The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-03-25
Yes returned MINES. IL will

Mapes.
Il can't help your saying So answer
ed Timms.
you sawed the log said Mapes.
What log 2 asked Timms.
You sawed the log, repeated Mapes
advancing u step.
YES sail Timms, Il sawed rhelog.'
well, you needn't Think said Mapcs
that after your marriage, you're going
to tell that story, and make me laugh
ing stock
III never speak of 'whined Timms.
Perhaps you won't, said Mapcs; 'bu
I'm going TO swear you before | gel
through. There's another thing: you
won the woman by your ID trlcke
ny, and known its in you to abuse her
80 I'm going to swear yoa to treat hen
kindly
1lI swear, said Timms.
Hold up your hand, said Mapcs.
Tmms held NY his hand.
'Now, repeat after me: Il ,Sllas Trims
selemnly swear that will never bring
TO the knowledge Of any human being
that ! sawed the log whereby Daniel
Mapcs fell into the creek and lost wife;
and, further, that will, she conscntinS,
marry Eliza Reed, and always treat her
kindly, SO help me God
Timms repeated the oath rerbGtim.
Now, get up and go home,' SAID
Mapes. Il don't think you'll be married
Till your eyes get out of mourning, and
by that time I'll be far enough away.
Bui don't think I'll loose sight of you
and if yon don't keep your oath you II
scc me-
rimmS arose from the ground, shoe k
off the dust, and walked away but
when he had secured safe distance, he
shouted back, cXultlngy y:
'Mapcs, she's an angel
In twenty years Daniel Mapcs had
learned many things, and among them
this: Life IN very much rs we make il.
In other words, the world is like mir
ror, land looks at Us with the face we
present 1t returna scowl for scowl and
smile for smile. 1t echoes our subS and
our laughter. To the cold, it is as icy
rs the northern seas; TO the loving, it is
rs balmy AS the isles Of the tropics. He
had learned still harder lesson; which
was, TO forget the grlets, the SORROWS,
the siighis, the wrongs, and the hates oi
the past. The effect of this lessen was
to make it appear that the lines, to him,
had fallen in pleasant places. His ro-
fund form and firm muscle bespoke Il
good digestion, while cheerful counte
nance told of mental peace. a fair wo-
man named him huSbend, and children
called him father. A beautiful house IN
the Santa Clara Valley was theirs be
sides which, MapeS had many broad
acres OF land, as well as many head OF
stock running nearly wild IN the Coun-
ties Of Monterey and San Luis Opispo.
Once in each year the cattle that
Craze on CALIFORNIA; thousand hills are
gathered IN bands at convenient places,
to be claimed and branded by their
ownerS-such asscmbIages being called
rsdeoS. Mapes had been down across
the Salinas Plains, In attendan upon 81
rOdeO and, being on his return, jogging
along on his mustang, he saw, far in the
distance, bat nearing him, an equally
lone traveller. Slowly the distance be-
tween them decreased /; and as they ap-
preached, Mapcs-with California pru
dence-slpped his revolver upon the
belt which sustained it from his back
round TO his left side, bringing the hit
under the shadow of his brdlc.arm, and
within easy reach of his right hand. A
near look assured Mapes that he bad no
occasion for weapons the coming man
was Of middle age, hut his look WAS worn
weary, detected, and hopeless-ln local
phrase, his manner was that Of n person
who had lost his grips" and those
who have met that terrible misfortune
are never highway robbers, "grip "
being the very quality wanted in that
hazardous pursuit.
The travellers met, with long, in
curing gaze, when from their lips sim
burst the words, Mapcs =
Iimms.' After moment Of mute sur.
prise, Mapcs, squirting his mustang,
drew nearer Timms.
'So-we meet, at last. have been
to see you this many year.
The mo,ement seemed uminous to
Timms, and he cried out, Don't shoot
| have no weapons. Besides, have
kept my oath-at least, as well as
could. never told the reason why you
didn't attend the apple-bcc, nor ever
breathed syllable about tn. sawed log
upon my solemn oath
Il wasn't thinking Of the ducking,
said Mapes.
Don't come any nearer, returned
rimms. Il have always tried to use
that woman well but she wouldn't be !
treated kindly
1t is no use to so over the grounds
to me. Timms.
But replied Timms, lyon have no
doa what that Soman is; you wouldn't
blame me, ifyou ohly knew. She's brow I
beat me tIl amt half man..
so see, said Mapes.
NO, you don't see, replied Timms. !
You don't see bali. Look at this scar,
taking off his hat, and showing long
seam on his scalp-'that was done with
the skillet.
1ou have suffered said Mapes.
Suffered returned Timms. 'Yuu
ought 20 have sworn her. too. If Won
only knew how have thought of You,
ana OF my oath 10 you and how have
borne blows and been quet-how have
been called brute and tool, aud kept
'iient-how | have endured taunis aud /
'neers, hanger and discomtorts, without /