings, huskings
or apple-bees. Thus, the apple-bee,
fraught with momentouS consequences
to Mapes and Timms, was but social
party in disguise-a few apples being
pared, quartered, cored and strung in the
early part OF the evening for appearance
sake.
As usual, Eliza Reed was the belle of
the occasion. Good looks, entire self
possession. and keen, satirical wit al
ways assured her that position. and this
night she shone with unusual brilIiancy,
until, as the hours wore away. ana
Mapes came not, she begun to lose her
self in bordering why, and at length she
asked Timms:
us your friend Mapes ailing?'
4 guess not" replied Timms. 'SaW
him to-day. He wasn't complaining.
He denies himself much pleasure,
said Eliza, Sin not coming here tonight,
for this is the place where we always
have a good time. Aunt Judy knows
how to give an apple bee.
VIZ ltt INN ''i'Ai'- t't'S " i'~' Ai4Ii''''
che knows what he's about"
''What do you ?" asked Eliza.
"Oh, ! mean, replied Timms, that
Mapcs is the. prince OF good fellows, and
gets invitations where the rest of us
| don't.
"Where is he Tonight" asked Eliza,
now fully aroused.
Il don't know for sure, answered
Timms. HE told me to-day that there
were special reasons for his coming here,
but that he had an invitation to the rich
and aristocratic Squire Hunt0on's, who
is celebrating his daughters birth day,
and>that he didn't know which way he
would co." and Timms turned away
to talk to the next pretticst girl in the
room.
Petted young women are seldom log
ical or patient. When the party broke
up Eliza accepted Timms escort to her