Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-26
From the Roanoke News,
M bel Ice

Mabel Lee is Il new novel from the press
OF ID. Appleton 4 Co, by the author Of
valerie Aylme," and E'Morton House,
1t is said to be the production of young
lady Of North Carolina, but no authorita-
tive announcement to that effect has been
made.
The plot is simple, and may be thus an
alyzcd:
''Seyton," a descedant of one of the
cavaliers, in possession of an estate in
South Carolina, having been crossed in
love in early life, never marries, and finds
himself in the evening Of his days. under
the necessity Of selecting some one to sue
ceed him. By family precedent, which
has, with him, the for of the law, lie
must pass the estate to one of his own line,
even as it had descended upon himself.
1t seems that his choice must be limited
to Phillip Conway and Cyril Harding. the
sons of his two sisters. But Seyton's whole
heart is bound up in Mabel Lee, his god
child, niece Of the only woman he had
ever loved, and who, when the plot opens,
has been long dead. To Mabel he would
leave the estate, but IS bound, in honor, to
keep it in the family line.
The better to determine his choice, Il 0
neplews are invited to Seyton house, and
there met with Mabel Lee. Philip loves
her for her own sake, and Cyril seeks her
is the way to the inheritance. Various
actors appear upon the scene, and, finally,
Mabel is abducted by some unknown per-
son. SupiciOn attaches to Conway, and
the main interest of the story lies in the
search for Mabel, The ultimate diScCoery of
her place of cOncealment, to find, however,
that whilst her purity remains unsullied,
she is, apparently, hopelessly insane
After long trial and suffering, she RECEIVERS,
the innocence of Conway is vindicated, the
Inheritance TO him assured, and the book
closes OH Mahri rs his affianced bride.
The plot i lot SO intricate as that of
- Morton House," or even of :: Valerie
Aylmer," but it is we'll worked out, and is
replete with interest from beginning to
end. Indeed the writer of this notice, was
compelled, by the mere attraction of the
story, to go through with the whole of it at
one sitting.
The fact that the characters are such as
may be met with in every day life, does
not dctract from the merit or the book.
Many novels of the day impose upon the
crcduiity Of the reader, by the narration of
events which have no foundation save in
the authors brain.
But il Mabel Lee, the whole story is
such as may be based on actual fact. The
heroine is remarkable, chiefly for her won
derful beauty, her amiability, and artless,
innocent gaety, just such a character as
sheds its light over many a Southern fire.
side. All hcr traits are well delineated,
and she glideS, at once into the heart. Her
sister Constance, and NOVEL;, a lawyer of
ability, cousin and most unselfish lover
of Mabel, and Blake, manager of the Sey-
ton estate, an honest out-Spoken Irishman,
are well portrayed, and among the best in
the book, but the character of Ainsley ex-
hibits the most power in the writer.
The style is easy, flowing and graceful,
the dialogue natural, and the best evidence
of the authors power.
The abduction Of the heroine, the sus-
picions that attach to Phillip Conway, the
courage that sustains him under all, the
painful anxiety over the fate of Mabel, and
the art which shields the real culprit until
the announcement, are all worked up in a
narrative of true dramatic interest, and
evnce decided ability on the part of the
author.
The book is one, too, of fine moral tone,
and, unlike so many of the stories of the
day, may be introduced to the family circle
/ with beneficial effect. Whilst it is not OF
the highest order of merit, yet it is of a
! high order, and proves that the author has
all the essentials for successful writer OF
. fiction, and if spared life and health, aided
by hard study, without which the attain
ment of excellence is impossible, may win
, a deathless name in the repuOl of letters
If Cowper's !" Task" 5 now read with as
much avdity as when published long ago
it may not be forgotten that he sometimes
! spent two weeks on one eouplet. Genius
is among the rarest Of mortal gifts, and
talents, to be effective must be cultivated
G..