The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-03
FICTION OF THE HOUR.
Miss Hitchcock's Wedding Dress
Jonathan"
HOSTAGES TO FORTUNE"
The DEVILS Chain"-''Dear Lady
Disdain."

'MiE H,chcock's Wedding Dress' (scrbner, Arm
strong Coz is book for an idle hour, when the
thinking cap is above and you only want 10 be amused
Nts BY the author Of "Nrs Jerninghams Journal but
lacks much OF the cleverness Of that little poem The
Btory Of Miss Htchcock's wedding dress Is highly i'm
probable, but that does not hurt IL Miranda, the
heroine gets into all sorts OF predcaments and gets
out Of them easily though she was possessed OF
AlAddin's wonderful lamp. Tho story is simple and
pretty and does not depend upon profound dialogue
dramatic situations for its interest There IS material
n the story light comedy, only the ground work.
however for would have to be strengthened aud con-
sderably worked up before anything could DO made Of
II for the stage Tho story Of two sisters who
len alone In the world. and poor sftcr
having been rch They were employed by fashion,
able drcssmakcr and lived In a London garrett The
sisters were at work upon Miss Hitchcock's wedding
dress, and whom II completed the youngest
Miranda, seized with desire to try 1t on. After
her tired had gone bed sho donncd tho Dress
which luckily 1T her to charm. She gazed at herself
in the glass, then got out lot Of diamonds and lace
family relics that had been slowed away, and after put
ting them much delighted NJ Goethes
Gretchen with tho picture she made. AS she admired
her image and kissed the reflection In the glass she
heard the rumoling Of wheels and, looking out OF the
window, the carriages drawn up before the ncxs
house and elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen
pouring In. Lady Gregory had given ball and these
wore her guests arriving. Why should she not have
somo Of the excitement and pleasure Of this festive
occasion. No would recognize her. and she all
ready she stood The thought gained possession or
her BRAIN and there was unseating it. So, taking
little opera cloak from the nexhaustble chest she
slipped down stairs and mixed In with party OF ladies
who Just entering, and sne joined them and es
capped notice. Whatcvcr they did she did. After bow
ing the hostess she took her stand near her UNI
frends and began wish that she clear OF
The whole thing, and wondered how she going to
ret Of IT. when elegant looking gentleman step
ped up and, offering his arm, said, MAY have tho
pleasure You will my not waiting for intro
duction, but am Lady Gregory's nephew" Miranda
was In for lark, to speak, and accepted his kind
oner. rn.y danced and hrted all tho evening" in
short, It was . case OF love 1t first sight,
sho part Of the gentleman At any rate. Tho lady
WAS juss ripe for fairy prince, and less hand
some man than Lady Gregory's nephew would have
done the business for her. At tho end Of the
evening when he left her for . moment she made her
escape home but without another adventure In the
shape Of an encounter with . new boarder not yet
retired. The singular part Of the story Is that tho
gentleman who attentive to Miranda was
gagged 70 Miss Hitchcock. and his brdec elects
dress that Miranda or course, the affair ended
In wedding 1t seems that, although ON the eve Of
marrying Miss Hitchcock no didn't lovo her. and he
thought It better 10 .break promise than to swear
~" So he didn't marry MISS Hitchcock and no did
marry Miranda The course Of their love did not
very smoothly for Miss Hitchcock was somewhat or
aampsr sti they lived her down and made happy
Miranda not character Of great depth, and she IL
BEST Al . butterfly; the moment she becomes melo-
dramatic she becomes ridiculous. There IL good deal
u the Dora about her only she does not appeal TO the
gmpathies like David Copperned's baby wife.
s'Mra Jerningham's Journal" by tho same author
tas just been issued In and attractive from by
Dcribncr, Armstrong \ Co.
JONATHAN"
English peasant life has seldom had better inter-
prefer than c. c. Fraser-Tyt,er George Eliots peas
ants perhaps real, though those Of Fraser
tyler are very natural in many things There is no
reason why peasant should not have the soul OF q
gentleman. To be sure such a possession is not
common one, but II gentlemen BY birth are often
Doors BY choice, boor by birth may DO gentleman
by choice. In Jonathan" Henry Holt 4 Co We find
. picture OF country life and country people that 10
completely fascinating. In the seeming quiet OF 4
little English hamlet tragedies have been enacted that
quite as terrible as many in tho town. The char
ncters in Jonathan" arc drawn by . strong hold
hand. Tho persons represented fcw:--J onathan,
tho hero, blacksmith; Andrew Mac, his mato Pris-
ella Andrews sweetheart; Jaol Thorn her mother;
Mr. May. the curate; MIRA Myse his sister; Mr. Byles,
the schoomastcr; Aaron Falk, rich brewer; Daphne
Lynn, Mrs. Male and other vilagera Aaron Falk IL
tho big man Of the place He lives well and gensr-
susly. Everybody likes him and he is kind to all
The curate is inoncnsive, bilious man. Jael
Thorn IL . strong, sturdy, honest soul, the
yillagc charwoman, who wrongcd in her
youth and has one fatherlsss child, Priscilla, the
village beauty, but girl OF very little sense. A
Iood girl in the main, but acknowlcdgcdly lacking
Hk She Is loved by Andrew Male. Martha Male Is q
very amusing old woman who thinks that everything
Mat happens 10 an omen Of some sort ~ told your
wss always her tongue, emphasixcd by wag OF her
head One day Miss Male and Jaei Thorn were washing
TOR Mr. ByleA Martha laid down the piece OF soap she
acd ON the table, and forgetting herself far rs to
wipe her hands her clean Hcssan apron she stared
y Jaei with an expression Of awe and terror.
'whatever IN the name Of goodness is hsn asked
JAeL ff
Martha Male pointed with her plump forennger At
the wot piece or SOAP whio she kept tho other hand
rolled In her apron
.Jael Thorn" she saio so'emnly 'df someshiuk
doesn't happen what's bad and unlucky I'm worse
woman than thought That's three times MS that
very particular piece OF soaps slipped through my
hands this blessed mornn', and II nothnk doesn't
come o. that PM
Mr.. Byics coughcd in the next room, and Mrs. Male,
stopping Short waggcd her head knowingly Jae a.
much a. TO say, II told your
.sThat means you'll be sent for" said her colleague
who was matter OF fact, very "And II It's ByIcs a.
anythinks 70 TO- you won't DO sent Tor by means
there aint nobody to send, nor yet no occashn for
sendin. Because II sees right, as takes do,
you're here largo as life and all ready"
sIt's all very we'll for you 10 be so saucy," said Mrs.
Male, shaking her head and looking hurt and digni-
ned. 'bus soap never slipped with mo as something
didn't come Of IT," And sure enough, her own met
with smischicf' that very day and was carried to
tho hospital, where he laid for many weary weeks.
tut the trouble did not end here Poor Priscilla be-
came mother before she wife, and the village
in Indignation, not at the girl but against hcr
seduesr. Every Anger pointed TO Andrew Male. her
acknouioieed lover. EXON bis frend Jonathan. be-