"Mr Barnes of New York."

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 276, 27 June 1888, Page 5

"Mr Barnes of New York."

■'Mr. Barnes of New York." is the title of a novel that has not a very romantic souud, but readers of it will discover that Mr Lames of New York ha^> a very eventful and tar from unromanfcic career. The plot turn-* on a Govsican vendetta. In the opening chapters we have the nairative of a duel between an English naval officer and a young Corsican, in which the latter is mortally i\ ouuded. ITte sister Marina., who h;ih been expecting him home, after a long ;i'T-:ence, ai rives all too late to see him alive, and vows a rende'fa against his slayer, who has aheady hurried oft to join his ship on its way to E»;ypt. Thenceforward she devotes her lite to the pursuit of this unknown murderer, as she holds him, of her brother. By a curious and well-told chain of events she falls in with a Miss Anstruther and her brother, who turns out to be an English officer v.'horn she had nursed in an Alexandrian hospital, whither the pursuit of her vow had led her. They had tlWe mutually fallen in love, and their love is now renewed. Simultaneously Mr Barnes, who has been present at the duel, having made the acquaintance of Mi&s Anstrnthev, after an exceedingly laughable episode, has won her love and been accepted. Meanwhile Marina's Corsican guardian and would-be husband has discovered evidence to prove that Lieutenant Anstvuthcv is the longsought/ murderer of her brother ; but before he hi\b told her this she has, by a great ellbrti, put away her wicked vow and accepted her suitor's love. Count Danella, resolved that fchc vengeance shall be accomplished, and Marina fearfully punished, procures that the wedding shall take placo in Corsica. Here the crisis is reached. Miu'ina has not yet been undeceived, and it is uncertain whether her better nature will triumph over her Corsican habits of thought ; the English pcoplo suspect nothing ; and Mr Barnes, who has reason to sas pect the truth, is far away in England. It would be unfair to the reader and the novelist alike to relate the result. It is at once exciting and unexpected, and it is worth while to read the book in order to discover it. The strength of the book lies mainly in the plot, but the characters are tar from being ill-described, and the interest is well maintained to the end. "Mr Barnes of New York" is now published in book form, and may be had afc the Star Office, Auckland, or from any bookseller in the colony. Price, Is. *

Mrs Finnigan : " He's no better, Docthor. You told me to give him as much of the powder as would lay on sixpince. I hadn'a a sixpence, but I gave him' as much at would go on five pinnies an' two haf pinnies an' it's done him no good at all, at all.' Wisely a woman prefers to a lover A man who neglects her. This one may love her some day : Somo day the lovev will not.