Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-11-13
His Three Loves.

The reasons which decided me to
spend twelve month at certain lit
tie AbeTdeenshire village, unknown to
Elman 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 She was engaged to Jem Les
lie, farmers son. who nearly worried
the life out of her by his jealousy, 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 a
few weeks later that she had promised
herself to Peter Mackey.
knew something of Mr.. Peter, as he
was my landlords only son. He was a
tall, handsome young fellow, with a
''gweed aneuch held" as his father
used to say, but an all too susceptible
heart. After three months or so some
little incidents occurred which showed
up that young man in his true light.
The first of these events was the re-
turn of Jeanie Sanderson from London.
I found Jeanie and Mary mingling
their tears over some letters which lay
Ou UllC JCdlIlC lihliuNSi iiiO " NV
ter.
1t was an effusion of Peter Mackey's,
dated nine months back. 1t began,
"My dearest Jeanie," spoke of the
writer's unalterable affection, reminded
Jeanie of her promise to become his
wife as soon as he should be able to pro-
' de suitable home for her, and was
signed: "Your own Patie."
"Ou!' said Jeanie. But that's no. the
warsC OF, mem! Mary, give the lady
Mrs. Birket's letter"
Mrs. Birlzet, it appeared, was Peters
landlady in Aberdeen, and had written
that morning to Mary Duthie's mother,
whom she had known when they were
girls, together, to ask some particulars
of Peters family and antecedents, as
her niece and adopted daughter, Mary
Hine was soon to be married to him.
The following morning Mary asked
my permission to 60 for day or two to
Aberdeen with Jennie Sanderson as
they had thought of a plan for bringing
t. cir recalcitrait lover to his senses.
Peters feelings may be imagined
when on entering Mrs. Bi i'ket's parlor
one evening, after his days work was
over, he saw seated by Mary H'ne-
Mary Dothie and Jennie Sanderson.
Peters first impulse was to withdraw
hastily, but Mrs. Birket made flight
impossible by closing the door and
standing between it and the conscience
stricken youth. An icy tremor ran
through his frame and checked his ut
terance.
"Weel," said Jennie Sanderson at
last, "sanna we be sattljn' oor bizness
enoo? Ye see," said Jennie, "this Peter
Macl1ey belongs in manner till's a..
Is't ma sae?"
"Aye, but we Gamma a. hae him"
| '.Mithna we jist set a. right a mo-
oorsels!" said Mary Hine. "Foo gin we
wus till cast lots for him? We've the
warrant of scripture for that, we KEN"
"Vera gweed," replied the others, and
when Mrs. Birket had volunteered her.
self as one witness the little servant girl,
Baubie, was called in to be another.
Peters humiliation was certainly to be
complete.
The lot fell on Mary Duthie.
"Peter Mackey," said she, II haze
anither string till my bow, so I'll EN-
leave ye till Mary Hine or Jeanie;
they're may be wuntin' ye mair nor
me-"
Peter was too much subbued to offer
a word in his own defense, anc the pro
ceeding were renewed.
This time the lot fell to Mary Hine.
PETER" she said, II winna' cast up
till he hoo we haze wronged ma an it'll
ers. But this maun say, q bad lovers
no like to make gweed husban'; SO I'll
leave yet to Jeanie, if she's carin ia taxi
ye."
"Weel, Patie," said Jeanne, 'gin a
body refeeses ye I maun e'rn haze ye
myself. But it's on twa condeetions,
min ye: First, that we will be mar
ried it is day month; an second, that
there'll be no mair ongaens after mar
riage."
The wedding took place in due course
and Peter proved to be a most devoted
and obedient husband. "Ye see, Mary,
Poman," said Jeanie one day to Mrs.
Jem Leslie, formerly Mary Duthie),
''gin the gweed man, and turn whiles a
bit comsteary and oonrizzonable, l haze
but till him: 'Weel, Patie, my man,
it's sair poety that Mary Duthie an
Mary Hine refeest ye, sim the wife We
haze gotten disna suit ye, an weel-a-
wat or ever the words are weel owre my
| IjDS haiS iict q uuaat,c a lamb ~