South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-12-08
How a Law Suit Was Ended.

How a Law Suit Was Ended.
Mr.. Popkins was a bachelor. ! men,
ton this fact with all due reverence for
the name-and sympathy for the condi-
ton. lie was well-to do i'm the world,
IL owning fine farm and being plain.
TIL in law suit is any criterion. Aside
from Mr.. Popkin's misfortune in being
bachelor, he had one fault-a general
, aversion to female society and partic.
ular aversion to Miss Sallie Hopkins,
the defendant in the above named law
suit.
Now, be it known. that though Miss
Sailie's name WAS put down in the list
Of y. Ms. (Old Maids,) she was the
roundest. c ,siest. dimpled checked spin.
stcr that ever lived in Lincoln. She
had the softest brown eyes, with trick
OF looking down and peeping under the
lAshes, perfectly bewildering. aud her
Lair waved and slone in the sunlight in
manner That a susceptible lady like
you and |. would have felt an irresisti.
BILE desire TO have sole ownership Of tho
nut brown locks"
But however fascinating Miss Sallie
was to the sex in general, rs have said,
between her and MIR. POpkins, there was
deadly feud; and the cause Of all the
trouble was a meadow, spreading fair
and wide unconscious between Miss
Sallie's and Mr.. Popkin's farm.
Now. the truth Of the matter was this !:
The meadow justly belonged to Mr..
hopkins. but instead OF going to Miss
Sallie aud frankly stating the case he
must serve n process Of law. Miss Sal
lie flew all to pieces, and declared she
would maintain her rights q. any cost.
am confident from the manner in
which the whole thing ended that had
MIR. POpkins gone to her himself, she
would have rclinquishcd it gracefully,
but woman has Il mortal horror OF be 1.
ing forced to do anything. Tie q thread
around their necks, feed them with su.
gar plums, and you can lead them TO the
jumping offplace :" 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
'sctrousse," and Mr.. Popkins locked
like IN automan Cardiff giant. The
neighbors were forced to take part in
this case, for when Invitations we're is.
sued for the regular tea.parties, those
who invited Mr.. Popkins were compeli-
cd to omit Miss Sallie, and vicc.versa.
In the meanwhile the law suit drag.
gcd its slow length along" from session
to session, from term TO term, until
Popkins VS.. Hopkins was as familiar as
A, ID, &. But fate had taken ia hand
the destiny OF these two obstinate indi.
viduals, and soon brought matters to n
most satisfactory conclusion. although
the unconscious mediator was rather n
burfesquc on the high tragedy" dIily
enacted.
There lived close to these bclligcran.s
good'natured oil man nearly as deaf
as post. who had the greatest faculty
of blunderir.g on unfortunate facts of
any individual known either i'm ancient
or modern history.
lie never heard anything correctly,
anu Il was an utter impossibility to try
anu explain you would certainly find
yourself houndering about in q perfect
slough OF tiispair.
Miss Sallie and Mr.. Popkins had re.
ceived notice that their case would come
MP for final hearing in Harrow. on the
next Tuesday OF next week. Miss Sal.
lie concluded to take the stage: Uncle
Ben Dropper, our deaf friend, had bust.
ness little distance on the road. and
he would take the stage too, and Mr.. Pop.
kin's saddle horse fell sick Just az lie
was needed, and no time for any other
arrangements, and so Inc must take the
same conveyance.
Miss Sallie came floating down 10 the
gate with white ribbons and bows. and
dainty dress, sufficient to bewilder n
man with as stony heart rs the Sphinx.
and saw approaching from the opposite
side her Zoe. immaculate broadcloth and
shirt-front. For moment the color
rushed TO her cheeks. and she half re.
solved TO 60 back, but to be outd me by
a man. and he a Popkins, was not TO be
thought OF. 80 she stepped in the coach
with an air of sixteen Queen Victorias,
elcvating her head until 10 made an n.
cute angel with her nose, aud became
| sublimely unconscious OF any ones pres.
ence. Mr.. Popkins seated himself as
though he had swallowed n whole foun.
dry and had his pockets full OF eggs for
desert. Just then came Uncle Ben.
putting and blowing utterly unconsciou,
OF the oaths OF the impatient John.
Good morning. Miss SalIie." said =,
carefully seating himself beside her
Good morning, Mr.. Popkins. Where
might you be going. and what for?''
10 Harrow" said Mr.. Popkins. in
his most polite manner. answering the
first question and ignoring the last.
do tell :" and the round face fairly
] glowed with placid surprise. Going 10
marry? We'll | told Hester last night
that that was tho best way to settle the
suit after all. There Amt n more cana.
bic girl anywhere than Sallie, and I'm
| fIInh Z