The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-08-23

tlt iltJ IhdDcSs luC llCCtluS W hlhl W 40
surprise, he smiled feebly, and ex-
tended his hand. But Mapes, intent on
business, strobe squarely up to Timms
and planted 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.
"Get up," said Mapes.
"You'll knock me down again, y said
Timms
"Yes," returned Mapes, 81 will"
'Then | won't get up" said Timms.
"You're an internal scoundrel," said
Mapes.
81 can't help your saying So" ans
wered Timms.
"You sawed the log" said Mapes.
"What log ?" said Timms.
"You sawed the log, "repeated Mapes,
advancing step.
"Yes-stop," said Timms, 81 sawed
the log.
"Well yor needn't think" said
Mapes, "that after your marriage you're
going to tell that story, and make me
laughingscock."
"I'll never speak of it," whined
Timms.
"Perhaps you WON'T" said Mapes,
"but Pm going to swear you before |
get through. There's another thing
you won the woman by your trlckery,
and know it il in you to abuse her ; so
Pm going to swear you to treat her
kindly"
"I'n swear" said Timms.
"IIold up your hand" said Mapes
Timms held up his hand.
"Now,repeat after me: ! ,Silas Timms,
solemnly swear that will never bring
to the knowledge Of any human being
that I sawed the log whereby Daniel
Mapes fell into the creek and lost a
wife; and, further, that l will, she con,
5enting, marry Eliza Reed, and always
treat her kindly, 50 help me God"
Timms repeated the oath, verbatim.
snow, get up and go home" said
Mapes, 81 don't think you'll he mar
ried till your eyes get out of mourning,
and by that time I'll be far enough
away. But don't think I'll lose sight of
you and If you don't keep your oath,
you'll sec me-"
Timms arose from the ground, shook
off the dust, and walked away; but
when he had secured safe distance, he
shouted back eXultingly:
"Mapes, she ls an angel"
In twenty years Daniel Mapes had
learned ma ny things, and among them
this /: Life 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 as icy as
the northern seas to the loving it is az
balmy as the isles of the tropics. He
had learned a 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
l
to make it appear that the lines,to him,
had fallen in pleasant places. His
round form and firm muscle bespoke a
good digestion, while cheerful counte-
nance told of mental peace. A fair wo-
man named him husband, and children
called him father. A beautiful homo
in the Santa Clara Valley was theirs /;
besides which, Mape5 had many broad
acres of land, as we'll as many heads of
stdCk running nearly wild in the coun-
ties of Monterey and San Luis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that Craze
on California's thousand hills are gath
cred in bands at convenient places, to
be claimed and branded by their own
ers-such assemblages being called
rodeos. Mapes had been down across
the Salinas Plains, in attendance upon
a rodeO; and, being on his return, jogg-
ing along on his mustang, he saw, far
in the distance, but nearing him, al
equally lone traveller. Slowly the dis
tance between them decreased; and as
they approached, Mapes-with Califor-
mia prudence--slipped his revolver upon
the belt which sustained 1t, from his
back, round to his left side, bringing
the hilt under the shadow Of his bride.
arm, and within easy reach of his right
hand. A nearer look assured Mape
that he had no occasion for weapons
tho coming man was Of middle age, but
his look was worn, weary, detected ant
hopeless-in local phrase, his manner
was that of person who has 'lost hi;
grip" and those who have met tina
terrible misfortune are never highway
robbers, "grip" being the very quality
wanted in that hazardous pursuit.
Tho travellers mot, with a long inquir
ing gaze, when from their lips simulta
neously burst the words, "Mapes"-
"Timms.n After u moment of NUT
surprise, Mapes, spur ring his mustang
drew nearer Timms.
"So-we meet, at last. / have bee
wanting to sos you, this many year.
The movement seemed ominous t
Timms, and he cried out; "Don't, don
shoot! l have no weapons Besides,
have kept my oath-at least rs well as
| pOuld | npvpr told thp rpaSon Whv vC