The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-14
PETER MACKEY'S THREE SWEET.
HEARTS.


HEARTS.
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
wears or so | have collected a large
number of loYe-stOries. They are of
all kinds sad. joyful, touching. absurd,
sentimental, or eccentric. But perhaps
the oldest of them all is the one | am
about to relate.
The reasons which decided me to
spend a twelvemonth in certain little
Aberdeenshire village. unknown to
common ken, need not be entered into
here. / had 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. II
-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 l spoiled that girl. She
WIS Cu2d2Cu " OCln A>CSllCg q
son, who nearly worried the life out of
her by his jealousy-for which 1 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 l was by no means
surprised when Mary informed
me one day that she had broken
of with Jem Leslie forever; but
very much astonished indeed to hear a
few weeks later, that she had promised
herself to Peter Mackey.
Well. Mary" | said to her, 81 do
not wish to intermeddle with love-
affairs, but must say that | think Jem
the better man of the two"
But Mary tossed her pretty head and
remarked with reference to her rejected
lover, that ''she was weary o the
creatures havers. an had jist tauld
him that he medina fash himself aboOt
her r-onv mair, for she cud cen TAX care
o her main sell Peter Mackey, she
told me, was TO start for Aberdeen, a
weil-to-do uncle having found a good
situation for him there.
knew something of Mr.. Peter, as he
was my landlords only son. He was a
tall. handsome young fellow. with a
-'ggeei 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. !
had made up my mind that he would
marry Jeanie SaunderSon, handsome
enough lassie. good houSekeeper. and
an heireSS in a small way, but Jeanie had
left five or six months ago for London,
10 visit an iniirm aunt, and now Peter
was engaged TO Mary Duthie. | was
VeXed about the whole affair. especially
As | sympathised with poor Jem Leslie.
Yet certainly it was no concern OF
mine.
I do not think that Mary ever re-
Geived any l0ve-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, so that began to be
quite in despair for my favorite 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.
turn of Jeanie SaunderSon from Lon
don. and visit paid by her to her ole
acquaintance. Mary Duthie. The two
girls had not, been together more thar
a quarter of an hour, when sounds o
violent weeping proceeded from the
kitchen. fastening in to see what wa.
she matter, found Jeanie and Mar'
mingling their tears over some letters
which lay on the table. Jeanie greeted
me respectfully. and on my enquirine
dhe cause of their grief, handed me !;
letter. saving:
''Will ye be pleased to read that
mem?"
1t was an eifusion of Peter Mackey's S
dated nine months back. 1t began
My dearest Jeanie,' spoke of tn,
writers unalterable affection, reminded
-Jeanie of her promise to become hi
wife as soon as he should be able tC
provide suitable home for her, anC
was signed: ''Your own Patie''
| must confess that my first feeling
on reading this, was one of satisfaction
at my own discernment. $50 you wer,
engaged after all,'' l remarked; ''bu
why was nothing said about it. and WIN
was it broken OFF,
.-Ou." said Jeanie, looking at m,
Indignantly, '.Patie just asked me tC
Se hls vile the vera day before sailed
50 Gnere wasna muckle time to lat it b,
known And as for rs being sbroker
oh, it's Patie We must speir at aboo
that, for never heard tell OF till thi
day. En- but men are deceiyersi Bu
shat's no the warst OF, mem! Mary
give the lady Mrs. Birket's letter"
elrs, Birket. it appears, was Peter
Iasdlady in Aberdeen. and had writer