The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-08-01

man cannot make arrangements for his
own wedding from a fixed standpoint,
and he was compelled to venture out. In
quiet and secluded by-way he met
Mapes. The meeting to him was sur,
prise he smiled feebly and extended his
hand. But Mapes, intent on business
strobe squarely up to Timms AID planted
| vigorous blow on one of his eyes,
which caused that gentleman to measure
| his length in the dust. Timms sprang
to his feet and showed fight, but another
| blow on the other eye sent him again to
| grass, where he continued to lie.
Get up. said Mapes.
"You'l Ii knock me down again." said
Timms.
YES" returned Mapes, 81 will"
Then l won't get up said Timms.
you're an internal scoundrel," said
| Mapes.
81 can't help your saying so,' an
swered Timms.
"Yo- sawed the log" said Mapes.
''What log 2" asked Timms.
"You sawed the log" repeated Mapes
| advancing step.
"Yes-stop,' said Timms, 81 sawed
| the log.
well, you needn't think said
| Mapcs, that after your marriage you re
| going to tell that story, and make me a
! laughing stock
IN never speak of it., whined
| Timms.
Perhaps you WON'T said Mapes /;
but IN going to swear you before |
! get through There's another thing ;
you won that woman by your internal
trickery, and [ know it is in you to abuse
her; so [ I'll going to swear you to treat
her kindly
''I'll swear" said Timms.
Hold up your hand said Mapes.
| Timms held up his hand.
Now, repeat after me: 81, Silas
Timms, solemniy swear that Twill never
bring 10 the knowledge of any human
being that | sawed the log whereby
Daniel Mapes fell into the creek and lost
wife and, further, that | will, she con-
senting, marry Elize Reed, and always
treat her kindly. so help me God. -
Timms repeated The oath uer6dtina.
Now get up and go home," said
Mapes. 81 don't think you'll marry till
your ewes get out of mourning, and by
that time I'll be far enough away. But
don't think II lose sight of you: and
if you dont keep your oath, you'll see
me-"
Timms arose from the ground, shook
off the dust, and walked away; but
when he had secured a safe distance, he
shouted back, exultantly:
'Mapes, She S an angel."
In twenty years Daniel Mapes 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
ror. and looks at US with the face we
present 1t returns scowl for scowl, and
smile for smile. 1t echoes our soils and
our laughter To the cold, it is as icy
as the northern seas to the loving it is
as balmy as the isles of the tropics. He
had learned a still harder lesson; which
was to forget the sorrowS, the grlefs, the
wrongs. aud the hates Of the past. The
effect of this lesson was to make 1T ap
pear that the lines to him, had fallen in
pleasant places. His rotund form and
firm muscle bespoke good digestion,
while cheerful countenance told of
mental peace. A fair woman named
him husband. and children called him
father A beautiful home in Santa
Clara Valley was theirs besides which,
Mapes had many broad acres of land, as
well as many head of stock running near
ly wild in the counties of Montcry and
San Luis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that Craze
on California S thousand hills are gath
cred in bands at convenient places to be
claimed and branded by their owners
such assem- ages being called rodeos.
Mapes had been dowE across the Salinas
Plains in attendance upon rOdeO and,
being on his return, logged along on his
mustang, he saw, far in the distance, but
nearing him, an equally lone traveller
Slowly the distance between them de-
creased and us they approached, Mapes
with California prudence, slipped his re-
volver from the belt which sustained it
from his back around to his left side.
bringing the hilt under the shadow of
his right hand. A near look assured
Mapes that he had no accession for weap-
ons /; the coming man was of middle age.
but his look was worn, weary, detected
and hopeless-In local phrase, his man
ner was that OF a person who had lost
his grip }" and those who have met that
terrible misfortune arc never highway
robbers, grip" being the very quality
wanted in that hazardous pursuit.
The travellers met, with long, enquir-
ing gaze, when. from their lips simulta-
neously burst the words, Mapes =
'Timms. After a moment of mute
surprise, Manes, squirting his mustang,
drew nearer Timms.
''So-we meet at last. l have been
wanting to see you this many year.
The movement seemed omnous to
Tins. and he cried out. "Dou't-
don't shoot | have no weapons Be-
sides. | have kept my oath-at least as
we'll as | could ] never told the reason
why you didn't attend the apple bee, nor
ever breathed syllable about the sawed
log-upon my solemn oath y
Il wasn't thinking of the ducking,"
said Mapes.
Dom come any nearer" returned
Timms, Il have always tried to use
that woman well but she wouldn't be
used we'll | have done my best to treat
her kindly: but she wouldn't be treated
kindly"
Its no use to go over the ground to
me, Timms. F."
But" replied Timms, you have no
blame me if you only knew. She's
browbeat me until l ain half a man"
80 l see," said Mapes.
mo. you don't see," replied Timms.
"You don't see half Look at this scar
taking off his hat and showing long
seam on his scalp-"that was done with
the skillet
You have Suffered said Mapes
Suffered |" returned Timms. You
ought to have sworn her, too. IF you
only knew how [ have thought of you
and my oath to you-how l have borne
blows, and been quiet-how have been
called brute and fool, and kept silent
how | have endured taunts and sneerS.
hunger and discomtortS, without word
of reproach-you would forgive me you
wouldn't harbor thoughts of revenge"
Thoughts of revenge? answered