Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-04-07

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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 Sallie came floating down
to the gate with white ribbons and
bows, and dainty dress, sufficient
to bewilder man with as stony q
heart as a sphinx, and saw ap-
preaching from the opposite side
her foe, in immaculate broadcloth
aud shirt front. For a moment the
color rushed to her cheeks, and she
half resolved to 90 back; but to be
Outdone by man, and he a Pop.
kins, was not to be thought of, 80
she stepped into the coach with an
air of sixteen Queen Victorias, ele.
waiting her head until it made an
acute angle with her nose, and he.
came sublimely unconscious of any
ones presence. Mr.. Popkins seated
himself as though he had swallowed
a whole foundry, and had his peck.
cts tull of eggs for desert. Just
then came Uncle Ben, putting and
blowing, utterly unconscious of the
oaths OF the impatient Jehu.
"GOOd morning, Miss Sallie,' said
he, carefully seating himself beside
her. "GOod morning, Mr. Popkins.
Where might you be going, and
what fort"
"To Harrow" said Mr.. Popkins,
in his most polite manner, answer.
ing the first question, and ignoring
the last.
"Du tell" and the round face
fairly bcamed with placid surprise.
"GOing to marryi Well, | told
Hester last night that was the suit
after ALL There amt no more ca.
pable girl any where than Sallie,
] am glad yon found it ont. And
Mr.. Popkins is wonderful CLEVER
turning to Sallie, "and instead of
there being two farms and a law.
suit, there need be only one. Law
bless mel" rubbing his hands with
increased satisfaction, "if it amt n
tiptop arrangement
Mr.. Popkins clutched at his
throat as though he was choking
10 death, and made spasmodic eff.
forts to utter word of explana.
ton, but his tongue was utterly
palsied and failed him in this emer.
gency. Miss Sallie with a face of
the deepest rose color, placed her
hand to her mouth, and shouted so
as to startle the horses:
81 am going to see Mr.. Stiles on
business
Oh. day of plumbers! Mr.. Stiles
was her lawyer, but the unfortunate
girl was unaware that a Presbyte.
rian minister had the same dignificd
cognomen.
"Mr. Stiles" said our friend,
"well, I've heard him well spoken
of, but l never expected, Sallie, q
Baptist, to be married by any one
but minister of your own church;
but suppose you gave way TO Mr..
Popkins, and it shows a downright
good disposition"
Miss Sallie gave up in despair,
and looked fixediy ont of the win.
dow, while Mr.. Popkins' lips moved
occasionally as though he were
asking for water, but the uncon-
scious cause of this turmoil sat
serene and happy, iudulging in an
occasionally chuckle and knowing
glance at Mr.. Popkins, but at this
moment 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 q strange af.
fair to say the least of it. Had
any one advised Mr.. Popkins to
marry Sallie, he would have re.
jected the idea Immediately, and
she herself would have taken il as
an insult; but the totally unexpect.
ed manner in which the matter had
been brought up made altogether a
different affair of it. He stole a
glance at Miss Sallie. Her face
was turned away, and she was ap.
parently studying nature. She
was pretty; Mr.. Popkins couldn't
deny that. What-if-and his
heart gave a tremendous bound.
What q 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, quietly:
UMiss Sattien