The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-08-16

clean daft
quite agreed with her, for ] lad
never known a man before who was
engaged to three women at once.
Doubtless, Peter considered his first
two affairs as mere hirtations still his
former sweethearts had in their posses
sion letter and a pledge which would
be evidence against him in a court law.
But any proceedings of this kind was
so foreign to the natures and prejudices
of the injured girls, that did no more
than hint at it,
The following morning, Mary
asked my permission to go for a day
or two to Aberdeen with Jeanne Saun-
derson, as they had thought of plan
for bringing their recalcitrant lover to
his senses.
"Gin we dinna max Peter make
shame to himself my name S no Jeanne
Saunderson," were the parting words
of that damsel
Meanwhile Peter was happy in the
society of his QatesD betrothed, who
was very charming girl; and it may
be little to my hero's excuse to re-
mark that few men could have seen her
bonny face and listened to her sweet
voice evening after evening without
falling in love with her. The sascepti-
BILE Peter certainly could not, but throw
ing all old memories to the winds, pro-
posed and was accepted.
| Such being the state of affairs, Peters
feelings may be imagined when, on
entering Mrs. Birket's parlor one even
ing, after his days work was over, he
saw seated by Mary Hine- Mary Duthie
and Jeanne Saunderson.
Peters first impulse was to withdraw
hastily, but Mrs. Birket made flight i'm
possible by closing the door, and stand
ing between it and the conscience.
stricken youth. "Just TAX seat, Mr..
Mackey," said she, and the culprit sank
into an empty chair, placed at a little
distance from the other three ladies.
The situation was awkward in the ex-
IRENE. The ladies continued their
knitting without glancing at him; min
ute after minute passed, and the silence
became intoerable. Peter could hear
the beating of h. own heart; twice ho
opened his lips to speak, but no sound
issued from them; an icy tremor ran
through his frame, and checked his ut
terance.
give what follows verbatim, as re.
ported to me by Mary Duthie.
"Weel," said Jeanie Saunderson, at
last, ''sanna we be sattlin' oor bzuess
eenoo?"
AVE, lassies,' said Mary Hine, "but
that'll be baird matter, or I'm muckle
mista en-"
.'Ye see,' said Jeanne. taking the
initiative, "this Peter Mackey belongsin
a manner tills a. Ist ma saep"
FAYE, but we Gamma a haze him"
Just that. moo fat think We
lassies? Sauna we appeal till the law
courts?''
.'Mithna we jist set a RIGHT amo'
oorselsp" said Mary Hine "Foo gin
we wus till cast lots for him? We've
the warrant of Scripter for that, We
KEN"
Vera gweed,' replied the others,
and when Mrs. Birket had volunteered
herself as one witness, the little servant
girl, Baubie, was ben to be another.
Peter S humiliation was certainly to be
complete!
The lot fell on Mary Duthie.
''Peter Mackey," said she, 81 haze
anither sitting till my bow, so I'll cen
leave ye till Mary Hine or Jeanne;
they're maybe wuntin' We mair nor me-
But mony thanks t We for yer kind
offer, which haze ma forgotten"
Peter was too much subdued to offer
a word in his own defence, and the pro-
ceedings were renewed.
This time the lot fell to Mary Hne.
Peter" she said, II Wilma cast up
till we hoo we ba'e wronged me an
ithers. But this | maun say, bad
lovers no like to max gweed hus-
ban. so IL leave We to Jeanne, if She's
carin' to tax ye.'
"Weel, Patie," said Jeanne, "gin
abody refeeses We maun cen haze We
myself. But it's on twa condeetions,
min We. First that we'll be marriet
this day month, an second that therell
be nae mair o. these ongaens after
marriage"
The wedding took place in due course,
and Peter proved to be most devoted
and obedient husband. Eye see, Mary
oman" said Jeanie one day to Mrs.
Jem Leslie Formerly Mary Duthie,)
"gin the gweed man and turn whites
bit camsteary an oonrizzonable, | haze
but till say till him: 'Weel, Pate, my
man. it's sair peety that Mary Duthie
an Mary Hine refeest We, sim the wife
ye' haze gotten disna' suit We. an weel-
Await or ever the words are weel owre
my lips, he's jist as quaet's lamb. y
Argosy.