The Hickman courier., 1872-10-12

Timms; che knows what he's about
What do you mean ?" asked
Eliza.
"Oh, 1 mean," replied Timms
that Mapes is the prince of good
/ fellows, and gets invitations where
the rest of us don't"
"Where is Mapes to- night ?" asked
Eliza, now fully aroused.
"I don't know, for sure" answer
ed Timms. '' He told me to-day
, there were special reasons for his
coming here, but that he had an in
vitation to the rich and aristocratic
Squire HuntoOn's, who is ceIebrat-
ing his daughters birthday, and
that he didn't know which way he
would go )" and Timms turned away
to talk to themes Prettiest girl in,
the room. 1rsi
Petted young women are seldom
logical or patient. When the party
broke up, Eliza accepted Timms' es-
cort to her home, and, before they
arrived there, she had consented to
become, with the least possible de-
lay, Mrs. Timms. The next morn
ing the engagement was announced
and preparations for the wedding
commenced. Timms was exultant
happy Timms
For few days Timms was not
much seen in public-perhaps for
want of courage to wear his blush
ing honors openly; perhaps for
want of courage to meet other con-
tingencies- knows? But a
man can not make arrangements for
his own wedding a fixed standpoint,
and he was compelled to venture
out. In quiet and secluded by
way he met Mapes. The meeting
to him was a surprise; he smiled
feebly, and extended his hand. But
! Mapes, intent on business, strobe
squarely up to Timms and planted
n vigorous blow on one of his eyes,
which caused that gentleman to
measure his length in the dust.
| Timms sprang to his feet, and show
ed fight, but another blow on the
other sent him again to grass, where
/ he continued to lie.
"Get up" said Mapes.
You'll knock me down again."
said Timms.
eyes" returned Mapes; ~ will"
"Then, L won't get up" said
/ Timms.
You're an Internal scoundrcl,
said Mapes.
81 cant help your saying so. an
swered Timms.
"You sawed the log" said Mapes.
I Z IVbo+ To-, aI IT.
':.You sawed the log" repeated
Mapes, advancing step.
"Yes-stop," said Timms; "I
sawed the log"
"Well, you needn't think" said
Mapes, that after your marriage
you're going to tell that story, and
make me laughing stock"
"Pn never speak of it, wf+ned
Timms.
Perhaps you won't, said Mapes;
"but I'm going to swear you before
l get through. There's another
thing you won the woman by your
trickery, and l know it is in you to
abuse her; so Pm 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, solemnly swear that l will
never bring to the knowledge of
any human being that 1 sawed the
log whereby Daniel Mapcs fell into
the creek and lost a wife further,
that I win, she consenting, marry
Eliza Reed, and always treat her
kindly: so held me God"
Timms repeated the oath, Uerba-
tim.
"Now, get up and go home" said
| Mapes. 'fI 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 sight of you; and il you
don't keep your oath, you'll see
mo-"
Timms arose from the ground,
shook off the dust, and walked
away; but when he had secured
safe distance, he shouted back, ex-
ultingly.
0ldDCS, Suc > All dD8Cl
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 mirror, and looks at us
with the face we present. 1t re-
turns scowl for scowl, and smile for
1 smile. 1t echoes our sobs and our
1 laughter. To the cold, it is as icy
/ as the northern seas to the loving,
it is as balmly as the isles of the
tropics. He had learned still hard
or lesson; 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 muscle
bespoke good digestion, while a
cheerful ccuntenance told of men,
tai peace. A fair woman named
him husband, 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 we'll as
many head of stock running wild in
the counties of Monterey and San
Luis Obispo.
Once in each year the cattle that
Craze on California's thousand hills
are gathered in bands at various
places. to be claimed and branded
by their owners-such assem- blages
being called rodeos. Mapes had
been down across 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 equal
ly lone traveller. Slowly the distance
between them decreased and, as
they approached, Mapes-with Cali
fornia prudence-slipped his revol-
yer upon the belt which sustained
it, from his back, round to his left
side, bringing the hilt under the
shadow of his bridle-arm, and with
in easy reach of his right hand. A
near look assured Mapes that he
had no occasion for weapons the
coming man was of middle-age, but