Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-01-27

man, and he Popkins, was not to he
thought OF. So she stepped in the
coach with IN air Of sixteen Qneen
Victprias, elevated her head until it
made an acute angle with her nose,
and became snblimely unconscious
of any ones presence. Mr.. P0pkins
seated himself as though he had
swallowed a whole foundry, and had
his pockets full of eggs for a desert.
Just then came Uncle Ben, putting
and blowing, utterly unconscious Of
the oaths of the impatient aJehn."
"Gnosi morning. Miss Sallie.' said
he, carefully seating himself beside
her s'Good morning, Mr.. Popkins.
Where might you be going, and what
for?'
$40 Harrow said Mr.. Popkins. in
his most polite manner. answering
the first question and ignoring the
last.
"Du tell" and the ronnd face fair
ly glowed with placid surprise. ''Go-
ing to marry? Well, | told Hester
last night that that was the hest way
to settle the suit after all. There
amt = more capable girl anywhere
than Sallie. and am glad you found
it out. And Mr.. Popkins is wonder
ful cleyer," turning to Saliic, land
instead Of there being two farms and
law suit. there need only he one.
Law bless met" rubbing his hands
with increased satisfaction, "if it amt
tip-top arrangement
Mr.. Popkins clutched at his throat
as though he were choking to death,
and made spasmodic efforts to utter Il
word of explanation, but his tongue
seemed palsied and failed him utterly
in this emergency. Miss SaIlie with
n face of the deepest rose color.
placed her hand to her mouth and
shouting. so as to startlc the horses,
said:
81 am going to see Mr.. Stiles on
business.
Oh, day of blunders. Mr.. Stiles
was her lawyer, but the unfortunate
girl was unaware thata Presbyterian
minister had the same delightful cog
nOmen
"Mr. Stiles, indeed" said our friend.
"Well, I've heard him spoken of, but
| never expected you, Sallie, Bap-
tist, to be married by any one but
minister in your own church: but |
suppose you gave way to Mr.. Pop
kins. and think it shows a down
right good disposition
Miss Sallie gave up in despair, and
looked iiXedly ont Of the window,
while Mr.. Popkins' lips moved occa
sionalh. as though he were saving.
water. water" Bnt the uncon-
scious cause OF this turmoil sat Sc
rene and happy, indulging in an oc
IcasionAl ehueklc and knowing glance
at Mr.. Popkins; but ut this moment
he saw he had arrived at his ,lestina
tion, and wishing his two victims
"much happiness he left them.
The human heart is strange af-
fair, to say the least of it. Had any
one advised Mr.. Popkins to marry
Miss Sallie, he would have rejected
the idea Immediately, and she her
self would have taken it as an insult;
but the totally unexpected manner in
which the matter had been hr0Lght
up made altogether n different affair
of it. He stole glance at Miss Sal
lie. Her face was still turned away,
and she was apparently studying ma
ture. She was pretty, Mr., Popkins
could not deny that. What if-if-
and his heart gave n tremendous
bound. What fool he had been all
this time! He must try at any rate.
and risk 4 repulse. So without any
more hesitation, for our hero was
brave, he took Uncle Ben's seat and
said, quietly:
Miss Sallie."
The face turned the eighteenth
part of an inch toward him. Not
much encouragement, certainly, but
little.
"Nliss SalIie," he repeated, "rve
been fool and brute"
Oh, wise Mr.. Popkins. He had
started on the direct cord to a wo-
mans heart. Either from contrari-
ness or sense of justice they always
take the opposite side. Miss 5. made
up her mind from this moment that
he was gentleman and second Sol
omon. and she turned her face COM
pletely round.
"Do YOU think" continued he, 'that
we can settle this law suit in the
sensible manner suggested by Uncle
Ben? do love you, Miss Sallie, and
by George. l believe I've loved you
all the time and never knew it until
to-day"
Miss Sallie was completely van
pushed, and the answer, although
whispered, was heard. by Mr. Pop
kins above the noise of the wheels,
and tine cracking of the drivers
whip.
The suit of Popkins VS.. Hopkins
was dismissed that day. The Baptist
minister got fee, and the people are
firmly convinced that Mr.. and Mrs
Popkins are the best hands in the
world to keep secret.
"Open that safe,' said q merchant
to an expert who had been sent for