Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-21

PATTY.
when one of the fair sex put the cup
to her lips she must needs drain 1t to
the very dregs, call for more and pro-
ceed to get tipsy. Nor would this have
been so bad had the bottle belonged to
her alone. Dick was not only ready to
keep filing her glass, but that of any
other woman who desired to drink.
And so it came about that Dick
Hammond awoke one morning to the
fact that the night before he had pro-
posed to the third girl within two
months and had been accepted by
every one. The situation gave him
no course whatever. Not that he
would have for the world injured any
one of these sensitive creatures. not
that he would willfully do a dishonor-
able act. Loving them all. he con-
sidered 1t the most natural thing In
the world that he should tell them so,
and to tell them so without asking
them to be his wife-his wives, rather
would have been an insult
These three graces were Agnes AL
len, Lillian Cook and Theodore Rich
ards He had told each and every one
of them that he had never loved be-
fore and would never love another
Moreover 1t did not occur to him that
he was telling an untruth. Was 1t an
untruth? Was 1t not rather that same
unbrOken stream which had been flow
ing ever since he could remember?
And were not these girls the bubbles
floating on its surface?
His engagement with Miss Allen
having lasted the longest. he was the
least disposed to spend his surplus
time in her company. Miss Cook came
next both as to the interval since they
had plighted their troth and in receiv'
ing her lovers attention. Miss Rich.
ards to whom he had become engaged
last, was undeniably his favorite.
These three young ladies undertook
TO land their catch on or about the
same time. One morning he received
a note from Miss Allen stating that
she had heard things to induce her to
believe that he had been trihing with
her. The next day Miss Cooks mother
called upon him ard asked him when
it would be convenient for him to mar
ry her daughter The same evening,
meeting Miss richards at a ball. she
cut him dead.
This settled the matter. Finding
himself compelled to choose between
the three, he chose the one who had
cut him. lie called upon her and
made a solemn contract with her that
she should be the real and only Mrs
Hammond. agreeing to write note to
each of her rivals stating this fact and
that all was over between him and
them. Miss Richards took the notes
and dropped them in the mail.
Within a few days Mr.. Hammond re-
Ceived n communication from Miss
Allen and another from Miss Cook,
each stating that If he persisted in his
dishonorable course she would sue him
Tor breac h Of promise. Hammond in
closed the notes to his fancee with
the Endorsement on the back: What
am to do? If marry you these girls
will sue me for breach of promise"
The notes came back indorsed, "If you
don't marry me l will sue you for
breach of promise"
Here was a dilemma.
1t may be supposed that so serious
condition OF affairs might have
caused Mr.. Hammond some concern.
Not so. His pure spirit, intrenched be-
hind a good conscience-he loved them
all-was unrufied. He did not even
trouble himself how he was to escape.
nguratvely speaking, this gigantic
pair Of pinchers that were closing to
crush him. Nevertheless a man in
or out of trouble needs woman's sym
pathy. The poor fellow was engaged
to three girls. and there was not
among the three one to whom he could
20 for comfort or advice. What was
more natural than that he should
choose a fourth into whose ears he
could pour his troubles?
Caroline Carr was the person who
heard the story and listened to 1t with
heartfelt sympathy. With moistened
eyes she permitted her ghOuldar to sinh