Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-05-22
HOW A LAWSUIT WAS ENDED.


the name-and sympathy for the condi-
tion. He was well-to-do in the world,
if owning fine farm and being plain.
tiff in lawsuit is any criterion. Aside
from Mr.. Popkin's misfortune in being
bachelor, he had one fault-a general
aversion to female society and a particu-
lar aversion to Miss Sallie Hopkins, the
defendant in the above named lawsuit.
Now, be 1t known, that though Miss
Sallie's name was put down in the list
of o. Ms (Old Maids, she was the CO.
Siest, roundest. dimpled checked spInster
that ever lived in Lincoln. She had the
softest brown eyes. with trick of look
ing down and peeping under the lashes,
perfectly bewildering, and her hair wav-
ed and shone in the sunlight in such a
manner that susceptible lady, like you
and |, would have felt an irresistible
desire to have sole ownership of the ''nut
brown locks"
But however fascinating Miss Sallie
was to the sex in.general. as | have said,
between her and Mr.. Popkins there was
deadly feud and the cause of all the
trouble was meadow, spreading fair
and wide and unconscious between Miss
Sallie's and Mr.. Popkins' farm.
Now, the truth of the matter was this
the meadow justly belonged to Mr..
Popkins, but instead of going to Miss
Sallie and frankly stating the case he
must serve process of law. Miss Sallie
flew all to pieces, and declared she would
maintain her rights at any cost.
i am confident from the manner In
which the whole thing ended, that had
Mr.. POpkins gone to her himself, she
would have relinquished it gracefully,
but woman has a mortal horror of be-
ing forced to do anything. Tie thread
around their necks, feed them with su.
gar plums, and you can lead them to the
jumping off place ;" go to driving them,
and for obstinacy, they will beat Mark
Twain's mule in the Holy Land all to
pieces.
When Miss Sallie met Mr.. Popkins
on the street, her nose was decidedly
"retrouesse," and Mr.. Popkins looked
like an automaton CardiE giant. The
neighbors were forosd to take part in
this case, for when invitations were is
sued for the regular tea parties, those
who invited Mr.. Popkins were compelled
to omit Miss Sallie, and rice verSa.
III the meanume the lawsuit dragged
its slow length along" from session to
session, from term to term, until Hop
kins VS.. Popkins was familiar as A. B.
@. But fate had taken in hands the
destiny of these two obstinate individu-
ais, and soon brought matters to most
satisfactory conclusion, although the un-
conscious mediator was rather a bur-
lesque on the 'high tragedy" daily en-
acted.
There lived close to these belligerents
a good natured old man, nearly as deaf
as post, who had the greatest faculty
of laundering on unfortunate facts, Of
any individual known either in ancient
or modern history.
He never heard anything correctly
and it was an utter impossibility to try
and explain you would certainly fine
yourself floundering about in perfect
slough of despair.
Miss Sallie and Mr.. Popkins had re
ceived notice that their cases would come
up for final hearing in Harrow, on the
Tuesday of next week. Miss Sallie con
cluded to take the stage; Uncle Bel
Dropper, our deaf friend, had business ;
little distance on the road, and he would
take the stage, too, ard Mr. Popkins
saddle horse fell sick just as he wa
needed. and no time for any other ar
rangements, so he must take the SAM
conveyance. @ 1 @
Miss Sallie came floating down to tn,
gate with white ribbons and bows. an,
dainty dress, sufficient to bewilder mai
with as stony heart as the Sphinx, AM
saw, approaching from the opposite side
her foe, in immaculate broadcloth an,
shirt front. For moment the color rush
ed to her cheeks, and she half resolve,
to 60 back. but to be outdone by a man
and he a Popkins, was not to be though
of. So she stepped in the coach with al
air of sixteen Queen Victorias, elevate
her head until it made an acute angl
with her nose, and became sublimely un
conscious of any ones presence. MI
Popkins seated himself as though he ha
swallowed whole foundry, and had hi
pockets full of eggs for desert. Jus
then came Uncle Ben, putting and blow
ing, utterly unconscious OF the oaths {
, the impatient "Jehu."
"Good morning, Miss Sallie, " said ht
carefully seating himself beside he
"GOOd morning, Mr.. POpkins. WheI
5 might you be going, and what for ?"
ITO Harrow" said Mr.. Popkins,
his most polite manner, answering II
I first question and ignoring the last.
!. "Do tell y and the round face fairl
e glowed with placid surprise. "Going