Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-09-06
Timms' Strategy.
OR THE STORY OF RIVAL COUNTRY Loy
ERS

| Mapes was chavalrous by nature; ne
believed in seeking the bubble reputa
ton, even in the cannon's mouth" Hi
enthusiasm was aroused by the recital o
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 there was policy in war, and
that the ends justified the means, partic-
ularly if the end was attained. Com
panions from infancy, their lives had
been spent in competition for scholastic
and such other honors as the locality af
forded, without even momentary break
in their friendship. But now, in early
manhood, they struggled for prize of
incalculable value, with an ardor that
threatened complete rupture of friend
ly 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 formid-
able competition as that Of Mapes and
Timms. They alone each by virtue of
his own personality and position-had a
right to lay seige to the heart of that
variable, irritable, imperious 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 the
Timmsites. 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 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 asprants for her
favor withdrew from the contest, the
love of the other, wanting the stimulus
of competition, would grow cold hence
she made up her mind, that, upon the
first favorable opportunity, she woald
signify to Mapes that his suit, SO otter
pressed, was at last accepted. The op
portunity it seemed, was not to be long
wanting; for invitations were given out
for an apple-bee in the neighborhood
and Eliza found means to convey an in.
timation to Mapes that she expected tt
meet him there, and counted on his es
cort home at the conclusion of the frol
ic.
The appointed evening looked fol
with such nervous anticipation by Mape
came at last. He felt that it was tn,
most important of his life, and arraye,
! himself as only rustic dandy can. Hi
, way lay across meadow, through whicl
ran-or rather loitered-a deep but nar
, row stream, spanned by single log. |
was so dark when he reached this primi
tive bridge that he was compelled to fee
I his way slowly across. As he progresse
q it commenced to swing lightly-somt
thing very unusual-until he reached
the center, when, to his utter confusion
it gave way, and he was launched int
the water. He scrambled out, then sud
denly the night became luminous wit
} that lurid light to which people refe
. when speaking of some profane wretch
He swore until all was blue" What
ever Illuminating qualities this luri
light possessed, it had no drying ones
and Mapes was forced to bid adieu 70
the night to all hopes of plighting hi
troth to the loved Eliza.
In the rural districts Down East, i
early times, the good people had sue
habits Of industry and rigid econom
that they seldom gave or attended pal
ties, unless such as were cloaked unde
the names of raisings, quiltings, husk
ings or apple-bees; thus, the apple-be
fraught with momentous consequence
to Mapes and Timms, was but socia
party in disguise-a few apples bein,
pared, quartered, cored and strung i
the early evening for appearance sake.
), AS usual, FL liza Reed was the belle {
8 the evening. Good looks, entire sell
possession, and keen satirical wit alway
! assured her that position and this nigh
she shone with unusual briliancy, unit
as the hours wore away, and Mapes cam
not, she began to lose herself in ponder
ing why, and atlength she asked Timm
is your friend Mapes ailing ?"
' al guess not" replied Timms "sa,
him to-day. He wasn't complaining
J. He denies himself much pleasure,
' said Eliza, "in not coming here to-nigh
}. for this is the place where we alway
D have good time. Aunt Judy know
how to give an apple-bee.'
" You let Mapes alone" answere,
' Timms; he knows what he's about"