The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-22
"BIs SECOND CAMPAIGN. "

ond Campaign" story whose scenes are laid
in Cherokee" Georgia and Savannah. While
the name of the author does not appear on
the title page, it is an open secret that it was
written by Maurice Thompson, of Crawfords-
vile, this State, who has from time to time,
given to the public some very pleasing lite
rary matter. He is credited with having
written THE Tallahassee Girl" of the same
series, very bright and satisfactory piece of
work.
His Second Campaign" tells the story of
the life and love of Rosalie Chenier. younger
daughter of Cotton Wilton Chenier a con-
bitter recollectons of the war. The Chenier
family, wealthy and arstocratic at the out
break of hostiiities find themselves very
poor at the close, and the story opens at
their mill and residence, hidden away in
little valley pocket" IN the foothills of
northern Georgia. The family con-
sists of father, mother and two
daughters. The elder of the latter having
passed through the vicissitudes of war, car
ries with her bitter resentment against the
Yankees The younger daughter and heroine,
Resale, was but three years old when Lee
surrendered, and as a consequence has no
personal recollection of the rebellion, nor of
what the family has lost. Naturally enough
the author has pictured her both beautiful
&c To; in
troduce suitable lovers. The first to APP
proach her is a certain Frank Ellis typical
Southerner and engaged in Illicit distilling-
a moonshiner. He appeals to her as an I'M
sophisticated country girl unused to the
world and its ways. Shortly after Ellis be-
gins mis- attentions, Rosalie leaves the
pocket under the patronage of rich aunt
from Savannah, Together they visit the
North and at Chicago she is brought into
contact with Edgar Julian, representative
Northern man-lover No. 2 After few
ing places the aunt and niece repair
to Savannah, where the remainder of the
story is told Here a certain Colonel
Talbot is introduced, who, though already
engaged, fails a victim momentarily, to
Rosales charms-lover No. 8. These in ad-
dition to an uncouth backwoods admirer of
the heroine from the satellites that revolve
about TIE center of loves attraction.
Ellis is detected in his "moonshine'' bust
ness, but succeeds in buying off, leaving
him quite fortune. He then develops into
a shrewd railroad manipulation and grows
enormously rich. But he is rascal at heart,
and is repulsed when he woos Rosalie. Be-
ing Southron, he is a dangerous rival.
Julian approaches her efficiently, but finally
wins his way and is endowed with every
manly instinct. Col. Talbot forgets himself,
and rashly kisses Rosalie and declares his
love, but is repulsed and no harm is done,
as she keeps it to herself in order to shield
her friend to whom Talbot is engaged. The
rest is quickly told. Despite the threat
ening Ellis, Julian succeeds in winning
and marrying Rosalie. Talbot
forgets his infatuation, and all is well. A
leading incident of the story is that Julian,
while reckless trooper with Sherman, was
guilty of firing the Chenier mansion and
running bayonet through the arm of the
elder girl, who met him at the door of the
mansion and sent ball furrowing through
his scalp. His identity is finally fixed by
her, but, in view OF his noble qualities all is
forgiven, and he is admitted to the family.
The story as whole is good one. The
characters are lifelike, and the action is en-
ergetc at all points. The heroine Is very
pretty and very good girl, but without par
ticular force or accomplishments. She would
win more by the gentleness of her presence
than by a recital of her merits Ellis is a
well-drawn, darling Southern cavalier, who
succeeds more by his energy than through
judgment, Julian, Chicago lawyer and
politician, is endowed with fine sense of
honor, and is an admirable man in every re-
gpect
But, while the story as a whole is good,
there are features that detract from
its excellence. The author has marred
it unnecessarily by Incorporating
much of his personal partisan bias.
He has evidently endeavored to balance the
acco unit by sop occasionally thrown to the
Northern Cerberus, but it is plain TO see that
his sympathies are with the South and
Southern ways. 1t is unfortunate that he ad
mitted these Objectionable features, since
hey are wholly irrelevant to the story, We