Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-08
THREE SWEETHEARTS.

Though | am, | suppose, an old maid,
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 50 | have col
lected large number of love stories. They
are of all llinds-sad, joyful, touching, abb
surd, sentimental, or eccentric. But per
haps the oldest Of them all is the one |
am about to relate.
The reasons which decided me to spend
twelvemonth in Il certain little Aber-
deenshire village unknown to common
KEN need not be entered into here. | had
a cottage to myself, and one maid-servant,
by name Mary Duthie. And what 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 tuclled-up
sleeves, and to watch the fascinating, un-
conscious grace with which She did the
simplest thing.
am afraid I spoiled that girl She
was engaged to Jem Leslie, 4 farmers son,
who nearly worried the life out of her by
his iealousy-for which | suspect he had
sometimes cause The two quarreled
nearly every Sabbath, but always made it
up again in the course of the week; SO that
| was 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 few
weeks later that she had promised herself
to Peter Maclley.
Well, Mary | said to her, " do not
wish to intermeddIe with love affairs, but
must say that | think Jem the better
man of the two"
But Mary tossed her pretty head and re-
marked, with reference to her rejected
lover, that "she was weary O the Great
ure's havers, an had jist tauld him that he
medina fash himself ABBOTT her ony mair
for she cud e'e tax care o her main sell"
Peter Maeley, she told me, was to start
for Aberdeen, well-to-do uncle having
found good situation for him there.
| knew something of Mr.. Peter, as he
was my landlords only son. He was Il tail,
handsome young fellow, with "gweed
aneuch held" as his father used to say,
but an ali-too-suscaptible heart A pretty
face captivated him directly, though his
attachments were generally more violent
than lasting, had made up my mind
that he would marry .Ieanie Saunderson,
handsome enough lassie, a good house
keeper, and an heiress in small way, but
Jeanie had left five or six months ago for
London, to visit an infirm aunt, and now
Peter was engaged to Mary Duthie |
was vcxed about the whole affair, especially
as | svmpathized with poor ,Jcm Leslie
e,
do not think that Mary ever received
any love-letters from Aberdeen. 1t 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, 50 that
| began to be quite in despair for my favor
lite 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 return
of Jeanie Saunderson from London, and
visit paid by her to her old acquaintance,
Mary Duthie The two girls had not been
together more than quarter of an hour,
when sounds of violent weeping proceeded
from the kitchen. fastening in to see
what was the matter, found ,Jeanie and
Mary mingling their tears over some let
tiers which lay on the table Jeanic greet
ed me respectfully, and on my inquiring
the cause of their grief, handed me let
ter, saying:
evil We be pleased to read that, mem?'
1t was an eiiu,ion of Peter Mackey'S
dated nine months back 1t began, My
Dearest Jeanie," spoke of the writer's I'M
alterable affection, reminded Jcanie OF her
promise to become his wife As soon as he
should be able to provide suitable home
for her, and was signed " Your own Patie7
| must confess that my first feeling, on
reading this, was one Of satisfaction at my
own discernment so YOU were engaged
after all, /" remarked but why was moth
ing said about it, and why was it broken
OFF,
"Oh," said Jennie, looking ut me indig-
nSntly, Pate Just asked me to be his wife
the vera day before | sailed, 50 there wasna
muciile time to lat it be known. And as
for is being broken off, its Pate We must
speir at ABBOTT that, for / never heard tell
OF till this day. Eh bat men are dc
ceiyers! Mary, give the lady Mrs. Birket's
letter.
Mrs Birket, it appears, was Peters
landlady in aberdeen, and had written
that morning to Mary Duthie's mother.
whom she had know.4 when they were
girls together, to ask some particulars Of
Peters family and antecedents rs her
niece and adopted daughter, Mary Hine
was soon TO bc married TO him
Heard We ever the like o that ;" ex-
claimed Jeanie; the man must be clean
daft |"
quite agreed with her, for had never
known man before who was engaged TO
,-three women ut once. Doubtless, Peter
considered his first two affairs Is tlirtations
still his former sweetheartS had in their
possession letter ard pledge which
would be evidence against him IN . court
law. Bat any proceedings Of this kind was
so foreign to the natures and pre;udices of
the injured girls, that did no more than
hint at it.
The following morning Mary asked my
permission to 60 for day or two to Aber-
deem with Jennie SaundeysOn, as thew had
thought of plan Of bringing their recall
citrant lover 10 his senses.
Gin we dinua' max Peter make shame
to himself my names no ,Jeanie Sander
son" were the parting words of that damsel
Meanwhile Peter was happy in the So
ciety Of his latest betrothed, who was
very charming girl; and il may be little
to my hero's excuse TO remark that few
men could have seen her bonny face and
listen TO her sweet voice evening after
evening without falling in love with her.
The susceptible Peter certainly could not,
but throwing all old memories to the winds,
proposed and was accepted.
Such being the state of affairs, Peters
feeling may be imagined when, on enter
ing Mrs. Birkets parlor one evening, after
his days work was over, he saw seated by
Mary Hine-Mary Duthie and Jeanie
Saunderson
Peters first impulse was to withdraw