Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-06

it is as balmy as the isles of the trop-
les. He had learned still harder les
son, which was, to forget the griefs, the
sorrows, the 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 mus
Gle bespoke a good digestion, while a
cheerful countenance told of mental
peace. A fair women named him hus-
band, 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 Louis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that
Craze on California's thousand hills are
gathered in bands at convenient places
to be claimed and branded by their
owners assemblages being call
ed rodeos. Mapes had been down a.
cross 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,
an equally lone traveller. Slowly the
distance between them decreased and
as they approached Mapes- with Cali
fornia prudence-slipped his revolver
upon his belt which sustained it from
his back round to his left side, bring
ing the hilt under the shadow of his
bride arm, and within easy reach of
his right hand. A near look assured
Mapes that he had no occasion for wea-
+pons; the coming man was of middle
age, but his look was worn, weary, de
jected and hopeless in local phrase
his manner was that of a person who
had "lost his grips" and those who
have met that terrible misfortune are
never highway robbers, "grip" being
the very quality wanted in that hazard
GUS pursuit. -.......
The travellers meet, with long,
Iinquiring gaze, when from their
lips simultaneously burst the words,
"Mapes!!"- -"Timms!' After moment
of mute surprise, Mapes, spurring his
mustang, drew near Timms. -
'ESo-we meet at last. / have been
wanting to see you this many a year. %
The movement seemed ominous to
lTimms, and he cried out, ..Don'tt- t.
don't shoot! Ihave no weapons. Be
sides, [ have kept my oath-at least as
well as I could. I never told the rea-
son why you didn't attend the apple
bee, nor ever breathed a syllable about
the sawed log upon my solemn oath. "
81 wasn't thinking of the ducking,' %
said Mapes.
'Don't come any nearer" returned
Timms. 81 have always tried to use
that woman well, but she wouldn't be
used well. | have done my best to treat
her kindly, but she wouldn't be treat
ed kindly. ~.
''It is no use to 60 over the grounds
to me, Timms."
"But," replied Timms, 'syou have no
idea what that woman is, you wouldn't
blame me if you only knew. She's
brow beat me till amt half a man. ="
ooh, [ see," said Mapes.
"No you don't see," replied Timms.
"You don't see half. Look at this
scar"- taking off his hat and showing
a long seam ON his scalp-"that was
done with the skillet"
"You have suffered" said Mapes.
"Sufered," returned Timms. "You
ought to have sworn her too. If YOU
only knew how [ have thought of you
and of my oath to you, and how have
borne blows and been quiet-how I
have been called brute and fool and
kept silent-how I have endured
taunts and sneers, hunger and discom-
forts, without a word ofreproach-you
would forgive me, you wouldn't harbor
thoughts of revenge
. ''Thoughts Of revengew answered
Mapes. "Let US dismount and have a
settlement, for [ see my chance has
come at last"
''Mapes, would you take the life of
an unarmed mani
'"Timms, you're crazy! Let me ex-
plain. [ have no wrongs to avenge.-
1t isn't for vengeance that I have want
ed to see you. I have heard about
you often know all your life and ex-
periences, and I have only wanted to
meet you to offer you home and
friendship, employment and opportun-
tiles for prosperity here in California.
| owe you no debt but one of gratitude
for the inestimable service you did me
by that little job of carpenter work
and that [ mean to pay. Come with
me" He took Timms' horse by the
bride, turned him about without re-
monstrance, and they travelled on in
silence.
After awhile Timms raised his ewes
timidly from the ground, and said:
"Mapes, she's the devil !"-Cjncinno-
tt Chronicle.
RgaA Scholar in country school,
was asked: "How do you parse Mary
milks the cow?'' The last word was
disposed of as follows: :"Cow is noun
feminine gender, singular number
third person, and stands for Mary
Stands for Mary? How do you make
that out ?" Because" added the in.
telligent pupil, eff she didn't stand fol
Mary how could she milk her?