Smyrna times., 1871-07-05
A Norman Romance.

Brother Nehi Gibbons took a wife at the
blooming age of twenty-five. He was piOus
and industrious, and seemed to be perfectly
satisfied with his bride, whose name was un-
fortunate for a heroine, being plain Mary Ann.
She was the best of wives, and she sang in the |
choir, bore Nehi child, and helped to cult |
vate his vine and fig-tree. Their apricots and |
pear trees grew and fourished their cattle and
sheep increased, and nothing seemed wanting
in this comfortable establishment, which was
the envy of every youthful saint.
Still, there was a skeleton in the closet.
Mary Ann had secret and a passion. She
wanted Nehi to take second wife This
was not only because he was good and true
man, and devoted and bodied, but because
she had set her mind upon the other wife he
was to take. Mary Ann wanted to provide for
her bosom friend, Susan, who was in every
way deserving of Nehi's affection, and who
| loved Nehi as purely and as really as Mary
| Ann herself! They had conferred together
about it. Mary Ann, who could not be hap
py where Susan was not-even at Nehl 8 side
had broken the subject to Susan, and her
clearest suspicious were confirmed by the secret
disclosure that both the ladies loved the same
saint. Far from feeling indignant at this
frank and forward confidence, Nehi's wife re-
ceived it with delight. She gave her maiden
friend every assurance that their mutual choice
was worthy of their united ambition, and they
set to work to compel Nehi to accept another
| Mrs. Gibbons.
1t being unseemly for Susan to do more than
put herself as frequent as possible in Mr.. Glib
bons' way, the plot rpeued slowly; and on con-
ferring With one the bishops OF the Church,
he recommended both ladies to make the con.
summation a subject Of prayer. They lifted
their hearts together that it might be revealed
to Neh what good gifts he was neglecting
! but Nehi hardened his heart, and refused tC
extend his tableclOth. lie was as yet ignoran
= of the new helpmate intended for him but, OF
the suggestion of Mrs Gibbons that he wa
not glorifying his manhood and his family, ht
y said that pair was enough, and that he ha'
: no wish to marry. Under these circumstance
a little extreme diplomacy was adjudged nee
essarv. and Mrs. Gibbons, to compel MAJ
. riage, declared that her household work wa
: : too onerous. and finally affected to be grieV
- ously i'll. Nehi Gibbons, unable to resist thi
i description of appeal obcyed the desire of hi
- wife, Mary Ann but the woman he marie
70 was not Susan! lie was too blind to gueS
- the person intended, and he married an er
tirely different woman.
Grave complications ensued upon this pre-
~ ciptate action of Nehi Gibbons The peaC
~ -, of his family was disturbed, and none the LEI
m because, after the usual period, the sccon
\ Mrs. Gibbons had a baby. Mary Ann, re
- ~ doubling her efforts, met with no other sucoe
~ ~ than that Mr. Gibbons took a third wife-au
eT or this time, also it failed to be Susan. IT
"a - third effort was more directly made, and Wit
e' % less diplomacy, Mrs. Gibbons the first sugges
% ing expressly that her choice was her boso
h friend and the power of candor was nev
~ SO well attested on this occasion, for Mr.. Gi
y, bOns answered:
L" u Had thought Susan would have accepts
of me, my dear Mary Ann, should have ma
>; her my wife before proposed to you y
a. Thus piety and patience we're crowne
81 ~ friendship was rewarded, and Susan and Ma
~ ~ Ann, being lovely in life, in wedlock were L
40 divided