River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-07-29

Timms.
Perhaps you won t. saia Mapes
but I'm going to swear you before
Get through. There's another thing
YOU won the woman by your-trick.
ery, and know il is in you to abuse
her, so I'm going to swear you TO treat
her kindly"
I'm swear" said Timms.
Hold up your hand, said Mapes.
Timms held up his hand.
Now, repeat after me: Il, Silas
/ Timms. solemnly swear that | will
never bring to the knowledge of any
human being that | sawed the log
I whereby Daniel Mapes fell into the
I creek and lost wife; and, further.
/ that will, she conserving, marry Eli
"a Reed, and always treat her kindly,
I so help me tiOd."
Timms repeated the oath verbatim.
Now. get up and go home" said
Mapes. II don't think you'll II be mar
ried till your eyet get out of mourning.
and bv that time I'll be far enough
away. But don't think Ill lose sight
/ of YOU. and if you don't keep your
oa.h you'll see me-
Timms arose from the ground, shook
z OA AAlt huSA anu hAAhtd ANttN buA
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
mirror and looks at us with the face
We represent.
1t returns Scowl for scowl, and smile
1 for smile. 1t echoes our sObs 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 still harder lesson;
T which was, to forget the griefs. the
sorrows, the sights. the wrongs, and
the hates of the past. The effect of
I this lesson was to make it appear that
/ the liEes, To him. had fallen in pleasant
places. His rotound 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 the Santa
Clara Valley was theirs; besides which,
Mapes had many broad acres of land,
as well as many head of stock running
nearly wild in the counties of Monterey
and San Luis ObispO.
Once in each year cattle that Craze
on CALIFORNIA; thousand hills are
gathered in bands at convenient
places. to be claimed and branded by
the owneTs-such assemblages 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
equally lone traveller. Slowly the
distance between them decreased, and.
as they approached, Mapes-with
California prudence-slipping his
revolver upon the belt which sustained
il from his back round to his left side.
bringing the hilt under the shadow of
his bride arm, and within easy reach
of his right hand \ near look assured
Mapes that he had no occasion for
weapons; the coming man was of
middle age, but his look was worn.
weary, detected and hopeless-in local
phrase, his manner was that of per-
son who has lost his grip;" and those
who have met that terrible misfortune
are never highway robbers, grip
being the very quality wanted in that
hazardous pursuit.
The travellers net. with long, in
quiring gaze, when froGl their lips 81
multaneously burst the words, ''Mapes'
-"Timms. After moment of mute
surprise Mapes, squirting his mustang,
drew nearer Timms.
"SO-we meet. at last, at last. |
have been wanting TO see you this
many a year.
The movement seemed Ominious to
Timms. and he cried out: Don't
don't shoot / have no weapons Be
sides. have kept my oath-at least,
as well as | could. / never told the
reason why you didn't attend the apple
bee, nor ever breathed a syllable about
the sawed lOg-upon my solemn Oath!'
81 WASH thinking of the ducking,"
said Mapes.
''DOn' I come any nearer, returned
Trims Il have always tried TO use
that women well; but she wouldn't be
used well. have done my best to
treat her kindly; but she wouldn't be
treated kindly
lit is no use to 60 over the grounds
to me, Timms.
But" replied Timms, lyon have no
idea what that woman is; you wOuldn I
blame me if you only knew. She's
browbeat me till | amt half a
man.
so l see, said Mapes.
NO, you don't see, replied
Timms.
You don't see half. Look at this
scar taking of his hat and showing
a 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 of my oath to you; and how | have
borne blows and been quiet-how | have
been called a brute and a fool, and kept
/ silent-how | have endured taunts and
sneers, hunger and discomforts, with
out word of reproach-you would
forgive me; you wouldn't harbor
/ thoughts of revenge.
Thoughts of revenge!' answered
Mapes. LET US dismOunt and have
/ a settlement; for | see my chance has
come at last"
"Mapes. would YOU take the life of
an unarmed man?'
"Timms, you're crazy! Let me ex
plain. have no wrongs to avenge.
/ 1t isn't for vengeance that | have want
ed 10 see you. have heard about you
often-know al your life and expert
ences; and have only wanted to meet
you, to offer you home and friend
ship, employment and opportunities
/ for prosperity here in California. |
owe you no debt but one of gratitude,
/ for the inestimable service you did me
by that little job of carpenter. work,
and that | mean to pay. Come with
me- He took Timms' horse by the
F! bride, turned him about without re-
monstrances. and they travelled on in
silence.
After awhile. Timms raised his eyes
timidly from the ground. and said:
"Mapes, she's the devil!
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