, 1874-05-30
Louise Chandler Moulton's Novel.

6OME WOMENH HEARTS. By LOUISE CltANnrsrh
MouLroN author Of "Del-I4ma Storios,n 1G no.,
pp. 3G4. boston: Roberts Bros
There is promise In tho title Of this volume.
taken in connection mith the name Of its author.
It allures with tho prospect that social topiou OF
especial moment ut the present hour will bo
treated in an earnest, thoughtful, and profitable
manner. Tic world justly expects that. when
80 facile and brilliant a writer as Mrs. Moulton
applies her pen to questions Affecting her sex,
words and hints will flow from It Of genuine
value. But, in tho prosont instance, the expecta-
tion is disappointed.
"Some Womena Hearts is simply q story OF
inconsiiorable length and Of indifferent quality.
There is manifest noithor fortile invention in
the plot nor in the characterization, peculiar
freshness In the atylo, to raiao it above tho
ago fiction Of tho magazine or tho newspaper.
It touches upon tho marriage-rclaton, but with
fooble md ineffective hand. When drama
is onaotod by men and women having scarcely
more naturalncns than images Of wood or stone,
it can have no forco In tho eluoidation Of tho
problom OF real lifo.
Tho story OF u Soma Womon's Hearts runs
as followa: Elliott Lo 10y. man Of woalth
and fashion and a succoHsfnl author, spends q
au1nmor iu tho Village Of Iennox, Masa. He
uaeetn there refined, sonsitivo. unaophtBtlcated
girl, who, on thoir Arat encounter, piques his
vanity by her inapassive reception Of Ills gal-
lantry. Ho coolly resolves to nm'lse himsolf by
gubdniag to hH own will the affections Of THU
Elizabeth Fordyco. 1t is not difficult matter
to accomplish but, during tho process, ha con-
cludes tho lady will aorn Ills house and do honor
to his namo, aud. without any sincere lovo in
his heart, he marrics her. His cold and selfish
nature betrayed long before thoir nuptials, af-
torward manifests itself openly and cruelty, and
at tho ena Of five yoars tho couple are utterly ea-
tranged.
To El1zaboth, this alliance with q man whom
she has como to hate provos slow and tortur-
ing martyrdom, and alio finally reBolyes to break
her bondH and sooK rolief iu 3 separation. Tho
Of s8ooo and, With this guarantee Of iindopond-
ence she fllos to Paais, and, in humble, solitary
lodgings. slowly regnins happiness. A child, the
fruit Of her miserable marriage. Is born to hor
fow ulontha aftcr tho rocovory Of her freedom,
attends hor in hor iIlness becomes interested in
the lonely woman, aud continues to watch with
friendly eolicitudo oTor the mother and child.
It ts not long bofore an ardent loyo grown up
between Elizabeth and nor chiyalroua protector;
but, at its final betrayal, nha confoaBes tho roa
circumstances Of hor situation. aud, true to the
liotate9 Of honor, tho latter oxilos himself from
her society.
;Elizsbelh'a baby nickons md, with tho ter
morse to tho mothers heart. md s!.o writes to
| hor husband to join her Immediately, II ho wonM
| look upon h'B child aliye. lie comca: bit tho
| little ono lies like waxon lily broken from tho
oflintion Is horn Of this athicon but Elliott COM
| mands Elizabeth to accompany him homo. md aho
moekly oboya, They suffer shpwrock on the
voyage, and Elliott Is drowned in tho effort to
roach tho life.boat in which he has PLACED Eliza
both. 6ho is saved, and. in thu course of yenr
Or two, is united to ler faithful friend, tie
| Doctor. '1'S
Hactneyed as this plot IN, 1t might have been
ylylhod BY novel incidents md olcsor manager