Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-01

v. y
her; SO I'm going to swear you to treat
her well"
I'm swear, said Timms
Hold up your right hand" said
Mapes.
Timms held up his hand
''Now repeat after me: Il. Silas
Timms, solemnly swear that I will new
er bring to the knowledge Of any hui
man being that | sawed the log whereby
Daniel Mapes fell into the creek and lost
a wife; and further, that [ will she
c0nsenting, marry Eliza Reed, and al
ways use her kindly: so help me God. ,"
Timms repeated the oath Uer6atim.
Now, get up and 90 home" said
Mapes. Il don't think you'll get mar
married till your eyes get out Of mourn
ing, and by that time I'll be far enough
away. But don't think I'll lose sight of
you, and if you don't keep your oath
y0u'n see me.
Timms arose from the ground, shook
off the dust, and walked away, but when
he had secured a safe distance, he shout
ed back, eXultjngly:
''Mapes, she's an angel"
In twenty years Daniel Mapcs had
learned many things, and among them
this: Life is very much as we make it.
In Other words, the world is like a mir
r0r, and looks at us with the face we
present. It returns scowl for scOwl and
smile for smile. II echoes our sObs and
OR laughter To the cold, it is as lev
as the northern seas; to the loving it is
as halmy as the isles of the tropics. He
had learned a still harder lesson, which
was, to forget the griefs, the sorrows.
the Sights. the wrongs and the bates of
the past. The effect Of this lesson was
to make it appear that the lines, to him,
had fallen in pleasant places. His rO-
tunl form and firm muscle bespoke a
good digestion, while cheerful cOunte-
lance told Of mental peace. 4 fair wO-
man named him husband and children
called him father. A beautiful home in
the Santa Clara Valley was theirs; be
sides which Mapcs had many broad acres
Of land as we'll as many head of stOcE
running nearly wild in the counties Of
Monterey and San Luis ObispO
Once in each year the cattle that
craze on CALIFORNIA; thousand hills are
gathered in bands in convenient places.
to be claimed and branded by their own
crs-such assombIa~os being called r9HcoS
Napps had been down across the Salinas
Plains. in attendance upon a r0de2 and
being on his return. jogging along on
his mustang, he saw, far in the distance,
but nearing him. an equally lone travel
er. Slowly tn" distance between them
decreased. and, as they approached,
MauoS-With California prudence-slip-
ped his revolver upon the belt which
sustained It, from ms back to his lett
side. bringing the hit under the shadow
Of his bride arm, and within easy reach
q ms right hand. \ near l0ok assured
N2pcS that he had no occasion for Weap-
ons: th" coming man was of middle
age, INIT ms look was worn, weary, de-
iacJ"d and hoHcless-in local phrase, his
manner was that OF person who has
los. mis- grip and those who have
mel that terrible misfortune are never
highway robbers. grip being the very
quality wanted in that hazardous pur-
suit.
The travy lerS met with long, lnqulr-
in- ga"e, when from their lips smulta-
noousIy hurst the words, "Alapes 49,
"Iimm% After moment OF mute
surprise, lanes. spurrlng his mustang.
drew nearer IlmmS.
"So-Wc meet at last. l have been
wanting to see, you this many year.
The movement seemed ominous to
Irmms, and he cried out:
''Don't-don shoot. l have no weap-
o[nS; Besides, have Kept my oath-at
least, as well as l couiq:. l never tod
obont the say saved ,o%Nnnon nn3n ,''' NV
solemn OATH
4 wasn't thinking of the duckinr,
said Mapes. .
.r , come any ;i 4taFtr t Salt INNS
we'll 1''i hnt sSr O.. wonIJn.t he rsnd ' we'll
have done my best to treat her kindly
but she wouldn't be treated kindly"
IL 5 no use OF gong over inc ground
10 me- g. tt' rn,I;.7 ,,,. ..,,ou how.
idea What tbat woma I,''i is.yo Nl' won1dnt
Name me- if Won oniv knew She's brow
heat me, tiI I amt half a man."