The Shasta courier., 1865-11-04
FoiIing a Rival.

shine to that gawky, long shanked, STAN
merin' shy critter, Gussett, just cause he's
city feller, she amt the gal I took her for
that's sartin. Mol it's the old folks-darn
their ugly pictures. Old Miss Peabody was
alters a dreadful hifalutin' critter, full of big
notions. and the old man is q regular soft
head, driven bout by his wife just as our
old one-eyed rooster is driven bout by our
cantan&erous fved toed Dorkin hen. But if
| don't spile his fun my name amt Jonathan
I'm going down to the city by the railroad
next week, and when l come back-wake,
snakes that's ALL"
The above solloquy may serve to give the
reader some slight idea of the /" lay of the
land" in the pleasant rustic village where
the speaker resided.
Mr.. Jonathan Dobkins was young far
mer, we'll to do in the world, and looking
out for a wife, and had been paying his
addresses to Miss Susan Peabody. of that ilk.
with a fair prospect of success, when city
| acquaintance of the Peabody's, one Mr..
Cornelius Gussett, who kept retail dry
goods shop in Hanover street, Boston, had
suddenly made his appearance in the field
and commenced the cutting OUT game
Dazzled with the prospect of becoming a
gentleman's wife. and pestered with the
opportunities of her aspiring mama, the
village beauty had begun to waver, when
her old lover determined on last and bold
stroke to foil his rival. He went to the city
and returned. Of his business there he said
nothing, not even to a pumping maiden aunt
who kept house for him lie went not near
the Peabodys, but labored in his cornfield,
patiently awaiting the result of his machina-
tons
The next day Mr.. Gussett was with the
old folks and their daughter in the best room
of the Peabody mansion, chatting as pleas
antly as may be, when the door opened. and
in rushed very dirty and furious Irish
woman.
SIS it here ye are. Misther Cornelius :"
she screamed, addressing the astonished
Gussett 'Come out of that, before | fetch
ye, We spalpeeni Is that the way We prom
ised me afore the praste. We haythen nagur!
Runnin' away from me and the children,
forsakin' your lawful welded wife. and
runnin' afther the Yankee gals, We infdel ?"
Woman, there must be some mistake
here, . stammered Gussett, taken all aback
by the charge.
"Diyil bit of mistake, ye sarpint. O.
wlrra wirra was it for the likes of We |
sacked little Dennis McCarty. who loved the
ground | trod on, and all bekase We prom
ised to make a lady of me, ye dirty thafe of
the worruld Will We come along to the
railroad station, where | left little Patrick.
because he was too sick wild the small oox
to come any furder, or will We wait till |
drag ye?"
"Gwgo-along," gasped Gussett; go
and I'll follow you"
lie thought it best to temporize.
III give ye ten minutes" said virago.-
II ye amt there, it's my cuzzin, Mr. Thaddy
Mulgruddery, will be afther We, We thafe -
And away went this unbidden guest"
Mr.. Gussett was yet engaged il stammer-
ing out denial of all knowledge of the vira-
go, when the parlor door opened again and
little black-eyed, hatchet faced woman in a
ilashy silk gown and cap with many rib
bons perched upon the top of her head, ia
vaded the sanctity of the parlor.
Is he here" she cried in decided
French accent Then she added with a
scream, All! mon Dieu la Toila. Zere
he is. Traltre monster Vat for YOU run
away from me? Dis two tree year | neyaire
see you, nevaire, and my heart broke yer
bad entirely.'
Who are you?" cried Gussett, his eyes
starting out of his head and shvering from
head to foot
. lie asks who | am. O. ladies' O, you
yer respectable old gentlehommel hear vat
he ask? Who | am perfde! ah ! Pm your
wife,"
!" never saw you before, so help me God 7"
cried Gussett energeiically.
" Don't you swear !" said Deacon Pea
body !" you do, I'll kick you into fits. by
Golly won't have no profane or vulgar
language in my house."
bless you bless you respectable old
man. Iell him he must come viz me. Tell
him | have spoken to re constable. Tell
him sobs interrupted her utteranee
: It's pesky bad businessv said the
deacon, chatting with unwonted ire. Gus
sett, You re rascal"
Take care, Deacon Peabody, take carer p
said the uncomfortable shopkeeper.
'' l remarked you was great rascal, Gus
sett. You've gone and married two wives
and that ere's fat burglary eff l know any
thing bout Revised Statoots.'
Two wives p shrieked the French
woman.
Half dozen. for aught l know to the
contrary =" said the deacon. Now you
clear out of my house go way to the sta
ton, and clear out into Boston. | won't hev
nothing more to do with you."
: But Deacon, hear me-"
. don't want to hear you, you wretch ~
cried the deacon, stopping his ear with
his hands. Marrying two wives, and
coming courtin' third. Go long. Clear
out"
Even Mrs. Peabody, who was inclined to
put IN good word for the culprit, was ST.
lenced, Susan turned from him in horror,
and IN utter despair he fed to the railway
station, hotly pursued by the clamorous and
indignant French woman.
That same afternoon. as Miss Susan
Peabody was walking towards the village,
she was overtaken by Jonathan Dobkins,
dressed in his best, and driving his fast
going horse before his Sunday go-tom meet
ing chalse. He reined up and accosted her.
Halo, Suke get in and take ride"
Don't keer if do. Jonathan" replied
the young lady, accepting the proffered
seat.
. say, you." said Jonathan, grinning,
" that ere city fsller's turned out pooty
pup. amt he?''
Its dreadful if it's true." replied the
young lady.
"You had narrer escape, didn't ys:"