The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-09-19
A BREACH o. PROMISE.

am indebted to Mr.. Mumps for the
opportunity to tell this story. NAV
not more exactly specify the where
abouts of that honest tradesman's bust
ness than that he keeps beer-shop
within one hundred miles of the back of
ShUreditch Church, and which includes
a Convenient tap-room for the use of
his customers. 1t was here that
ly took place, Mr.. Mumps and myself
being present 1t came about like this
q am quoting the landlords own
words): "Old Croggins, who lets bar
rows, sometimes supplies stock as well
TO the costermongers about here, and is
man worth good bit of money. He
comes to me, 'Mumps,' he says, 4
want the use OF your tap-room for an
hour or two tomorrow ternoon on
thequiet, and on very particular fami-
IN business. You know that Young
Virgins has been counting nv eldest
gal, Sarah, this eighteen months and
more! Course you do, he says, every
body knows it, and have been looking
for a'd to their being spliced as a sound
affair. But here's something you don't
know, Mumps, and, if you are the man
! take you for, you would never ex-
pect. Young Virgins has cried off!
and says, as plain as it can be put in
black and white, that after what has
come to his ears he don't see it, and il
can + happen. \ And the old chap pro-
cures u letter, continued Mr.. Mumps,
(which here it is, he having left it with
me for safety, in case at any time it
should be wanted: Miss Croggins-
This comes to let you know that what
| used to feel tow els you / don't no
longer, and it haint my fault bat yourn.
The wormth of my afecshin is now cold
as hice, and fancy you have only got
to harsk your art the reason why. If
you want further particulars, as Tn
still honerbul, though no longer luving,
you can harsk my old mother as I've
told everything to. What I've give
YOU, meaning the chaney-tee- things.
and the clock, and the other things.
you may keep EN-, and may
you abe happy with them and
Another, is the wust wish of yours
no longer Edward Virgins. Old
Croggins asked me-" cont nued Mr..
Munlps, ''what thought of it, and l
said that it meant cold shoulder and
nothing but it, and inquired if his
daughter had any more of Master
Teddy's letters. She's got about a
half peck measure full OF 'em, sir
says he, and all of en- as hot as this
one is hicy, and I'm going to pull him
on the strength OF 'em.' You don't
mean, ! says, that you are going to
law on breach of prom sep Not
likely, says he, i ain t such a fool, but
I'm goin' to put my gal right, none tae
less Tor that. Tn agoing to have his
people and my people here tomorrow
afternoon, and fair and square hear
what LES got to say, and what she's
got to answer. I've got my Sails word
Tor it, says old Croggins,' that she's
BEEN honest and true, and amt
ashamed or afraid to look him in the
face, and give him wherefore for his
why, however he likes to put it. He's
been asked what his grounds are, and
his answer is, fust, that he never did
downright make a promise, and, Sec
ond, that if he did, after what has hap
pened, he can't reasonably be asked to
stick to it, And suppose he can't
prove his.case? '~'Then, saws Mr.. Croo-
gins, all ties and friendship atween his
people and my people will be broke off,
and Sarah's brother Joe, who works
over in Bermondsey in a lanyard will
be called on to give Teddy Virgins
damages. / want you to be present,
Mumps, he says, you being q family
man, with grown-up daughters of your
own, and should likewise wish one
other party, who you know l can an
swer for, to be there, you and him act
ING rs referees in case there should be
any awkwardness. So said Mr..
Mumps to me, If you like to make one
of the party there's your chance Be-
lore closing with the obliging beer
shop keepers proposal, asked him
what ! was to understand by the 'awk-
wardness' he limited, but as he promptly
assured me that it was agreed on both
sides that, whatever might be proved or
disproved, there was to be no fight on
mis- premises,I accepted the office he had
suggested.
Punctually at the time appointed the
parties arrived the following afternoon,
dropping in by Swos and threes in a
seemingly promiscuous manner, so as
not to attract the curiosity of the ordi
nary customers of the locality. There
was old Mr.. Croggins-who wore his
Sunday long sleeved, mouse-colored
Velveteen waistcoat and a "stick up''
collar on this solemn occasion and his
wife and daughter and brother Joe from
Bermondsey, and q younger brother,
Peter, to read the love- letters, he being
the only member of the family who was
equal to undertaking that arduous task,
and one Or two friends and relatives.
On the other side there was Edward
Virgins, a smart young barrowman of
build and muscle which told that it
would be by no means "a walk over
for Miss Croggin's Bermondsey brother
if it were to be a question of giving or
taking damages, and his mother and
cousin or two, and al uncle, in the
same line of business as the Tilted dam
sell parent After glass and a shak-
ing OF hands all round-exceptin
plaintiff and defendant, who bowed
stittly to each other-just to show that
there was no ill-feeling, an adjournment
was made to the tap-room, the parties
sitting at the opposite sides, Mr.. Mumps
and l occupying the middle space. The
love correspondence was contained in a
tin biscuit box, and was placed on the
table at old Mr.. Croggins' elbow. while
near at hand stood Peter the reader.
Laying down his pipe and clearing his
voice plaintiffs father opened the pro
ceedings. &s
you arew well awecr what we're met
here for, said he. 1--WE don't want
to beat about the bush like them law
yer chaps do, and try to prove that
BLACK IS white. All that we want to do
IS to come to o proper understanding
about the pint in dispute, which is,
Has Teddy Virgins behaved like man
should in writing this hsra letter 7 hold
~ my hand cad whleA L. 70 be knogp
d