The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-07-29


rrooped through the fern that bathed
| them to the knee,
While the red staghouads leapt beside in
giee.
Long,nQn's Magazine.
TIMNIS SAWED THE LOG.
Mapes was chivalrous by nature; he
believed in "seekiug the bubble repu-
tation. even in the lannon's mouth. -
His enthusiasm was aroused by the re-
cital of stories of deeds of desperate
daring. while he had nothing but con-
tempt for even success won by crooked
and indirect means. Timms, on the
contrary, believed there was policy in
war, and that the end justi6es the
means, particularly if the end was at
aimed. Companions from infancy
their lives had been spent in COMPETE
ton for scholastic and such other
honors as the locality afforded, without
even momentary break in their friend
ships. But now, in early manhood,
they struggled for prize of incalcul-
able value, with an ardor that threat.
cned complete rupture of friendly re-
lations. 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 formidable
competition as that of Mapes and
,rimms. They alone-each by the vir.
tue of his own personality ana position
had right to lay siege to the heart
OF that variable, irritable, imperious
beauty, and for months the trisfe be.
tween them had gone on. Each one
had called into play all his personal
and social resources; for the local so,
ciety had taken such an interest that il
was divided into two factions, known
us the Mapesites and Timmsites. And
yet Miss Eliza could not be brought tc
express preference; if she rode Will
one to-day, she was careful to walk
abroad with the rival tomorrow.
Coquetry is delicate to woman
and Eliza would not have been fel..i'
nine had she been in haste to have
made an election. Nevertheless, she
did not intend to miss her opportunity.
She knew we'll the war could not al.
ways last, and feared that when one Of
the aspirants for her favor withdrew
from the contest, the love of the other
wanting the stimulus of competition
would grow cold; hence, she had made
up her mind that, upon the first favor
able opportunity, she would signify tc
Mapcs that his suit, so often pressed
was at last accepted. The opportu
nifty. it seemed, was not to be long
wanting, for invitations were giver
out for an applc-bee in the neighbor
hood, and Eliza found means to con
vey an intimation to Mapes that she
expected to meet him there, and count
ed or his escort home at the conclusion
of the frolic.
The appointed evening looked fol-
with sucn nervous anticipation by
Mapes. came at length. He felt thai
it was the most important of his life
and arraycd himself as only a rustic
dandy can. His way lay across 9
meadow, through which ran-or rather
loitered-a deep, but narrow stream
spanned by single log. 1t was sc
dark when he reached this primitive
bridge that he pas compelled to fee
his way slowly across. AS he progress
sed it commenced to spring lightly
something very unusual-until hi
reached the center, when, to his utte1
confusion. it gave way, and he wa!
launched into the water. He scrambled
out, then suddenly the night becam,
luminous with that lurid light to which
people refer when they say,in speaking
of some profane wretch, He swor1
until all was blue.'' Whatever illum
mating qualities this lurid light pos
sessed, it had no drying ones, ant
Mapes was forced to bid adieu for tn
night to all hopes of plighting his troll
to the loved Eliza.
In the rural districts Down East il
early times the good people had sue!
habits of industry and rigid econom!
that they seldom gave or attended
parties, unless such rs were cloaket
under the names of raisings, cuttings
huskings or apple-bces; thus, the apple
bee fraught with momentous conse
quences to Mapes and Timms, was bu
q social party in disguise-a few apple
being pared, quartered, cored an.
strung in the carly evening for up
pearances' sake.
As usual, Eliza Reed was the belle O
the occasion. Good looks, entire sci
possession, and keen, satirical wi
always assured her that position; an,
this night she. shone with unusua
brilliancy, until as the hours wor
away and Mapes came not, she bega1
to loose herself in bordering why, an,
at length she asked Tinlms:
us your friend Mapes ailing?'
Il guess not.' replied Timms; ''sav
him to-day. He wasn't complaining.
"Hc denies himself much pleasure,
said Eliza, lin not coming here to
night, for this is the place where W
always have good time. Aunt JUDD
knows how to give an apple-bee."
''You let Mapes alone,' answered
Timms; che knows what he's about.
"What do you meah?' asked Eliza
ooh. l mean," replied Timms, 'tha
Mapes is the prince of good fellow
and gets invitations where the rest Q
us dom
"Where is Mapes to-night?' aske
Eliza, now fully aroused.
II don't know for sure,' answers
Timms. ''He told me to-day Their
were special reasons for his comm,
here, but that he had an invitation t
the rich and aristocrat,c Squire Hun
toon's, who is celebrating his daugh
ter's birthday. and that he didn't kno,
which way he would CO., and Timm'
turned away to talk to tho next pref
test girl in the room.
Pettied young women are scldor
logical or patient. When the part
broke up, Eliza accepted Timms
escort to her home, and, before the
arrived there, she had consented t
become, with the least possible delay
Mrs. Timms. The next morning til
engagement was announced, and prep
arations for the wedding commenced
| IimmS was cxultant-haDDv TimmS!