Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-03-18

I've heard him we'll spoken of, but I
never expected you, Sallie, Baptist,
to be married by any one but minister
of your own church; but I suppose you
gave way to Mr.. Popkins, and it shows
a downright good disposition"
Miss Sallie gave up in despair, and
looked fxedly out of the window, while
Mr.. Popkin's lips moved occasionally
as though he were asking for water,
but the unconscious cause Of this tur-
MOL sat serene and happy, INDUCING
in an occasional chuckle and knowing
glance at Mr.. Popkins. but at this mo-
ment he saw he had arrived at his
destination, and wishing his two victims
much happiness, he left them to their
thoughts.
The human heart Is a strange affair
to say the least of it. Had any one
advised Mr.. Popkins to marry Sallie,
he would have rejected the idea imme-
diately, and she herself would have
taken it as an insult but the totally I'M
expected manner in which the matter
had been brought up made altogeth-
er a different affair Of it. He stole
glance at Miss Sallie. Her face was
turned away and she waa apparently
studying nature. She was pretty; Mr..
Popkins couldn't deny that. What
if-and his heart gave a tremendous
bound. What a fool he had been all
this time! We must try, at any rate.
and risk repulse. So without any more
hesitation, for our hero was brave, he
took Uncle Ben's seat, and said, very
quietly:
Miss Sallie."
The face was turned the eighteenth
part of an inch toward him. Not much
encouragement certainly, but little.
miss Sallie," he repeated, Give been
fool and a brute"
Oh, wise Mr. Popkins! he had started
on the direct road to woman's heart.
Either from contrarincss or sense of
justice they always take the opposite
side. Miss Sallie made up her mind
from this moment that he was gentle
man and Solomon, ard she turned
her face completely around for HIM to
admire.
"Do you think" he continued ''that
We can settle this lawsuit in the sensible
manner suggested by Uncle Ben? | do
love you, Miss Sallie, and by George
/ believe [ loved you all the time, and
never knew it till to-day"
Miss Sallie was completely vanquish-
ed, but the answer although whispered
was heard above the noise of the wheels
and the cracking Of the drivers whip.
The suit of Popkins versus Hopkins
was dismissed that day. The Baptist
minister got his fee, and the people
were firmly convinced that Mr.. and
Mrs. Popkins are the very best in the
world to keep a seclet.
TEMPERANCE people who are met at
every turn with the assertion that in
wine-groWing countries there is no
drunkenness, will take special, but it
is hoped regretful, interest in the state
ments OF writer in the London Gentle
mans MGydzine, who says: again and
again at hotel tables have seen chill
dren scarcely more than babies suffering
distinctly from alcohol. 1t is, as trav-
elers in France know, the custom in
all districts south of the Loire to supply
wine gratis at two meals, breakfast and
dinner, at which the residents in a
hotel eat in company. Repeatedly, then,
in the hotels in French watering places,
| have watched children of five years
old and upward supplied by their
mothers with wine enough visibly to
flush and excite them. At Stables d'Olon-
ne one little fellow, whose age could not
be more than six, drank at each of two
consecutive meals three tumblers of
wine slightly diluted with water. The
oh no
sprawled over the table, and ended by
putting his head in his mothers lap and
falling asleep"