Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-04
hook Notices.

style that has characterized Miss Winnie
! Davis's contributions 10 the magazine ana
review literature OF the day Is fulfilled
In this, her first really ambitious venture
| In the field OF fiction. And YET
not altogether the field or hctloh'
for we have It, not In the
book itself, but from other sources
that her story has a basis OF fact, ana
that her protagonist really lived. 10 that
as It may. she had a story TO tell. ana
a tragedy to describe. The one task she
has accomplished with consummate skil'
the other She has performed with great
force and ylvdness.
The story opens. develops through
well-conceved plot and ends IN n htti'
seaport town. The location OF the Town
Is indefinite beyond the fact that 1t 10
IN a southern State-Maryland or virginia
perhaps-and We can only guess approx
mately at the time
We are told that, 'Tn the centre OF the
old town, a jewel in a fit setting, 'here
stands the largest and quietest house OF
ALL The fan-light above the colonial DOOR
way has looked down upon the same
ruts In the streets for over a century,
its brass-pol,shed hinges have rejected
generation after generation OF the same
families as they passed TO and fro on their
business in life. Here the wedding pro-
oessions must all turn the corner TO redch
the old church, on which the house
garden abutted. Here, too. the fuheFaiS
day the tiny panes Of the windows blhKea
down upon the people going to meeting:
In the gambrll roof or the old
house n window blinks from under us
projecting shingles. like the single eye OK
| some sleepy Polyphemus, and behind IL
stretches a long and pleasant gatush'
where pear and apple trees peep over t'e
| high box hedge at the graveyard oe-
/ yopd." ,
AT the time the story opens, In TINS
| garden. which IS destined 10 prove sueh
| potent factor in changing the current OK
| two lives, "long' lines OF crocus, yellow
jonqulls, and single blue hyaclnthS
| hedged the grass plots. The snow-Dalls
were covered with great foamy-white
| halls. perriwnkles looked up clear-eyed
from under the paror windows, and every
where the single blue violets were making
| the air sweet with spring THANKSGIVING
| The tall, standard roses had thrown OUT
nale-green racemes and the bridal-wreath
| bushes were just commencing TO power
the miniature blossoms
1t IS 10 such environments that Dr.
! Gordon WEXFORD the master OF the
| house. brings his young BRIDE whose
| glory. despite her many other physicai
| charms. lay In her hair. Each thread
| of IL. replete with its own glad gOldeh
| nfe. rippled from the very roots IN luNu-
| rious undulations. and broke AZ last INTO
| 4 foam OF little CuTls wherever IL escaPei
| confinement" u was the pride OK her
| life. and took precedence or her nusoduu'
| and she even refused to cut iocA lor
| him.
vavs in the town been called Madame.
| Wickford's mother, whose memory ne
yyorshfns had been the Lady BOrntlrul
! ~ ths Mace. and he had hoped that his
vie would take her place. But he j.
soon disillusionized. His dream IS OF
short duration. Isabel Wickiord Is an Ut
terlv .poiled and selfish woman, ana ia
bells at the very first suggestion Oh hSr
husbands that she make his mother her
model Not only that. she antagoniZes the
.ovyn folk. one Of whom In summing her
IN says. Il do suppose her guardians
may be proud Of her upbringlns' bul i
cannot Judge. as she MAJ know Whht
do not. have never found her know any
thing with which | was acquainted.
She has nothing IN common with these
neople vet In talking TO her husband she
distributes among them The credit or
having her beauty extravagant compll-
rnents and when IL dawns UPON WEXFORD
that she Is lying We have the beginning
OF the end.
WEXFORD turns more diligently to the
practice Of his profession, and becomes
N.r.NN tn
wife fills the home with gay company
among whom are the officers OF a garrison
near the town. including Captain Read.
Later on WEXFORD goes on trip, ana
his wife takes advantage OF his absence
to have the garden uprooted ana replant-
ed with new, fashionable flowers. In ms
inquiry that follows she is convicted or
most barefaced lying, tho speu under
which she had still 1eebly held him IL
broken, and theneeforth. though he gives
her the protection IL his name, they I'VE
apart: for, as ne says; God knows were
I lucky enough 10 be free again no per-
suaslon OF wealth, no temptation OF beau-
~, shouE shackle me TO SO miseraole a
destiny as that Of being husband 10 a
liar" They eat at the same table, ana
live under the same roof. but their COM
munication Is yea. yea, and nay nay
Isabel loves her husband as much as
she IS capable Of loving anything Indeed.
his manner towards her has aroused IN
her a respect FOR him she had never feit
before. but, like many another woman
of her character ana temperament ana
I'm her straits she resorts TO an eHort 70
excite Jealousy. Hence she has hirta-
ton with Captain Read.
In the mean time an angry spot appears
on Wickfords cheek which warns nm
to fear the hereditary taint-cancer lie
hopes against hope, and reasons asalhs'
conviction, but finally goes 70 the city
10 consult brother physicians. and bears
back his death sentence with him. He
knew his affection would shortly make
him a sickenlng horror to his Fellow
men," on the night of his homecoming,
he had decided to see his wife and tell
her the full extent of his misfortune
information which he judged II her rlght
20 possess" and be guided In his suisse
quent conduct by the manner In which
she received the intelligence. He had |
also determined that when the disease
developed he would veil his face mat |
no one might look upon his Disagreement. |
In his office he goes through terrible
struggle In resisting the temptation 10 |
self-destructlon. He hears his wife and |
her guest, Captain Read. at their merry
making. He will not intrude upon them. |
but goes to window, looking in upon |
the scene. In a fash he sees Isabel cut |
a curl from her head, sees the Captain |
take II with something else that cutters, |
and then kiss her, and depart. In bhnd |
fury he pursues. but fails 10 oyertake |
the Captain. and his foot catching IN |
root he falls heavily and strikes his mead
Then follows the most intense scene In |
the book, scene in isaDels champer |
which closes thus: