Connecticut western news., 1890-08-13
CANAAN, CONN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13. 1890

ms way rOunO to the 1rOnC or ms house, and was standing close to the step stone, filed with curiosity, but deter mined not to speak first.
 My name is Fickett-Leander Flick ett," said the man, as if he were con- ferring favor.
 MT. Whiting nodded, and Mrs. Whit ing tried desperately to stop coughing that she might hear better.
 1T was told" went on the stranger in a way perfectly in keeping with his trousers and his chains and his gloves, "that MT. Samuel Barnes resided here. Be you him9" looking at MT. Whiting, who said slowly:
 ''No, I ain't him, m he don't reside here. D
 "From that minute" said MT. Whit ing, in relating the incident afterward, ''from that minute knew something was up bout that woman"
 That woman meaning MT. Barnes'j second wife,
 "Can you tell me where MT. Barnes does reside2" was the next question.
 ''I can," was the answer. But be- fore giving the information Zenas thought he would ask question:
 ''Who be you2"
 'I told you-Leander Pickett" The two who heard him say this were try ing in vain to recall when they had be- fore heard that name.
 ''Yes, but who be you? retorted MT. Whiting.
 'I am," said Mr. Pickett in his large way, "I am MT. Samuel Barnes wife's husband"
 Mir: Whiting whistled. He looked at his helpmeet, who actually gasped as she returned his glance.
 Cant ye come ina" she inquired in a voice which curiosity made cordial.
 Now Leander Pickett was man who would rather talk about himself than do anything else. He knew he was well worth talking about. His visit at the residence of Mrs. Barnes could wait.
 He accepted the invitation, and was soon sitting on the best haircloth chair in the Whiting parlor. The chair creaked, but it bore up. The first thing MT. Pickett told his companions was that he was worth more than $1, 900, 900, and that in two years more he should be worth double that sum-au out of the Leading Star mine. He had come back after his wife.
 ''He guessed them divorce papers didn't amount to much. He guessed he m Mir. Barnes could arrange it. Charlotte always did like to handle money He'd had some trouble with Charlotte, but he kinder hankered to give her the handlin' of some of that money. He didn't reckon there'd be much difficulty. He considered that he could make it all straight with Mr.. Barnes. Folks wasn't so partickler bout such things out where he'd ben. He was willin' to do the fair thing, but he guessed he'd take Charlotte back with him; he guessed she'd go."
 He was right in his surmises Char lotte did go.
 On this particular day MT. Barnes was absent until nightfall. When he returned there was only the hired girl in the house. She told him that "Mis' Barnes d gone off to ride with gen tleman, m didn't say when she should come back"
 She did not calne back. The next day Mir. Barnes received letter signed Charlotte Pickett" The letter ex- plained that she, the writer, had always felt compunctions about marrying an other man while her husband was still living, but that her love for MT. Barnes had overruled her conscience. Now, however, her conscience had been too much for her and she could go against it no longer. She obeyed the voice of duty, and at the same time the voice of Leander Pickett.
 MT. Barnes turned off his hired girl. He lives alone and does his own house. work as well as his farmwork. He looks 70. People say he "ainst so sharp in a bargain s he used to be-" and naturally they think he has ''soft'nin' of the brain.
 Mrs. Whiting asserts that if twas soft'nin' of the heart she would have some hopes of him.-New York Trib- une.