West-Jersey pioneer., 1880-03-11
LAW VERSUS LOVE.

and sympathy for the condition. He was
well-to-do in the world, if owning fine farm
and being plaintiff in a lawsuit is any critic
rion. Aside from Mr. Popkins' misfortune
in being bachelor, he had one fault-a
general aversion to Miss Sallie Hopkins, the
defendant in the above lawsuit.
Now, be it known, that though Miss Sal
lies name was put down on the list of y.
MS (old maids, she was the roundest'
most dimple-cheeked spinster that ever lived
in Lincoln. She had the softest brown eyes,
with trick of looking down and peeping
under the lashes, perfectly bewildering, and
her hair waved and shone in such a manner
that susceptible man like you and me
would have felt an irresistible desire 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 a deadly
feud, and the trouble was meadow, spread
ing far and wide and unconscious between
Miss Sallie's and Mr.. Popkins' farms.
Now the truth of the matter was this:
The meadowjustly belonged to Mr.. Popkins,
but instead of going to Miss Sallie and
frankly stating the case, he must serve a
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 have relinquished it
gracefully, but woman has mortal terror
of being forced to doanything. Tie string
around her neck, feed her with sugar plums,
and you can lead her to the jumping OFT
place; but go to drive her, and for obstinacy
she will beat Mark Twain's mule all to
pieces.
When Miss Sallie met Mr.. Popkins on the
street, her nose was decidedly retrOusse, and
Mr.. Popkins looked like an automaton Car
diff giant. The neighbors were forced to
take part in this case, for when invitations
were issued for the regular tea parties, those
who invited Mr.. Popkins were obliged to
omit Miss Sallie, and vice versa.
In the meantime the lawsuit dragged its
slow length along from session to session,
from term to term, until it was as familiar
as A. SC. But fate had taken in hand
the destiny of these two obstinate individu-
ais, and soon brought matters to satifac-
tory conclusion, though the unconscious
mediator was rather a burlesQue on high
tragedy enacted.
There lived close to these belligerents
good natured old man nearly as deaf as
post, who had the greatest faculty for blum
dering on unfortunate facts of any individual
known either in ancient or modern history.
Hever heard anything correctly, and it was
an utter impossibility to try to explain, and
if you attempted it you would find yourself
floundering in perfect slough of despair
Miss Sallis and Mr.. Popkins had received
notice that their case would come up for the
final hearing in Harrow on Tuesday of the
next week. Miss Sallie concluded to take
the stage; Uncle Ben Dropper, our friend,
had business little distance on the road,
and he would take the stage too, and Mr..
Popkins' saddle horse fell sick just as he
was needed, and there being no time for
other arrangements, he must take the same
conveyance.
Miss Salie came floating down to the gate
with white ribbons and bows, and dainty
dress, sufficient to bewilder man with as
stony a heart as the sphinx, and saw ap
preaching from the opposite side her foe, in
immaculate broadcloth and shirt front. For
a moment the color rushed to her cheeks,
and she half resolved to go back, but to be
outdone by a man, and he Popkins was
not to be thought of, so she stepped IN the
coach with an air of sixteen Queen Victo
ria's, elevating her head till it made an acute
angle with her nose, and became sublimely
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, ut
terly unconscious of the impatient Jehu.
ssGood morning, Miss Sallie," said he,
carefully seating himself beside her. "Good
morning, Mr.. Popkins. Where might you
be going, and what for?''
ssTo Harrow" said Mr.. Popkins, in his
most polite manner, answering the first ques-
tion and ignoring the last.
ssDu tell!" and the round face fairly
beamed with placid surprise. "Going to
marry? Well, | told Hester last night that
it was the best way to settle the suit after
all. There amt no more capable girl any
where than Sallie, and I'm glad you found
it out. And Mr.. Popkins is wonderful
clever" turning to Sallie, land instead of
their being two farms and a lawsuit, there
need be only one. Law, bless me?' rubbing
his hands with increased satisfaction, "if it
amt tip-top arrangement
Mr.. Popkins clutched at his throat as
though he were choking to death, and made
spasmodic efforts to utter word OF expia-
nation, but his tongue was utterly palsied
and failed him in his emergency. Miss
Sallie, with face of the deepest rose color,
placed her hand to her mouth and shouted
SO as to startle the horses
sI am going to see Mr.. Stiles on busl-
ness.''
Oh, day OF Dlunuers! MI. 0eAoo ""o noi
lawyer, but the unfortunate girl was una
ware that Presbyterian minister had the
same delightful cognomen.
.sMr. Stiles,'' said our friend, swell, I've
heard him we'll spoken of, but never ex-
pected you, Sallie, a Baptist, to be married
bv any one but minister of your own
church: but suppose you gave in to Mr..
Popkins, and it shows downright good dis
position
Miss Sallie gave up in despair. and looked
fixedIy out of the window, while MIR. Pop
kins' lips moved occasionally as though he
were asking for water, but the unconscious
cause of this turmoil sat serene and happy,
;nd,lo;no in an occasional chuckle and