St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-09-13
PETER MACKEY'S THREE SWEET.
HEARTS.

Though I am, suppose, an old
maid, l take much interest in other
peoples love affairs. My friends know
and humor this little weakness, and
consequently in the course of twenty
years or so have collected a large
number of love-stories. They are of
allkinds sad, joyful, touching, absurd,
sentimental, or eccentric. But perhaps
the oldest of them all is the one I am
about to relate.
The reasons which decided me ito
spend twelvemonth in certain little
Aberdeenshire village, unknown to
common ken, need not be entered into
here. l had a cottage to myself, and
one maid-servant, by name Mary
Duthie. And what a pretty creature
she was, with her golden hair and big
gray eyes, and tall supple figure. 1t
was a real pleasure to see her at her
work, in her spotless lilac gown and
tucked-up sleeves, and to watch the
fascinating, unconscious grace with
which she did the simplest thing.
/ am afraid spoiled that girl. She
was engaged to Jem Leslie, q farmers
son, who nearly worried the life out Of
her by his jealousy--for which / sus-
pect he had sometimes cause. The two
quarreled nearly every Sabbath, but
always made it up again in the course
of the week; so that Twas by no means
surprised when Mary informed
me one day that she had broken
off with Jem Leslie forever; but
very much astonished indeed to hear o
few weeks later, that she had promised
herself to Peter Mackey.
'.Well, Mary" l said to her, 81 do
not wish to. intermeddle with love-
affairs, but I must say that | think Jem
the better man of the two.
But Mary tossed her pretty head and
remarked with referenceto herrejected
lover, that 'tshet was weary o. the
creatures havers, an had list tauld
him that he medina fash himself ABBOTT
her.ony mair, for she cnd cen tax care
o. her main sell" Peter Mackey,' she
told me, was to start for Aberdeen, a
well TODD uncle having found good
situation for him there.
1 knew something of Mr.. Peter, as he
was my landlords only son. He was a
tall, handsome young fellow, with q
s'gweed aneuch held" as his father
used to say. but an all-too susceptible
heart. "A pretty face captivated him
directly, though his attachments were
generally more violent than lasting. I
had made up my mind that he would
marry Jeanne Saunderson, handsome
enough lassie, good housekeeper. and
an heiress in small way, but Jeanne had
left five or six months ago for London,
to visit an intirm aunt, and now Peter
was engaged to Mary Duthie. / was
vexed about the whole affair, especially
rs / syrnpathised with poor Jem Leslie
Yet certainly it was no concern g
mine.
I do not think that Mary ever re-
ceived any love-letters from Aberdeen.
It was not the fashion in her village in
those days for lovers to correspond
But she always wore round her neck
half of the sixpence which Peter had
broken with her, so that began to be
quite in despair for my fayorite Jem.
But after three months or so from
Peter Mackey's departure for Aberdeen,
some little incidents occurred which
showed up that young man in his true
light.
The first of these events was the re-
Sarn of Jeanne Saunderson from Lon
don, and visit paid by her to her old
acquaintance, Mary Duthie. The two
girls had not been together more than
4 quarter of an hour, when sounds of
violent weeping proceeded from the
kitchen. fastening in to see what was