Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-08-15
Miscellaneous Reading.
TIMMS' STRATEG Y.
A STORY OF EARLY CALIFORNIA LIFE.

stories of deeds of desperate daring WINE
he had nothing but contempt Tor even
success won by crooked ana lnalrcct
means. Timms, on the contrary, belIcv-
ed there was policy in war, and that the
end justified the means, particularly II
the end was attained. Companions from
infancy. their lives had been spent in
connection for scholastic and such other
hon6rs as he locality afforded, without
even momcntary break in their friend
ship Bat now, in early manhood, they
struggled FOR prize OF incalculablc value,
with an arlor that threatened a complete
rupture ut friendly relations. The heart
and hand Of Eliza Reed, the neighbor
hood belle were to be won; and TO these
none other need aspire, in the face OF such
formidable .ompetition as that Of Mapes
and Iimms. They alonc-eaCh by virtue
Of his own personality and positlon--had
a righ, 10 lay siege to the heart of that
variable, irritable, imporious beauty, and
for months the strife between them had
gone on Each one had called into play
all his personal and social resources; for
the local society had taken such an in
terest thai il was divided into two fac
ti0ns, kEaBn ~ the Mapcstcs and the
Tlmms,tos And yet Miss Eliza could
not be brought to express preference, If
she rode with one to-day she was careful
TO walk broad with the rival to morrow.
COuuetgy ~ delicious to a woman; and
Eliza would not have been feminine had
she beer In haste 10 have made an cleo
ton Nevertheless, she did not intend
to mis-, aey opportunity, She knew well
the war Juld not always last, and feared
that whra one Of 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 opportunity, she would
signify Napcs that his suit, so often
pressed was at last accepted. The OPP
portunjtv il seemed, was not 10 be long
wanting; FOR invitations were given out
for an apple bee in the neighhorhood, and
Eliza foand means TO convey an iatima-
ton TO Napes that she expected 20 meet
him there, and counted on his escort
home a. tho conclusion Of the trDIic.
disappointed evening, looked for with
such nervous anticipation by Mapcs, came
at last he felt that it was the most i'm.
portant II is life, and arrayed himself
as only u .IstiC danny can His way lay
across q meadow, through which ran--or
rather .atarcd-a deep, but narrow
stream, sQaDncd by single log. 1t was
40 dark wien he reached this primitive
bridge that he was compelled to feel his
way slowly across. As he progressed it
commenced ia swing lightly something
very ugGsual--jntiI he reached the
centre, urn, 10 his utter confusion, it
gave wa. and hc was launched into the
water itg scrambled out, then suddenly
the ui-a' became luminous with tAat
Iurid iD.ha ~ which people refer when
they -ag, y speaking of some protan
wretch, l.r swore until all WAS blue
Wha1eyae Illuminating qualities this Iurid
light uu.,agscd, it had no drying ones,
and Mapa, WAS forced to bid adieu for
the might to all hopes Of piighting his
troth TO the loved Eliza.
In the rafal districts down East, in
carly times, the good people had such
habits % industry and rigid economy that
they ,c.am gave or attended parties, IN.
less such ~ were cloaked under the
names nt rajsjngs, cuttings, huskings, or
applr,hee- thus, the apple bee, irnught
with mpmrntous consequences 20 Mapcs
and Eimms, was but social party IN
disguise, few apples being pared quart
cred Cores and strung in he early ewes
ing for pprAranec's 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
might ,ae -hOue with unugal briIiiaucy,
until, as the hours wore away, and Maprs
came not, She began to lose herself in
pundrr1- why, aud at length she asked
Timm,
''Is your friend Mapcs ailug?"
"a guess not. " replied Tmms; ''saw him
10 day .,c WASH 3 complaining
ole denies himself much pleasure
said Eliza, Sin not coming here tonight,
for this NE place where we always
have good time. Aunt Judy knows now
to give I'D apple bee. -
lyon let Mapcs alone answered
Timm> she knows what he's about"
"N hat 10 you mcan?' asked Eliza.
son, mean" replied Timm-, THAT
Mapcs the prince of good fellows, and
gets Invitations where the rest of us
don't
"Whcreis Mapcs to niEht2" asked Eliza,
now tally aroused.
81 aau, know, for sure answered
Tjnm- He told me TO day there were
spccia, reasons for his coming here, but
that he had an invitation to the rich aud
arjstoc.H5u Squire IIuntoon's, who is
celebrating his daughters birthday, and
that IA" aiut know which way he would
gni' ans. Iuams turned away to talk tn
The ueN urgtticst gin in the room
Pct'ci Young women are seldom logical
or patient When the party broke up,
Eliza aa opted IImms escort To ncr home,
and before they arrived there She had
consented 20 become, with the least pos
slbo delay Mrs TimmS. The ncNtmorn
inr the engagement was announced mud
preparations for the wedding commenced
Iimms was cNuAnt. Happy Timms
For ioW days Timms Was not much
seen IN p.olic porhap, Tor want of rour
age 'o wear his bmshing honors openly
perhaps for want Of courage to meet other
Conliugculics-wh knows But q man
cannot make arrangements for his own
wedding from A fixed standpoint, and he
was compelled to venture uut luauuict
and sec.Uded by.way l." met Nuprs Tn,
meeting % him wasa surprise; he smiled
tcehIy, and he extended his hand Bgt
Mupc., la,uut ON business, strobe SQUARE
~ UP to Ijmms and planted "a yig0rou,
blow on one of his eyes. which cause,
that gentleman to measure his length In
tine dust Tlmms spraug to his feet ana
showed 'ght, bet another blow ON thu
other eye sent him again to grass. whcr,
he continued to lic
Get un said Mapcs