River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-03-18
LAW VERSUS LOVE.


aversion to female society and partic
ular aversion 10 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 told maids), she was the
roundest, cosiest, dimple-cheeked spin
ister that ever lived in Lincoln. she
has the sohest brown eyes, with trick
of looking down and peeping under the
lashes, perfectly bewildering, and her
hair waved and shone in such man.
ner that a susceptible lady like you and
me would have felt an irresistible de-
sire 20 have sole ownership of the nut
brown locks.
But, however fascinating Miss SIllie
was to the sex in general, as | have
said, between her and Mr.. Popkins
there was a deadly feud, and the cause
Of all the trouble was a meadow,
spreading far and wide and UNCONSCIOUS
between Miss Sallie's and Mr.. Popkins'
farm.
Now the truth Of the matter was this:
The meadow justly belonged to Mr..
P0pkins, bpt instead of going to Miss
Sallie and frankly stating the case, he
must serve a process of law. Miss Sal
lie flew all to pieces, and declared that
she would maintain her right at any
cost.
From the manner in which it ended
she could see that mad Mr.. Popkins
gone to her himself she would have re-
linquished it gracefully, but woman
has mortal terror of being forced to do
anything. Tie string around her
neck, feed her sugar plfms, and you
car lead her to the jumping oft place,
but to drive her, and for obStinacy she
will beat Mark Twain's mule all to
pieces.
When Miss SIlie met Mr.. Popkins
on tine street her nose was decidedly
'retrousse," and Mr.. Popkins looked
like an automatOn Cardiff giant. The
neighbors were forced to take part in
the case, and when invitations were is
sued for the regular tes-parties those
who invited Mr.. Popkins were obliged
to omit Miss Sallie, and vice versa.
In the meantime the lawsuit dragged
lis slow length along from session TO
session, from term to term, until 1t was
as familiar as A &c. But the fate had
taken in the destiny of these two OBJ
stinIte individuals and soon brought
matters 20 I most satisfactory cOnclu
sion, though the unconscious mediator
vas rather burlesqu9 on the higher
tragedy daily enacted.
There lived close to these belligerents
2 gOod-natured old man, nearly as deaf
as a post, who had the greatest faculty
for laundering on unfortunate facts of
any individual known in either ancient
or modern history.
tie never heard anything CORE city,
and ii was an utter impOssibility to try
TO explain. and if you attempted it you
you'd find urselffloundering in per-
feet slougn of despair.
Miss Sallie and Mr.. Popkins had re-
ceived notice that their case would
come up for the final hearing in HRr-
row on Tuesday Of next week. Miss
SAllie concluded to take the stage;
Uncle Ben Dropper, our deaf friend,
had business a 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 Sallie came floating down to the
dainty dress, sufficient to bewilder
man wi II as stony heart as the
sphinx, and saw approaching from the
opposite side her foe, in immaculate
broadcloth and shirt front. For mo-
nent the color rushed to her cheeks,
and she half resolved to 20 back, but to
be outdone by Il man, and he Pop
kins, was not to be thought of, so she
81. Il. -r,F
sixteen Queen Nictorias, elevating her
head until it made an acute angle with
her nose, and became sublimely I'M
conscious 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 Jehu.
Good morning, Miss Sallie," said he
care fally seating himself beside her.
Good morning, Mr.. Popkins. And
where might You be going, and what
f0i?'
60 Harrow" said GIr. Popkins, III
his most polite manner, answering the
first question and ignoring the last.
"Du te}l!' and the round face fairly
leaned with placid surprise. Going
IA mary? Well, | told Hester last night
that was the suit after all. There amt
no more capable girl anywhere than
Sallie, and Pm glad You found it out.
And Mr.. PopkIus IS wonderfully
clever" turning to Slllie,' aud instead
If their being two farms and lawsuit
there need ne only one. Law, bless
me" rubbing his bands with increased
satisfaction, ''jf it amt a tio-top ar
raugement'
Mr.. Popkrrs clutchrd at his throat rs
though he was cuoaklng to death, and
made sDasm0dic Efforts 10 utter word
of explanation, but his tongue was ut
terly palsied and failed him in this
emergency. Miss Slllie, with a face OF
the deepest rose color, placed her hand
20 her mouth and shouted 50 as to star
tie the horses:
Il am going to see Mr. Stiles on bust
ness:
Oh, day of bluuder>l Mr.. Stiles was
her lawyer, but the unfortunate girl was
unaware that Presbyterian minister
bad the same diguiied cognomen.
Mr.. Sei,es, said our friend, well
I've heard him well spoken Of, but
never expected you, Sallie, Baptist
to be married by any one but minister
of your own church; but suppose you
gave way to Mr. Popkins, and it shows
downright good disposition"
Miss Sallie gave up i'll despair, and
looked tixedIy ont of the window, while
Mc. Popkin's lips moved occasionally
rs though he were asking for water,
but the unconscious cause Of this tur-
MOL sat serene and happy, INDUCING
in an occasional cEuokle and knowing
glance at Mr.. Popkius, but st this mo-
meut 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 4 strange affair
10 say the least Of il. Had any one
advised Mr.. Popkins to marry Salie,
he would have rejected the idea imme-
diately, and she herself would have
taken /; as an insult; but the totally I'M
exuec,ed manner in which the matter
hal been brought up made altogett-
er a different affair Of It. He stole a
Glance at Miss SIllie. Her face was
turned away and she was apparently
study ing nature. Sac was pretty; MIR.