New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
MR.. HARNESS. NEW WIFE.
A NEW-ENGLAND EPISODE.

Pansom June b" declare she's the han someso
woman t walks into the Ransom meet n-house
Barnes must of had his eyes open when he picked
her out
II was Mr. Whiting who expressed THIS OPINION
He and his wife were picking early peas IN their
nigh garden as they called the patcn nearest
the house.
Mrs. Whiting did not reply Immediately, Dat
she went on with her work with sdch energy that
tho pca-yines suffered at her hands When her
husband repeatcd with JUNCTION the nan soonest
woman." she exclaimed:
Il heard We plain 'nough, Zenas. You're Jest
like the rest Of the men They all mink they
never seen nothin' like her. N she does look
well, ! amt dsputin OF that
" her fcpcrt" unwisey went on Mr Whit
ing. as he dropped handful Of pea-pods INTO The
nan m her walk: We amt seen no such l"
Ransom sence that woman from New-Orieens was
boardin' down to the Bankses. Whercd you say
he found her."
over beyend Belin'ham, Sarah Ripley said
She knows of her folks was the unenthusias'ic
reply.
After awhile Mr.. Whiting brought another
handful of pods, and said that Women was odd'
lie didn't see. for his part why they couldn't own
up when they seen face n igger ike DarheS
new wife Twouldn't hurt EN- none
vines. She looked intently at the currant bushes
and anparcntly addressed her remarks to them:
faint no use to try TO make men know any
thing" she said Then glancing down at her hus-
hand who was sitting on his heels and very busy.
she continued:
Pm thinkin' of his first wife. Poor Marshy
It's Jest thirteen months n six days sence sne
died: n a blessed release to her! hope shes
with her son Barney If there's any justice IN
Gods laws she's a-resting with her SON.
The woman spoke with almost fearful earnest
ness She turned and looked toward the tall
white house that stood behind its elms and lilacs
a short distance down the road
II tell Won. Zenas. T | know anything bout
folks by their faces, Sam Barnes III have
difrunt time with his second wife from what ne
did with his first. | hope he viii, n snail see
il. tn do me sight of good to have HIM
stan round Let him take his turn, say. lie S
had most thirty year bein' boss
~ vet Barnes is good fair n square man
10 deal with. m rcg'lar member of the church,
said Mr.. Whiting
!. II know all that responded Mrs Whiting,
but YOU amt never ben his wife
NO more amt YOU said Ienas, with his
comfortable laugh.
,"Thank the Lord for that was the fervent
answer.
Tlcn the two glanced at each other, and in
their eyes was something which might have led
an observer to believe that after all, marriage
was not always a failure.
When both were steadily and silently at work
again there heard a voice from the other side
of the wall where the road lay.
81 didn't mean to begin to borrow soon,
Mrs Whiting. but will You lend me nutmeg
| want TO make some dried apple pie. Mr. Barnes
is fond Of hot pie for supper
The man and woman in the garden stood up
suddenly.
Leaning on the wall in an indolent attitude
was tall woman whose figure limited somewhat
AT rcdundancc. but whose corset confined her
waist SO that, yet the hint was not too pro-
nounccd The dark, thin gown was very plain,
but IL fitted with perfection never seen In
Ransom. except perhaps IN the case of that lady
from Neyy-Orcens The people in this town
were nor in the habit OF seeing womans shoulders
and hips accentuated in that way, and TO the
feminine rural mind there almost seemed some
thing immodcst in gown like that. :" 1t was
so dirrunt. You know But they couldn't help
aGmiring the effect, and cnvying.
Mrs Whiting recovered her powers OF speech
so that shc could bid the other come right H.
for She had plenty Of nutmegs and she knew
dried apple pies was mi hty fiat things without
"A good deal Of spice
Mrs. Barnes went round to the back gate and
saunrered down the path She stopped and spoke
TO Mr. Whiting, and smiled at him She was
/ ono Of those whose voice and glance keep their
special sweetness for men. Without having a
distinctly formulated belief, she Yet always acted
! an the supposition that men might he worth
| while but that women never were. Her eyes
were large and dark and they were both hard
! and volupuous Her mouth WAS thin and pale
! lippcd hut it very expressive.
| Mr Whiting, replying 10 her word and smile
! watched her she disappeared In the house
| He wished to follow her, bat he kept on with
/ his work He told himself that Sam Barnes was
a thundcrin' lucky man. and he wondered If
/ that was the kind Of women they had out beyond
! Bcllin'ham.
| 4 few days later Sarah Ripley announced that
not ONLY had the new Mis- Barnes been mar
ricd before. but that she had been married twice
before Her first husband had died and was
! buried The history OF her second husband was
| not. however, ~ straightforward lie had
| neglected TO die and he buried and was roaming
a. LARGE in the world. He had run away from
| her II was SAID that he had declared before
! disappearing that if Charlotte want the devil
/ she WAS lest as good as the devil
This was strong language. and wonder the
man had not returned after having made use Of
! il.
Sarah Ripley paid visit 10 that remote town
whence Mr. Barnes had brought his wife, and
when Sarah returned She was much sought after
| by the whole feminine nelghborhood. She was
not rctccnt in regard TO the information she had
! cleaned She said that Mr. Pickett, the second
! husband had been heard OF ont West, some
where; that Mr. Barnes had spent pile of
money in getting divorce from him for Char
! loitc. 50 that he, Barnes, could we'd Charlotte,
| for he was regularly bewitched with her. There
/ had never ben no man 50 bcwltched before,
/ Sarah said conidentially to each person 10 whom
| She related the tale. Folks did say he was Jest
/ like a man run crazy. lie had ben heard To de-
clare 10y three difrunt people that he'd spend
/ l.,'I INF 'hnr OF 10 shnnln