The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-08
THE CRITICS. CORNER.
WEEKLY CHAT KEG<RDTNC WRIT
EKS AND BOOKS.
Misc Winston's Contribution to "Romance-
Beyond the Roekies''-"Jssiah Gil
bert Holland "-Literary Notes.

New York. Twenty-Five cents. For
sale by West, Johnston & Co.
Catering to the demand for short stor-
les, the editors Of Romance send out
each month a readable magazine, con-
tanning complete short stories only. The
April number has upon the list of its
contributors the name of Miss " b. Win
ston. of Rn.\mond. who is represented
by a story At;itled THE Little Brown
Woman which extends over seven pag-
es. The editors announce. Immediately
at the head OF the opening page. that
Mr.. ~. Il. Winston. who has written
this strange ghost story for Romance
says that II was related to him by peo-
pie OF high position and the most un-
doubted veracity"
Evidently, Messrs. Editors will learn
something from a perusal OF this notice.
In the writer's opinion. a ghost story is
by no means an interesting thing. but
that. OF course. is entirely n matter of
opinion. and doubtless there are many
people who revel in tales of the weird
and ghostly. However that may be,
THE Little Brown Woman cannot be
satisfactory reading owing to its abrupt
conclusion and the fact that the ghost
IS superfluousiy evidcnce--its appear
ance in the tranquil home of Miss Polly
Waller. thirty miles from Harper's Fer
ny. just as the reader Is anticipating
it's satisfactory annihiatio is unpardon-
able. and makes him feel that he
- Il
tie Brown Woman-Part 9"
A resume of the story which Miss
Winston puts into the mouth of Miss
Blunt, who. with other ladies. is spending
an evening In the month OF December in
the mont parlor OF aristocratic and hos
pitabie Miss Polly is follows:
Upon q visit antedating by several
years her narration OF the story, Miss
Biount had gone upon n visit to the
family of a cousin living in an old
hni
been the property OF wealthy ancestors.
but which. owing 10 gradual decline
IN worldly prosperity with each scncra-
tion, had passed out OF the family and
only been regained by the successful
effort OF this prosperous business man.
one day. sitting quietly in her room.
sne Is surprised TO see. On raising her
eyes from her embroidery silks a little
old woman. all dressed in brown with
white handkerchief crossed upon her
breast, standing Immediately before her.
her race Is that of a foreigner, and her
eyes are particularly appealing and pa
thetic- Surprising her To be a foreign
sewing woman, and attributing the an
peaiing look In the eyes TO embarra
ment at her inability to explain herself
IN English, Miss Bount requests her
TO accompany her down stairs suppos-
Ing that some one could be found there
who would be able TO understand what
she wished Starting together they pro-
coed. but upon the stairs the mysterious
come Some nights after this she reap-
pears. bending over the bed whereon
Miss Blount. suddenly aroused from
siumber, Is lying. causing that lady. as
may be expected, nervous shock from
which she does not recover for some
hours. The next morning she hastens TO
her cousin in order to narrate TO him
the nighi's experience, and upon doing
so Is not a little surprised to find him
fully prepared for the narration. He
then answers her that the nttle brown
woman Is bona fide, orthodox, ghost
given 10 appearing at all hours. and 10
all inmates OF the house. and follows
up MS statemen; by story as to how
a. Is that she Is given TO these vista
IONS. Ihat story is OF a murdered man
Formerly an occupant OF the house one
Mohsienr 'rovoche, a French wine-mer-
chant; of a heart broken mother a meas
ant from the Gironde, who failing 10
mo clue as to the murderer. spends
her life In the search. and in unsuc-
cessi"' After her death the murderer
coniesses, the body is found buried in
the, well, etc. but the ghost of the dead
mother haunts the great house sun. in
search OF her child
AS Miss Blount concludes this story.
ana the regulation shivers are roln.
round the little group a handsome No
man enters the room, and procse,is n
tell how on the morning OF the dan
before, she too. had seen the ghost
whereupcn poor Miss Blount gives .
scream OF terror. and cries in distress
She has followed me here" This VIA
the statement that with her face b,,rio,
In her hards, she fen forward sobbin,
Sonvulsiveiy" concludes The story /
- well told. but not a story calculate.
10 interest many readers.
rloND THE ROCKIES. BY Charlie
augustus stoddard Charles Scribner'
Sons New York. $50 For sd. h
West Johnston & Co
Mr.. Stoddard is assuredly entitled I
The thanks Of the reading public for IA
very delightful book OF travel and ae
serip'ion he has given US. The great n