Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-01-07
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A BREACH o. PROMISE.

A BREACH o. PROMISE.
am indebted to Mr.. Mumps for the
opportunity to tell this story. l may
not more exactly specify the where
abouts of that honest tradesman's bust
ness than that he keeps n beer-shop
within one hundred miles of the back OF
Shoreditch Church, aud which includes
a convenient tap-room for the use OF
his customers. 1t was here that n
meeting of curious character recent
ly took place, Mr. Mumps and myself
being present. 1t came about Ike this
Il am quoting the landlords own
words): "Old Croggns. who lets bar
rows, sometimes supplies stock rs we'll
to the cOstermongers about here. and is
n man worth II good bit of money. He
comes TO me, 'Mumps, he says, Il
want tho use of your tap-room for all
hour or two tomorrow afternoon on
the quiet, and on very particular fami-
ly business. You know that Young
Virgins has been n counting my eldest
gal, Sarah, this eighteen months and
morep Course you do, he says. every
body knows it, and have been looking
for d TO their being spliced as n sound
affair. But here's something you don't
know, Mumps, and, if you are the man
take you for, you would never ex-
pcct. Young Virgins has cried of!
and says, rs 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't happen And the old chap pro-
cures lettoi,' 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'ds you l don't no
longer, and il haint my fault but yorn.
The wormth of my afccshin is now cold
rs hicc, and fancy you have only got
to harsk your art the reason why. II
you want further particulars, rs I'm
still honerbul, though no longer luving,
you can harsk my old mother rs I've
told cverythnk to. What I've give
you, meaning the chaney-tce-things,
and the clock, and the other things,
you may keep EN-, 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..
Mumps, "what thought of il, and
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 EN-, sir,
says he, and all Of 'em as hot as this
one is hicy, and I'm going to pull him
on the strength of en- You don
mean, says, that you are going to
law on a breach of promiseP' Not
likely says he, Il amt such fool, but
I'm goin 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
what he's got to say, and what she's
got to answer. I've got my Sails word
for 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 wherefob for his
why, however he likes to put it. Hos
been asked what his grounds are, and
his answer is, fust, that he never did
downright make 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 cant
prove his case?' 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 Bermondsey in a lanyard, will
DO called on to give Teddy Wiggin:
damages. want you to DO present
Mumps,' no says, you being family
man, with grown-up daughters of YOU
own, and l should likewise wish one
other party, who you know l can an
swer for, to be there, you and him act
ing as referees in case there should bt
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, / asked hin
what / was to understand by the 'awk
wardness' he limited, but as he prompt,
assured me that it was agreed on boil
sides that, whatever might be proved OF
disprovcd, there was to DO no fight OF
his premises accepted the Office he hat
suggested.
Punctually ut the time appointed tn,
parties arrived the following afternoon
dropping in by twos and threes in ;
seemingly promiscuous manner, SO a
not TO attract the curiosity of the ordi
nary customers of the locality. Their,
was old Mr.. Croggins-Hho wore hi
Sunday long-sleeved, mouse-coloret
vclveteen waistcoat and q "stick up
collar on this solemn occasion and hi
wife and daughter and brother Joe from
Bermondsey, and n younger brother
Peter, to read the love-letters. he bein.
tho 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 Edwar,
Virgins, smart young barrowman o
build and muscle which told that j
would be by no means ga walk over
for Miss Croggin's Bermondscy brothe
il it were TO be question of giving o
taking damages, and his mother and
cousin or two, and au uncle, i'm tn
same line of business as tho Tilted dam
sells parent. After q glass and shak
ing of hands all rouud-exceptin!
plaintiff and defendant, who bowe,
stiffly to each other--just to show tina
there was no ill-fecling, an adjournmen
was made to the tap-room, the partie
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 the reader
Laying down his pipe and clearing hi
voice plaintiffs father opened the pre-
ceedings.
"You are well aweer what we're me
here for" said he. 1--WE don't war
10 beat about tho bush like them law
yer chaps do, and try TO prove ths
black Is white. All that we want to d
Is 70 come to n proper undcrstandin
about the pint in dispute, which /,
Has Teddy Virgins behaved like ma
should in writing this here letter hol
in my hand, aid which is 70 be know