Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-04-19

she showed more favor to Mike than to Andrew I
may be she'd Just toss up for them, call Mike the
Head, and Andrew the Harp, and SO get her luck"
Andrew poor fellow was half mad with vexa-
tion--and yet, what could he do? He entertained
serious thoughts of an abduction, but where was
the good of il? Sure, if she was that changeable !
craythur" she wasn't worth the having.
He offered to fight Mike for her, but this her IA
ther negatived at once; he couldn't have no fight
ing for child of his. " But I'll tell you what,
brave boys exclaimed the old man "Tll tell you
what--do as I did for my good wife, and what no
Irishman was ashamed to do,--run for her! Every
boy in the place is ree-footed-run for her, and let
the fleet foot win her."#
This was agreed upon Both the young men
were remarkable for activy-both anxious to win
a brides and despite Peggy Magarath's coquetry,
when she took her stand upon the rising ground
that commands a view of the Grace course" all q
greed that she was worth ten times the trouble
'Tll tell you what it is Peggy said one of her
companions, 'rl bet my bran Handkerchief
that never crossed my neck, barring this day, that
Mike will be the hero he's longer in the legs
and oh, my but he's the active boy intirely.
! We'll, whoever wins, Pegs luck will be happy
that's all say Suppose they should both win
added another. what will you ~ then, Peggy
| dear ?-toss up for them"
! There they 90 exclaimed a third-whe Peg
gy's heart beat stout reproaches at her uniaithful
ness there they go-its cruel hard, so it is, to
make them end such race by coming up even this
bit of hill at the long run. Mary Grady, do you
mind the day Ably Flynn, running the race for his
wife, fell and cut his head so that the grave was his
wedding bed-poor fellow"
'Pd rather they'd give it up at once exclaimed
Peggy, following the contending parties with her
eyes, and trembling from head to foot at the advan-
tage which Mike had evidently obtained over An
drew-'Pd rather they'd give it. Well, don't
care who wins or who loses-rll marry which
like she continued, bursting into tears and cover
ing her face with her hands.
'Oh honor, Peggy they exclaimed; surely
you would not be guilty of such falsty as that I?
Tell me- she answered, all her coquetry forgot
ten in her anxiety for him she really loved, that
she dared not look upon the race tell me for the
love Of mercy, how is't going with hing
with him! repeated as arrant a coquette as
herself which of the hinisP
'Andrewr--she breathlessly replied.
sOh, be the dads don't know she answered
winking her merry eyes at her companion, while
Peggy held her hands more tightly than ever owe
hers don't know at all-what do gou think
Maryg
'Ohp said mschevous Mary, Il can't tell rn
sure now it was six to one, and half dozen to tn
other-but now---oh my but Mike has the legs, t
be sure-may be he can't use them--thath! wei
that last spring he gave bates all. Oh, then it
Mike that will make the fine husband, and no mis-
take-take your hands from your eyes Peggy, wo
man-theres money bid for your
'Open your eyes, jewel avournentr said anoti
er; here, they're coming up the bill-that's righ
shoot boys. Oh, then, Mrs. Mike, may be won
shake a foot at your wedding take down you
hands, and look for yourself-Mike yer rale ha
70?
The young men were, as she said, running up t.
where they stood, but not in the degree Mary S
mischievously minated. Peggy without til
power to withdraw her hands her feelings over
came.
Take her, Mike you well deserve her, exclaiu
ed the tantalizing girls, as Andrew painting an
gasping, assembled ccnsidTablyin adyance of hi
rival.
But Peggy heard them not; subdued by he
emotions, che had tainted on the sward. Such
the overpowering nature of woman's coquetry, the
= after she received, and was well assured of Ar
drew's victory, she would have played the'fair lad
Dsdan, if she dared but her father interpose
and she is now, now good Wife and the mother of fly
The custom here alluded still common among the rue
oil he South of Itelan