Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-06-29
[From tho Overland Monthly."l
TAMNES' STR.ATElGY.

Mapes was chivalrous by nature he
believed in seeking the bubble reputa-
ton even in the cannon's mouth" His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital OF
deeds Of desperate daring; while he had
nothing but contempt for even 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, particularly if the end
was attained. Companions in infancy,
their lives had been spent in competition
for scholastic and such other honors as
the locality afforded, without even q mo-
mentary break in their friendship. But
now, in early manhood, they struggled for
prize Of incalculable value, with an ar
dor that threatened a complete rupture
Of friendly relations. The heart and
hand Of Eliza Reed, the neighborhood
belle, were to be won and to these none
Others might aspire, in the face of such
formidable competition as that Of Mapes
and Tmms. They alone-cach by vir-
tue Of his own personality and position
had right to lazy seige to the heart OF
that variable, irritable, imperous 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
interest that it was divided into two fac
tions, known as the Mapesites and Timms-
ties. And yet Miss Eliza could not be
brought to express a preference if she
rode with one to-day, she was careful to
walk abroad with the rival tomorrow.
Coquetry is delicious to woman and
Eliza would not have been feminine had
she been in haste TO have made an election.
Nevertheless, she did not intend 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 other, wanting the stimulus of COM
petition, would grow cold; hence she
made up her mind, that, upon the first
favorable opportunity, she would signify
to Mapes that his suit, so often pressed,
was at last accepted. The opportunity,
it seemed, was not to be long wanting
for invitations were given out for an APP
ple-bee in the neighborhood, and Eliza
found means to convey an invitation to
Mapes that she expected to meet him
there, and counted on his escort home at
the conclusion of the frolic.
The appointed evening looked for with
such nervous anticipation by Mapes, came
at last He felt that it was the most i'm
portant Of his life, and arrayed himself as
only rustic dandy can. His way lay
across a meadow, through which ran
or rather loitered-a deep, but narrow
stream, spanned by single log. 1t was
so dark when he reached this primitive
bridge that he was compelled to feel his
way across. As he progressed it com
menced to swing lightly-something very
unusual - until he reached the centre,
when, to his utter confusion, it gave way,
and he was launched into the water. lie
scrambled out, then suddenly the night
became luminous with that lurid light to
which people refer when they say, in
speaking of some profane wretch, " lie
swore until all was blue" Whatever il
Illuminating qualities this lurd light pos
sessed, it had no drying ones, and Mapes
was forced to bid adieu for the night to
all hopes Of plighting his troth to the
loved Eliza.
In the rural districts Down East, in
carly times, the good people had such
habits Of industry and rigid economy
that they seldom gave, or attended par
ties, unless such were cloaked under the
names Of raisings, cuttings, huskings, OF
apple-bees thus, the apple-boe, fraught
with momentous consequences to Mapes
and Timms, was but social party in
disguise-a few apples being pared, quar-
tered, cored, and strung in the early eve
ming for appearance sake.
As usual, Eliza Reed was the belle Of
the occasion. Good looks, entire self
possession, and a keen, satirical wit, al
ways assured her that position and this
night she shone with unusual briliancy,
until the hours wore away, and Mapes
came not, she began ~ lose herself in