Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-03-12
Law Versus Love.

1 y
for the condition. He was well.to
do in the world. if owning q fin'
farm and being plaintiff in a law sui
is any criterion. Aside from Mr.
Popkins' misfortune in being bach
elor, he had one fault-a genera
aversion to female society, rartic
ular aversion to Miss Sallie Hopkins
the defendant in the above named
law suit.
Now, be it known that, though
Miss Sallie's name was put down on
the list of o. Ms. (old maids), sh'
was the roundest, cosiest, most dim
ple-cheeked spinster that ever liveG
in Lincoln. She had the softes
brown eyes, with a trick of looking
down and peeping under the la she's,
perfectly bewildering, and her hal,
waved and shone in such manner
that susceptible lady like you and
me would have felt an irresistible de.
sire 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 far and wide
and unconscious, between Miss Sal
lies aud Mr.. Popkins' farms. 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 that she would maintain
her rights at any cost. From the
manner in which it ended, one could
see that had Mr.. Popkins gone to
her himself, she would havo relin-
quished it gracefully, but woman
has a mortal terror of being forced
to do anything. Tie string around
her neck, feed her with sugar plums,
aud you can lead her to the jumping
off place, but to 60 to drive her, and
for cbstinacy she will beat Mark
Twain's mule all to pieces.
When Miss Sallie met Mr.. Pop
kins on the street her nose was de-
cidedly retrousse," and Mr.. Pop
kins looked like an automaton Car
diff. The neighbors were forced to
take part in this case, for when in
were issued for the regular
tea parties, those who invited Mr..
Popkins were obliged to omit Miss
Sallie, aud vice versa. In the mean
time the law suit dragged its slow
length along from session to session,
from term to term, until it was as
as A. B. G. But fate had
taken in hand the destiny of these
two obstinate individuals, and soon
brought matters to most satisfac-
tory conclusion, though the uncon-
scious mediator was rather bur-
lesque on the high tragedy daily
There lived close to tn sse bellig-
erents good natured old man,
nearly as deaf as n post, who had
the greatest faculty for laundering
on unfortunate facts of any individ-
ual known either in ancient or mod
ern history. He never heard any
thing correctly, and it was an utter
impossibi!ity to try to explain, and
if you attempt it you would find
yourself tloundering in a perfect
slough of despair. Miss Sallie and
Mr.. Popkins had received notice
that their case would come up for
final hearing, in Harrow, on Tues
day of the next week. Miss Sallle
concluded to take the stage; Uncle
Ben Dropper, our deaf friend, had
business little distance on the road g.
and he would take the stage too, and
Mr.. Popkins' saddle horse fell sick
Just rs lie was needed, and there be-
ing no time for other arrangements,
he must take the same conveyance.
Miss Sallie came floating down
to the gate with white ribbons and
bows, and dainty dress, sufficient to
bewiller man with Us stony heart
a, the sphinx, and saw approaching
from the opposite side her foe, in
immaculate Lroad-cloth and SHIRT
front. For moment the color
rushed to her cheeks, and she hall
resolved to go back, but to be out
done 10y mau, and he Popkins
was not to be thought of, So she
stepped into the coach with an all
of sixteen Queen Nictorias, elevat
ing her head until it made an acnt'
angle with her nose, and became
sublimely unconscious of any one
presence. Mr.. Popkins seated him
self Us though he had swallowed
whole foundry, aud had his pockets
full of eggs for dessert. Just thel
came Uncle Ben, putting and blow
ing, utterly unconscious OF the oath
of the impatient Jehu.
Good morning, Mrs Sallle,
said he, carefully seating himself he
side her.