Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-09-14


the dust. Timms spraRg to his fee
and showed fight; but another blow
on the other eye again sent him tt
the grass, where he continued to lie.
SECT up" said Mapes.
You'll knock me down again" sale
Timms.
Yes" returned Mapes, " | will.'
Then ! won't get up" said Timms.
You are an internal scoundrel,
said Mapes.
% can't help your saying So" said
Timms.
"You sawed the log ~ said Mapes
"What log p asked Timms.
"You sawed the log?' repeated
Mapes, advancing a step.
Yes-stop," said Timms. g sawed
the log"
Well, you needn't think" said
Mapes, that after the marriage you re
going to tell that story, and make me I,
laughing stock"
"rll never speak of it," whined
| Timms.
" Perhaps you won't" said Mapes,
but I'm going to swear you before |
get through. There is another thing ;
you won the woman by your id
trickery. and | know it is in you to
abuse her. so I'm going to swear you
to treat her kindly"
"l'll swear" said Timms.
Hold up your hand" said Mapes.
Timms held up his hand.
"Now repeat after me-" 81, Silas
Timms, solemnly swear that will not
bring to the knowledge of any human
being that | sawed the log whereby
Daniel Mapes fell into the creek and
lost Il wife; and further, that will, she
consenting, marry Eliza Reed, and al
ways treat her kindly, so help me God" ;"
Timms repeated the oath verbatim.
"Now, get up and go home," said
Mapes, 81 don't think you'll be married
till your eyes get out of mourning, and
by that time I'll be far enough away.
But don't think I'll lose s4ht of you;
and if you don't keep your oath you'll
see me-
Timms arose from the ground, shook
OIL the dust, and walked away; but
when he had secured safe distance he
shouted back eXultingly:
"Mapes, she's an angel!'
In twenty years Daniel Mapes had
Life is very much as we make it. In
other words, the world is like mirror,
and looks at us with the face we pre-
sent. 1t returns scowl for scowl, and
smile for smile. 1t echoes our sobs and
our laughter. To the cold it is as icy as
the northern seas; to the loving it is as
balmy rs the isles Of the tropics. He
had learned still another lesson; which
was to forget the griefs, the sorrows, the
wrongs, and the hates of the past. The
effect of the lesson was to make it APP
pear that the lines, to him, had fallen
in pleasant places. His rotund form
and firm muscle bespoke good diges-
ton, while cheerful countenance told
Of mental peace. A fair woman named
him husband, and children called him
father. A pleasant home in Santa Clara
valley was theirs; besides which Mapes
had many broad acres of lands, 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 own
ers, such assemblages being called r0dcoS.
Mapes had been down across the Sala
mus plains, in attendance upon a rOdco,
and being on his return, Jogging along
on his mustang, he saw, far in the dis
tance, but nearing him, an equally lone
traveller. Slowly the distance between
them decreased, and, as they APP
preached, Mapes, with California pru-
dence slipped his revolver on the belt
which supported it, from his back
around TO his left side, bringing the hilt
under the shadow of his bride arm, and
within easy reach of his right hand.
A near look showed him 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
one who had ''lost his grip" and those
who have met that terrible misfortune
are never highway robbers, grip being
the very quality needed in that hazard
GUS pursuit.
The travellers met, with long, inquir-
ing gaze. when from their lips stimuli
taneously burst the words "Mapes'
" imms!' After a moment of mute
surprise, Mapes, squirting his mustang,
drew nearer Timms.
$50, we meet at last. | have been
wanting to see you this many a year."
The movement seemed ominous to
llmms, and he cried out: "Don't-don't
shoot! | have no weapons. Besides,
have kept my oath-at least as we'll as |
could. never told the reason why YOU
didn't attend the apple, bee, nor even
breathed syllable about the sawed log
upon my oath"
81 wasn't thinking of the ducking,' y
said Mapes.
"Don't come any nearer" returned
Timms. 81 have always tried to use the
woman well, but she wouldn't be used
well. | have done my best to treat he,
kindly; but she wouldn't be treated
kindly"
"It's no use to go over the grounds t,
me, Timms."
"But," replied Timms, "you have NJ
idea what that woman is You wouldn
blame me if you only knew. She'
hrowbeat me till | amt half man.
so see, u said Mapes.
= "No you don't see" said rimms