Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-04-17
SHREWD FATHER WHITE.
How He Settled Threatened Breach-o
Promise SUIT against His Son.

How He Settled q Threatened Brcach-of-
Promise SUIT Against His Son.
After explaining that his son John was
threatened with a breach-of-promise suit
and that the girl in the case lived only half
mile away and was willing to be talked
to, the old man asked me to go over with
him and witness his efforts to effect a set
tlement, writes correspondent Of the New
York Sun. We found the girl at home,
also her father and mother. They were all
shelling corn in the kitchen and Betty, as
the girl was named, looked any thing but
broken-hearted. She was twenty-three
years old, weighed one hundred and sixty
Eve pounds, and was inclined to sentiment.
After greetings and general introduction
my friend, whose name was jeremiah
White, led of with:
Snow, then, thar hain't no use in chasing
rabbits all over the woods to find one in q
trap. Betty, you and John hev busted up''
''Yaas, but it hain't my fault" she re-
piled.
mo, indeed" added the mother, 'she
busted of his own accord"
Reckon he did," put IN Betty's father as
he laid down half-shelled ear to light his
pipe.
''When folks is courtin' they often bust
up" observed Jerry, as he got comfortably
seated. "They git jealous. They git sick of
each other. They git outer sorts. Mebbe
one has a bad breath"
"Yaas, Jerry, I'm follerin' ye," said Bet
ty's father.
to be sensible. John don't want no row
with Betty and Betty don't want no row
with john"
''No more / DON'T" murmured the fair
one.
'John isn't fitten for you, Bet. He's all
for nevis, and whisky, and tobacco, and
fighting; and you is all for poetry, and
stars, and clouds, and flowers. You is too
high-souled for John.''
''Shuck my hide If that hain't sop' ex-
exclaimed Betty's father, as he whacked
the tub with big ear of corn.
Betty simpered and giggled and the mother
looked pleased.
That's why you busted" softly ex-
planned my friend. "Had to come. Couldn't
help it. When one is too good for 'tother
bust always comes. Say, Betty, couldn't
sleep last night for thinking of that verse
you wrote for my old woman when she was
sick last year. I'll bet repeated it over
thousand times"
''Oh, lal Mr.. Whitel" giggled Betty.
"Yaas, it run in my head till couldn't
sleep. 1 kept saying:
"Old Mrs. White is very sick
ana neDD6 Sn0 Will Ole,
Although to save her from the grave
The doctor he will try"
"Ah, Betty, if could write such poetry
as that wouldn't be sloshing around here
no great while, and you kin jigger to thatI'
"Honest Injunr' she asked, holding an
ear of corn in either hand.
"Dead sure And now, Betty, being as
you war too good for John, and being as
you've busted up, I'm going to send you
over them two black hogs and six geese
as present"
as it for her wounded feelingsp asked
Betty's father.
"Kinder that way and kinder because she's
so good"
''Bet's cried a heap and she's lost lots of
time," put in the mother, land you'd better
throw in that ar peacock"
'Durned if don't, Hammer. He's the
incest bird in the country and peddler
offered me ten dollars for him, but chuck
my hide if 1 don't throw him in!''
''Then l won't sue," said Betty
''No, she WON'T" added the father
''Then it's all settled befo' this gent, who
is the Witness" continued Mr.. White. sim
glad ont It's the eproper way. When folks
love and bust up, as they sometimes will,
thar's a proper way to settle damages
We've settled and I'n send the stuff right
over, and Bet will be free to make up to that
feller who is selling tanning mills up at the
corners and who II be down this way to-mor.
row."