Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-11-12
A BREACH o. PROMISE.

A BREACH o. PROMISE.
Fam indebted to Mr.. Mumps for the
opportunity to tell this story. may
not more exactly specify the where
abouts of that honest tradcsman's bust
ness than that he keeps beer-shop
within one hundred miles of the back of
ShOreditch Church, and which includes
a convenient tap-room for the use of
his customers. 1t was here that II
meeting of u curious character recent
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
n 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 afternoon on
the quiet, and on very particular fami-
ly business. You know that young
Virgins has been counting my eldest
gal, Sarah this eighteen months and
more9 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 OK
pect Young Virgins has cried of!
and says, as plain as it can be put in
black and white, that after what has
como to his ears he don't see it, and il
can't happen And the old chap pro-
cures Il letter. continued MIR. Mlimps,
(which here it is, he having left it with
mo 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'ds you / don't no
longer, and it haint my fault but yourn
The wormth of my afccshin is now cold
rs hice, and fancy you have only got
to harsk your art the reason why. If
you want further particulars, as I'm
still honerbul, though no longer luving
you can harsk my old mother rs I've
told everything to. What I've give
YOU. meaning the chaney-tce-things,
and the clock, and the other things,
you may keep 'om, and may
you be happy with Them and
Another, is the wust wish of yours
no longer, Edward Virgins Old
Croggins asked NO." continued Mr..
Munlps, "'what thought of it, aud |
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
half peek 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 en- You don't
mean | says, that you are going to
law on II breach OF promseP Not
likely says he. Il amt such fool, but
I'm goi1' to put my gal right, none the
less Tor that. I'm agoing TO have his
people and my people here tomorrow
afternoon, and fair and square hear
got TO answer. I've got my Sails word
Tor it, says old Croggins, that she's
been honest and true, and amt
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 caso?' Then, says Mr.. Crog-
gins, all ties and friendship atween his
people and my people will be broke off,
and Sarah's brother Joe, who works
over in Bermondscy in n lanyard, will
be called on TO give Teddy Virgins
damages. want you TO be present,
Mumps,' he says, you being family
man, with grown-up daughters of your
own, and l should likewise wish one
other party, who you know l can an
swor 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-
fore closing with the obliging beer
shop-keeper's proposal, l 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 OF
disproved, there was to be no fight on
his premiscs,I accepted the Office he had
suggested.
Punctually at the time appointed the
parties arrived the following afternoon,
dropping in by twos and threes in q
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
vclvetcen waistcoat and a "stick up
-ollar on this solemn occasion and his
wife and daughter and brother Joe from
Bcrmondsey, and younger brother
Peter, to read the love-lctters, he being
the only member of the family who wa.
equal to undertaking that arduous task
and one or two friends and relatives
On the other side there was Edward
Virgins, smart young barrowman o
build and muscle which told that i
would be by no means "a walk over
for Miss Croggin's Bcrmondsey brother
il il were to be question of giving o.
taking damages, and his mother and ;
cousin or two, and ,au uncle, in TIL,
same line of business rs tho Tilted dam
sells parent. After glass and shak
ing of hands all round-cxceptins
plaintiff and defendant, who bowet
stiflly to each other-just to show tina
there was no ill-fccling, an adiournmen
was made to the tap-room, the partic
sitting at the opposite sides, Mr.. Mump
and l occupying the middle space. TIL
love correspondence was contained in
tin biscuit box, and was placed on tn
table at old Mr.. Croggins' elbow, Will
near at hand stood Peter tho reader
: Laying down his pipe and clearing hi
voice plaintiffs father opened tho pro
ceedings.
"You are well aweer what we're me
. here for" said he. 1--WE DOM wan
to beat about the bush like them law
yer chaps do, aud try 10 provo tina
| blacx Ia white All that wc yvant IN n
Is TO come 10 q proper undcrstandin
about the pint in dispute, which |:
Has Teddy Virgins behaved Like ma