The New York herald., 1874-08-24

able contribution one could wish TO the light
literature OF the seaside. The most amusing
story IN the collection Is. perhaps, the latest. en-.
TITLED LA Sonnette de NJ. BerloquIn.n Old NJ.
Berioqun. VINO leads retired life in . provincial
town, has been troubled lor many years by the
mysterious circumstance that his door bell is
pulled down regularly every Christmas Eve. After
and on the eleventh Christmas Eve he and his
housekeeper organize formidable watch TO de ect
the oHenderi bat the Dell is pulled down as usual
without any living being seen to touch it, and
from that time NJ. Befloquin grows mournIul
under the belief that the devi is taxing an interest
IN pis analrs. HIS nousekeeper encourages tnls
suspicion by her own terrors, and she talks OF
leaving the house. which greatly dlstresses N.
years aud knows all his Wins tastes and foioles.
Alter some discussion, however. the nOusekeeper
Sh's MN ina. sne me Is ready TO remain II M Beroquin
tnan forty; she Is also prudent housewife and
OF excellent character. Al. Berloquin, though, mas
gives the housekeeper to understand that he has
pat her down for some hing handsome III his will
fact to oe oiicialiy notifed to her by his lawyer,
vnn,re wnereon sae Is temporarily appeased ana al
round again she renews her threats OF
departure aud her matrimonial hints, and poor NJ
Beroquin, who finds himself confined TO his arm
chalr by rackng rhuematisms sees that he shall De
forced IN the end TO yield to ner. Christmas Eve
arrives. however. without any promise being
gwen so tnat night NJ. berioquin resolves TO make
last effort TO discover, by himself who 1t Is tnat
pulls his bells down. The bells have always come
hour M. Berloquin, though enduring excruclatlng
agones In his limbs, crawls out OF nis room and
dnsers % On the handle. Midnight strikes. down
comes the bell with an unholy clatter as usual.
NJ. Berioquin pulls the door open quickly and
there dlscovers-hls hOusekeeper, holding the bell
cham in her hands, Ii was she who, for Twelve
years, had torn down her masters bell with plous
stition she might compass her tender ends.
M Champneury has lately brought out "History
OF Carcature from 1883 to lsl5h II is sequel 70
Middle Ages &C. 1t Is profusely Illustrated with
cleverly done woodcuts, reproducing carlcatures
explanatory letter press is lively. But the subject
Is too vast one 10 be disposed OF in little vol
Of 100 pages and M pity that oham
work OF more exhaustive treatment Caricatures
have at all times played sufficiently stirring part
In French politics TO merit the careful notice Of
..HELENE EFT MATHILDE." BY ADoLPHB BELor.
The above is the title Of M. Belot's new novel,
which has reached Its fifth edition In six weeks
ana is making great deal or noise. II VIII make
yet more noise next winter. for 1t is gong to be
guise will no doubt succeed, for the plot
Is based on q very telling situation"
Belot got hold Of capital idea but he has not had
the patience or industry to work it out. He has
produced q scamped volume that might have been
dashed OF IN fortnight, all the incidents being
blurred and all the interest spoiled oy the violent
hurry. One cannot help wishing that the SUBJECT
mad ,,, been treated oy such pen as NJ octave
Helene is the wife of an American merchant,
settled and narurallzed in France. M. a'Auvray
Is described as an honest, well-meaning man, but
too much absorbed IN business to look alter MS
WIFE, and the consequence is tnat she takes care
OF herself by forming an Illicit attachment with
one Marcel Bertnier, young painter The llaisOn
between them lasts two or three years, and by the
6eSinnina to perceive that Marcel;s visits to his
house are pretty frequent concludes that the latter
Is IN love With Mathilde, mis- daughter he accord
one day that be has found out his secret, ''but,"
ADDS he, Il have been watching my daughter, and
rising rising YOU young W man Of talent, and my daughters
happiness Is all iooK to-. l see no objection TO
the match and you shall marry he:." Marcel Is
thunderstruck by this unexpected communlca-
tion, but he has not presence OF mind enough 70
deny being in love with Mathide. Besides II he
to the house without turning N. d'Auvray's suspi-
cons toward HeeneY In his perplexity he bows
his head and soon srlerward !ee marriage .a takes
place. Marcel virtually marlies the daughter 10
save the honor OF her mother.
