Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-04-14

Miss salle and Mr.. Popkins had re-
celyel notice that their case would
como NJ for the final hearing In ilar'
row on Tuesday Of the next week.
Miss Sallio concluded TO take the stage
Uncle Ben Dropper, our deaf friend,
had business a little distance on tho
road and no woald take tho stage tooi
and Mr., Popkins's saddle horse fell
sick Just rs he was aeeded, and there
being no time for othor arrangements.
no must take tho same conveyance,
Miss Sallie came floating down to the
cato with white ribbons aud bows,
aud dainty dress, sufficient to bewilder
a man with as stony a heart as the
sphinx, and saw approaching from the
opposite side her foe, IN immaculate
broadcloth and shirt front, For q
moment the color rushed to her checks
and she half resolved TO 60 back; but
to be ontdono by man, and he a
Popkins. was not to be thought Of,
so she stepped into the coach with an
air of sixteen. Queen Victoria clc'
waiting her head until 1t made al
acute anglo with her nose, and be-
come sublmcly unconscious of any
ones presence, Mr.. Popkins seated
himself as though he had swallowed
a whole foundry, and had his pockets
full Of eggs for dessert. Just then
came Uncle Ben, putting and blowing,
utterly unconscious Of the oaths of
the impatient John.
"Good morning, Miss Sallie," said
he, carefully seating himself beside
her. "Good morning, Mr.. Popkins.
Where might you DO going, and what
tor?"
"To Harrow" SAID Mr.. Popklns, in
his most polite mannor, ans wering the
first question and ignoring the last.
"Du tell !" and the round face fair
ly beamed with placid SURPRISE
"Going to marry! Well, I told Hes.
ter last night that that was the suit
after all. There amt no more capa-
bic girl anywhere than Sallie, and
am glad you've found it out. And Mr.
Popkins is wonderful clever" turning
to Salliq, "and instead Of there being
two farms and a law suit, there need
be only one. Law bless me" rub
bing his hands with Increased salts
faction, "ifit amt tiptop arrange
msnt |"
Mr.. Popkins cllnched at his throat
as though he was choking to death,
and made spasmodic efforts to utter
word of explanation, but his tongue
was utterly palsied and failed him in
this emergency. Miss s"llie, with a
face OF the deepest rose color placed
hel hand to her mouth, and shouted
so it startled the horses
81 am going to see Mr.. Stiles on
business
Oh, day Of bluuders MIR. Stiles
was her lawyer, but the unfortunate
girl was unawere that a Presbyterian
minister had the same dignified cog
nomen.
"Mr. Stiles" said our friend, "well
I've heard him we'll spoken of, but l
never expected you, Sallie, q Baptist,
to be married by anyone but minis
ter of your own church but J sup
pose you gave way to MIR. Popkins,
and it shows downright good dis
position" :,
Miss Sallie gave up in despair, and
looked fxedly out of the window,
while Mr.. Popkins' lips moved oc-
casionally as though he were asking
for water, but the unconscious cause
of this turmoil sat serene and happy,
indulging in an occasional chuckle
and knowing glance at Mr.. Popklns
but at this moment he saw he had ar
rived at his destination, and wishing
his two victims much happiness. he
left them to their thoughts.
The human heart is strange affair.
to say the least Of it. Had any ono
advised Mr.. Popkins to marry SallIe,
he would have rejected the idea i'm
mediately, and she herself would have
taken It as an insult but the totally
unexpected manner in which the mat
ter bad been brought up, made alto
gether q different affair OF it.. He
stole a glance at Miss Salhe. Her
face was turned away, and she was
apparently studying nature. She was
pretty; Mr.. Popkins couldn't deny
that. What if--if--and his
heart gave a tremendous bound
What a fool he had been all this
time! He p,ust try at any rate, and risk
repulse. So without any more hesi-.