The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-11

NJ NARY 3. Witki0o.
- 49, Of ~ who have come 70 know
- s1usre HIss wilkins for hsr delinea-
Sses p New England life. Tor her keen
1S1rht into Yankee chArActersssscs. her
<s71 Al poWerful interpretive oheefva-
z 49, ~ oppression. combined with tender
6 1872 q sentiment and psthetsc humor.
- etnyv Of "1GAdeion" comes -
ss,ee1ine o. = shock. It = .
~ ara tragic tale full OF
s s5S.ne session, quite out Of the lire
% ~ fermer stories, although The Long
80 ana GILES Carey. YeouAn." save -
S5siest into the tragic power at Miss VIII
Sl command. The scene CY~the story -
Ss1 4 Vermont: II II the New England
V1Ieee life Of the present, but unmarked
- iooai favor. except an occasional exam
~. a Yankee dialect The authorizes in
Il "a etoey has scarcely touched upon her
1870 theme, 1.-THE New England con-
Sssnoe" The gossip. mean suspicion ana
Snerew prejudices OF most OF her minor
s 800 characters might pertain to any
1sSnIify IA the Union. rather than the Nav
0crland whose simple code Of life and
4 -.esals makes the environment Of Tame
~. = .~The New England Nun" and THE
TSonR slpcretia'' 20 tonchinxly attractive.
5 - oordon seems to possess that sssen-
6aealv masculine attribute Of being able to
M Two women 1t che sams time These
- vounx women present widely different
Cras Nadsion HAu;viile. . handsome
6rruetfA OF French and Indian blood. pas
'fenets and derry. u q vivid contrast to
Seeothy Fair, the ministers daughter,
G1rh her gentle blonde beauty. mild. al
ennr weak, nature. her love Of luxury OF
neeounting and adjournment.
feadeIon. in ft Of insane 1ealousy.
800. a she supposes, Burr Gordon. In
stantly discovering that for him she has
sc1faS1n his rich cousin Lot Burr. COM
r. - IT this moment. forces her TO 80
r. heip. In order to shield Aadslon re-
]. oinelne the knife In the wound With his
IN hand. Consequently he u charged with
~ crime. the two cousins having been 1t
ennIty and Burr having everything to
IN In the way OF property interests BY the
1eafh OF hts cousin. Madelon. In her fran
- elprts 70 clear Burr. becomes more like
mad woman than . sentient being. Par
tjeulnyiy at this time are the differences
= eharActer between Dorothy and Made
- strongly portrayed
1t Gordon, who Ia by ali odds the l1nest
ehnfocter in the book, while personally he
= anything bat an attractive man. has
hae loved Nadeion, but has been treated
viii scorn. her passionate love for Burr
mnking her Indifferent TO all other lovers.
1inallr Lot. who has persistenfly refused
. O4ak since his assault, promises II she
IN marry him that he viii clear Burr.
,haeIon consents. He thereupon declares
sAat be attempted his own life. and Burr
= released. but, being incensed at what he
considers Madelon's periidy, he renews his
engagement with Dorothy.
From this on the story deals largely with
Lofss attempts 10 win Madeion's love. or
= least 70 overcome her dislike Of him.
An his efforts are In vain. She seems ut
triy incapable Of appreciating his unself-
"a poetic nature. and all his advances are
yupulaed with cruel coldness. Tho elder
lSnkv1ks continually finds excuse Tor
11Adslen's peculiar actions by the excla-
unijon, she u . woman Still the plot
~ Nlss wilkins gives Of her heroine
ouomo bsreft Of almost al womanly quail
~ However. tho four central figures are
~ wall drawn. the story IL strongly told.
ut lnsclnates and repels ~ the same time.
= & moves on with unabated interest to
~ euA Like . thread OF sweetness
Ghnnn1A tho book run charming deserip-
tloop Of nature. dainty pen pictures are
Uivon IN the writer's inimitable style-one
0n enirsy catch the scent OF the great
Uvursllown roses. and feel the warmth and
hnnneU II the June day. ana like Dor
okAy, stn the midst OF this uncontrolled
raolAon Of summer feel 'in utter tune
and harmony with IT," Yet those very
descriptions Of natures sunny moods seem
y throw inso stronger relief the hardness
and cruelty Of Msdelon toward poor Lot.
ut the denousment must be left 70 the
rendef. Miss Wilkins must have had in
Mad the heroic willingness OF Lot Gordon
y give his own life In order 70 make &C.
cure the happiness OF the woman he loved.
vhen she prcfaeed her story with. Love
> the crown and cruc!nxion OF life. and
pscvss thereby its own divinity" Harper
Bro, lsuo.. cloth.