The story opens at the end OF the honeymoon.
for Marcel and Maiaide to return home nom their
bridal trip. With NJ. d'Auvray Is staying n. Du-
valon, painter whose pupil Marcel Berthler used
to De and also V1rgtnle DuvaliOn the painters
wife. 1t Is these SIX people VINO constitute the
dyondts persona OF the book, and the main action
Of the drama, IN which they all play importany
parts, extends over no more than three days.
Mathilde returns and Is to all appearances happy
have an hours conversation alone with her father
and reveals TO him that her husband o0es not love
her. She Is not detected, however, for she ieels
sure that she shall be able to conquer Marceps af-
fectlOns IN ttme but for this purpose II IS neces-
sary that she should at least know who ls the wO-
man whom her husband secretly loves, and saying
this she hints her reasons for suspecting that the
woman lives, or, at all events is known, at house
in the Rue Taitbout She has py accident seen an
envelope directed in her husbands hand to the
house IN question, and when sne interrogated
Marcel as to who among his friends lived there he
looked confused and returned an evasive answer.
MatAide now begs her father that he Will 60 TO the
Rue Taitbout and institute inquiries III can but
know and see the, woman" she says, conhden-
her. 1t is lighting against an unseen enemy that
makes victory dlfficult.u For the sake OF his
daughters happiness NJ. d'Auvray accepts the deli
cate mission oigoing to cross-queston the porter Of
the house IN the Rue Taitbout and II need scarcely
be SAID that on being properly iced this worthy
though 1t throws N. d'Auvray forthwith on
wrong scent. The porter mas seen veiled lady
days but he has never caught sight OF her features.
One day, however, as she was getting into cab
Rue 2. Now tnis house happens TO oe the resi-.
dence Of NJ. Duva!lon, the painter, and NJ. d'Au-
vray is much shocked, for he jumps TO the obvious
conclusion that the lady with whom his sOn-in law
was on such warm terms IS Nine. Duvaon, who IS
young and very pretty. AS Nine Duvalon Is stay
nation and 70 warn her categorlcally against leJ-
ting her improper connection with Marcel con.
time, now that the latter is married.
Virginle Duvailon, however, Is an innocent and
high prlnclped little body, and evnces as mucn
astonlshment as indignation when NJ dAuvray
eLeTuly taxes ueI VIII USlnR Ills para
mour. Alter an exciting scene, during which her
protestations do not succeed in SHAKING NJ. d'Au.
vray's suspicious. she runs OF tears 20 ner hus-
band, VINO Is painting In his studio with Marcel,
and pours out before them both what things she has
been accused Of Duvallon bounds his lee, in fury
and turns upon Marcel, ordering him Instantly TO
60 and assure NJ. d'Auvray 0! VirgInie's innocence,
but 10 his amaZement aud anger Marcel hesltates.
AT last he says with despalrng gesture al VII,
go; but III eXculpating your wife, shall be put
ting M dAuvray on the track OF the real cuprit,
and that cuprit is NJ. d'Auvray's own wile.n
Now Duvallon, the painter IS under deep obl.ga-
tions to NJ d'Auvray. AT a time when he was out
a struggling artist the American merchant had
generously given him handsome yearly allow.
ance in order that he might perfect his studies
without being forced to earn ms bread by burned
work. He mas not forgotten this He feels
tqWaJ6 n, d'Auyray as toward a father, and see.
ing him now fdenaced BY misfortune which
must blight his whole life he Is overwhelmed with
grief. In his anger he heaps up violent reproaches
Marcel, but at the very moment when ne has
exclaimed, "rhat woman ought 70 have been twice
sacred TO any man who claimed 10 oe my iriend,"