The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-07-13
4 Norman Romance.

or Nehi Gibbons. took n wife at the
blooming age Of 25. He was pious
und Industrious. aud seemed perfectly
satisfed With bis bride, wbuse name
was upforturste for Il heroine, beipg
plain Mary Ann. Sbe was he best
oi wives, and sbo sang in the choir
hc,e Ncbi child, and helped to cul.
tlvals his vine and 6g tree. Their
apricot and pear trccs grew aud -four.
ished, their cattle and sheep Increased,
spd no,hios seemed wanting in ,his
comfortable establishment, which was
the envy OF every youthful saint
Sill, there was o skeleton in ;bc
closet. Mary Ann had q s,ere, and
passion. She wanted Nchi 10 take .
second wife. This was not only because
b. was good aud truo man, AMI de-
voted and ablc.bodiod, bat because
she had set her mind upon tho other
wife lie was to take. Mary Ann
wanted TO provide for her bosom friend,
Susan, who w,s 10 every way dcserv-
ing Of Nshi's affection, and who loved
N,hi as purely and as rcalIy:Os M,ry
Ann herself. They had conferred
about it. Mary Ann, who could nj,
bc happy whore Snsan was no,-even
at Nchi's sidc-had broken the subject
10 Sns,n. and her clearcst suspicious
were confirmed by the secret disclo-
sure that both the ladies' lovcd the
same saint.
Far FROM feeling indignant at this
frank aud forward confidence, Nehi's
wife received it with delight. She
gave her mnideu friend every sssu.
rance that their mutual choice was
worthy Of their united ambition, and
compel Nehi to accept another Mrs.
Gibbons. II being unsoemly for SUI
1an to do more than put herself as fr,-
quenily as possible in Mr.. Gibbon's
way, the plot ripened slowly, and, on
comforting with ono of the Bishops Of
the Church, he recommended both
ladies' TO mako tho cousummation n
subject Of prayer. They lifted up their
hearts together ,ha, it might be re-
vealed to Nehi what good gifts he was
neglec,ing, but Nehi Laidcncd his
heart and refused to extend his table
cloth.
Tic was as yet ignorant Of the nc W
hc'pmate intended for him, but on the
suggestion Of Mrs. Gibbons that he
was not glorifYing his manhood and
his family, he said that q pair was
enough, and that be had no wish t.
marry. Under these circums, ances, Il
little extreme diplomacy was adjudsed
necessary, aud Mrs Gibbons, to compel
- marriage, declared ,ba, her house.
hold work was too onerous and Guall,
affected to be seriously ILL., Nehi Glib.
bons, unable 10 resist this description
Of appeal, obeyed the desire OF his wife
Mary Ann, but the woman be married
was not Susan He was too blind tc
guess the Pcreou intended, and he mar.
ricd an entirely different woman.
Grave complications eusued upon
this precipitate action of Nehi Gibbons
The peace Of his family was disturbed
and none the less because, after the
usual period, the second Mrs. Gibbon,
had baby. Mary Ann redoubline
her efforts, met with no other success,
than that Mr.. Gibbous took a third
wife, and this timo also it failed to be
Susan. The next effort was more di.
rect and with less diplomacy, Mrs.
Gibbons the first suggesting expressly
that her choice was her bosom friend
and the power Of candot was mover SC
well attested as 90 this occasion, fol
Mr.. Gibbons answered
"liad thought that Susan would
have accepted me, my dear Mary Ann
should have made her my wife befor,
proposed to you" :"
Thus piety and patience wer.
crowned, friendship was rewarded
Susan aud Mary Ann being loving IN