Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-07-17
Select STORY.
TIMNS' STRATEGY.
A STORY OF CALIFORNIA LIFR.

Mapes was a chivalrous by nature
he believed in "seekins the bubble repu
! taiion, even in the caunon's mouth His
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital Of
stories of deeds Of desperate daring
while he had nothing but contempt fol
even success won by crooked and indi
rect means. Timms, on the contrary
believed that there was policy in war
and that the end justified the means
particularly if the end was attained
Companions from infancy, their lives
had been spent in competition for scho-
lastic and such other honors as the 10
calify afforded, without even a momen
tary break in their riendshp. But now
in early manhood, they struggled for a
prize cf incalculalle value, with an ar
dor that threatened complete rupture
of friendly relations. The heart and
hand of LILA Reed, the neighborhood
belle, were to be won; and these none
others might aspire, to in the face of such
formidable competition as that of Mapes
and Timms. They a'one-each by
virtue of bis own personality and posi-
tiou-had right to lay seige ito the
heart of that variable, irritable, inperi-
Gus. beauty, and for months the strife
between them had gone on. Each one
bad called into play all his personal AMI
social resources for the local society
had taken such an interest that it was
divided into two factions, known as the
Mapcs;,es aud the Timmsites And yet
Miss Eliza could not be brought to ex-
press a preference. If she rode with one
to day, she was careful to walk abroad
with the rival to morrow.
Coquetry is delicious to woman and
Eliza would not have been feminine bad
she been in haste to have made an cleo
tion Nevertheless, she did not intend
to miss her opportunity. She knew we'll
the war could not always last, and fear
ed that when one of the aspirants for
her favor withdrew from the contest. the
love of the other, wantin G the stimulus
Of competition, would grow cold; hence,
she had made up her mind, that, upon
the first favorable opportunity. she would
signify to Mapes that his suit go ofte n
pressed, was at last accepted. The op-
portuAity, it seemed. was not to be long
wanting; for invitations were given cut
for an apple bee in the neighborhood.
and Eliza found means to convey an in
nation to Mapes that she expected to
meet him there, and counted on his es-
cort 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 important Of his life, and arrayed
himself as only rustic dandy can. His
way lay across meadow, through which
ran-or rather loitered-a deep. but mar.
row stream, spanned by single log. 1t
was SO dark when be reached the primi-
tive bridge that he was compelled to feel
his way slowly across. As he progress.
ed it commenced to swing lightly
something very unusual-un,il he reach.
ed the centre. when, to his utter confu-
sion. it gave way, and he was launched
into the water, He 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, "He swore until all was
blue" Whatever illuminating qualities
this lurid light possessed, it had no dry
ing ones. and Mapes was forced to bid
adieu for the night to all hopes of plight
ing his troth to the loved Eliza.
In the rural districts Down East, in
early times. the good people had such
habits of industry and rigid economy
that they seldom gave, or attended par.
ties unless such as were cloaked under
the names of raisings. quiltings. husk
ings, or apple bees thus. the apple bee.
fraught with momentous consequences to
Mapes and Timms was but social par
ty IN disguise-a few apples being par
ed, quartered, cored and strung in the
early evening for appearances sake.