The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-07-25
."I,ll swear" said Timms:
: "Hold up yonr hand," said Mapes.
T;,,r,s hold IN his hand. t


"Hold up :your hand" said Mapes
Timms held up his hand: -, ~
i CHOW, repeat after me: "I, Silas Timms,
| solemnly swear that I will never bring to the
knowledge of any human being that sawed
Z the lor whereby Daniel Mapes fell into the
creek and lost a wife; and, further, that will,
y she, ,consenting, marry Eliza Reed, and always
treat her kindly, so help me God"
4 TYmms repeated the oath verbatin1.
tNow get up and go home," said Mapes.-
: ~ don't think you'll be married till your eyes
get out of mourning, and by that time III be
far enough away. But don't think Ill 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 Sc
d cured safe distance, he shouted back, exult-
ingly: u
4 @Mapes, she's an angel"
In twenty years Daniel Mapes had learned
many things, and among them this: Life is
very much as we make it. In other words, the
world is like o mirror, and it looks at US with
the face we present 1t returns scowl for scowl,
and smile. for smile. 1t echoes our sobs and
laughter To the cold, it is as icy as the north
ern seas to the loving, it is as balmy as .ti the
harder lesson which was, to forget the griefs,
the sorrows, tie 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 rotund form and
firm muscle bespoke a good digestion, while
cheerful countenance told of mental peace, a
fair woman named him husband, and children
called him father. A. beautiful home in the
Santa Clara Valley was theirs besides which,
Mapes had many broad acres of land, as well
as many head of stock running nearly Wild In
the counties Of Monterey and San Luis Oblspo.
/ Once in each year the cattle that Craze on
CALIFORNIA; thousand hills are gathered in
bands at convenient places to be claimed and
branded by. their owners-such assemblages
being called rodeos. Mapes had been down
across the Salinas Plains, in attendance upon
rodeo !. and, being on his return, jogging along
on his mustang, he saw, far in the distance, but
nearing him. in equally lone traveller. Slow
" the distance between them decreased and
as they approached Mapes-with California
prudence Slipped his revolver upon the belt
which sustained it from his back round to his
left side, bringing the hilt under the shadow of
his bridle-arrn, and within easy reach OF his
right hand. A near look assured Mapes that
he had no occasion for weapons the coming
man was of middle age, but his look was worn,
weary, detected, and hopeless--in local phrase
his manner was that of person who had 'lost
his grip - and those who have met that terri
BILE misfortune are never highway robbers,
"crip," being the very quality wanted in that
Hazardous pursuit.
\ The travellers met, with a long, inquiring
gaze, when from their lips simultaneously burst
/ the words. "Mapesn- "Timms." After a, mo-
ment of mute surprise, Mapes spurring his
mustang, drew nearer to Timms.
"Se-we meet at last. have been wanting
to see you many year"
The movement seemed ominous to Timms,
and he cried out, "Don't-don't shootl l have
no weapons Besides, have kept my oath
at least as we'll as 1 could. l never told the
reason why you didn't attend the apple-bee, nor
ever breathed a syllable about the sawed log
upon my solemn OATH u
f"I wasn't thinking of the ducking," said
lMapes.
"Don,t come any nearer, returned Timms.-
ssI have always tried to use that woman we'll !;
but she wouldn't be used we'll. have done
my best to treat her kindly; but she wouldn't
be treated kindly"
"It's no use to go over the grounds to me,
Timms"
aBut,n replied Timms, ""you have no idea
what that woman is; you wouldn't blame me
e you only knew. She's brow-beat me till L
amt half man." ~,
$50 see," said Mapes.
"No, you don't see," replied Timms., y on .,
don't see half. Look at this scar"-taking OFT
his lat and showing long seam on the scalp
l-othat was done with the skillet"
sYou have suffered" said Mapes.
t'SuHered r' returned Timms. "You ought
to have sworn her, too.. Ifyou only knew how
/ have thought of you, and of my oath to you !;
and how have borne blows, and been quiet
i how / have been called brute and fool, and
I Kept silent-how I, have endured taunts and
sneers, hunger and discomforts, without word
of reproach-you would forgive me; you
wouldn't harbor thoughts of revenge"
"Thoughts of revengeW answered Mapes;
"Let us dismount and have settlement, Tor L
see my chance has come at last"
s'Mapes, would you take the life of an un-
armed man,"
"Timms, you're crazy! Let me explain. l
have no wrongs to ayenge. 1t isn't for ven,
geance that I have wanted to see you. heard
about you often-know all your life and ex-
periences; and l have only wanted to meet
YOU to offer you home and friendship, en-
tployment and opportunities for prosperity, here
in California. owe you no debt of ofingratltude,
for the inestimable service you did me by that
little lob of carpenter work; and that mean
to nav. Come with me. He took Timms'
horse by the bride, turned him about without
remonstrance, and they travelled on in silence
After awhile, Timms raised his eyes timldiy
from the ground, and said:
"Mapes, she's the devil"
Sropy OF VIM. T.. MARCY-The following