Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-10-16
How a Lawsuit was Ended,

Mr.. Popkins was bachelor l men
ton this fact with all due reverence for
the name-and sympathy for the cOndi-
ton He was well-tO-do in the world.
If owning farm and being plaintiff in
lawsuit Is any criterion. Aside from
Mr.. POpkins' misfortune in being bach
elOr, he had one fault general aver
sion to female society and particular
aversion to Miss .Sallis Hopkins. the de-
fendant 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. dinpled checked spiaster
that ever lived in Lincoln. She had the
softest brown eyes, with a trick Of look
ing down and peeping under the lashes.
perfectly bewildering. and her hair wav-
ed and shone II the sunlight in such a
manner that susceptible lady. like you
and /, would have felt an irresistible de-
sire to have sole ownership Of the nut
brown locks"
But however fascinating Miss Sallie
was to her sex in general. as | have said.
between her and Mr.. Popkins there was
a deadly feud; and the cause Of all the
trouble was a 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 be
must serve process Of law. Miss Sallie
few all to pieces. and declared she
would maintain her rights at any cost
l an confident from the manner il
which the whole thing ended, that had
Mr.. POpkins gone to her himself, she
would have relinquished 1t gracefully
but woman has q mortal horror Of be.
ing forced to do anything. Tie thread
around their neeks. feed them with su
gar plums, and You can lead them to tht
jumping of place :" 60 to driving then
and for obstinaey, they VIII beat MARI
Twain's mule IN the Holy Land all Il
pieces.
When Miss SaIlie net Mr.. Popkini
on the street. her nose was decidedly
s'retrOuesse, and Mr.. Popkins leokeC
like an autOmatOn Cardiff giant Tht
neighboTs were forced to take part il
this case, for when invitations were Is
sued for the regular tea parties. thOs'
who invited Mr.. Popkins were compelled
to omit Miss SalIie, and rice rsrs1.
In the meantime the lawsuit .'draggsC
Its slow length along" from session Il
session. from term to term. until Hop
kins vs. Popkins was familiar as A. B
C. But fate had taken in hand the des
tiny Of these two obstinate individuals
and soon brought matters to a most sat
isfaetOry conclusion. although the IN
conscious mediator was rather a bur
lesque On the high tragedy" daily en-
acted
There lived close to these belligerent
! good natured old man. nearly as dea
as post. who had the greatest faeult.
Of blundering on unfortunate facts, Q
any individual known either in aneieD
or modern history.
He never heard anything correctly
and it was an utter iupossibility to TT.
and explain; you would certainly fnI
yourself fOundering about in perfec
slough Of despair.
Miss Sallie and Mr.. Popkins had rs
eeived notice that their cases would con
up for final hearing in Harrow, on Ii
Tuesday Of next week Miss Sallie cor
cIuded to take the stage; Uncle Be
Dr0pper, our deaf friend. had bushes
little distance on the road. and B
would take the stage, too. and Mr.. Poi
kins' saddle horse fell sick just as
! was needed, and no time for any othe
arrangements. 50 he must take the san
conveyance
Miss SalIie came floating down to Il
! gate with white ribbons and bows, an
/ dainty dress, sufficient 70 bewilder mA
with as stony heart as the Sphinx an
;; saw. approaching from the opposite sid'
her foe, in Immaculate broadel0th an
, shirt front For a moment the eol'
! rushed to her cheeks. and che half 7
solved to 20 back. but to Be OutdOne
= nan. and be Popkins, was not to
thought Of So she stepped into the eoac
with an air Of sixteen Queen Victoria
. elevated Der head until 1t made an acui
: angle with Der nose. and became su'
5 l1nely unconscious Of any ones Preseoe
{ Mr. POpkins seated himself as thoug
: he had swallowed a whole foundry. Al
: had his pockets ful Ofeggs for a desser
' Just then cane Uncle Ben, Puhng AZ
{ blowing. utterly uDeousciO1s Of the oati
!, Of the impatient ''Jehu-
.-Good morning. Miss Sallie. said b
carefully seating himself beside be
Z Good morning. Mr. Popkins- Whe
: might you be going, and what for
d To Harrow" said Mr.. POpkins-
his most polite manner. answering Il
: first question and Ignoring the last
sra = = g.