Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-17
A BURNING ROMANCE
OF OLD NEW ENGLAND.
Mary E. Wilklns's New Novel, "Madelon"
Puts Strange Elements in Staid
People and Filings Puritanism
Aside.
New York Journal.

ly, is the first work by Mary h. Will
kins, according to the recollection of the
writer, TO appear in book form without
having been published serially.
In other respects also it is unlike her
foregoing stories. While the author
still holds to her recognized name, the
New England described in this story
is more remote than she has hitherto
portrayed, and with the familiar local
types there are certain foreign ele-
ments, notably the character Of Made
lon Hautville, the heroine. Anything
of alien race was looked upon with
mixture Of fear and aversion in this
village of people whose blood had flow
ed in one course for generations. The
Hautvilles were said to have French
and Indian blood yet, in strong meas
ure, in their veins; it was certain that
they had both, although ii was fairly
back in history since the first Haul
Vile, who, report said, was of noble
French family, had espoused an Iro-
quois Indian girl"
But race prejudiees never yet pre-
were cousins and of Puritan stock, fell
in love with Madelon, notwithstanding
that they were fully aware of their lack
OF wisdom in so doing. For Madelon
was lovely, with an exotic loneliness
that intoxicated both the young men
like some sweet, fiery, unaccustomed
wine You don't set much store by
D,,,. - 10 40 nf <
met on a snowy road one night, both
thinking of Madelon, land l don't set
any too much by you; but we've got to
swing our shoulders one way, whether
we will or no, because our father and
our grandfather did before us. Good
Lord. aren't men in leading strings, no
matter how high they kick! You're
going to see Dorothy Fair when you
want to see Madelon Hautville, because
YOU don't want to do what you want TO.
Well. go on. I'm going to see Madelon
and hear her sing. I've given up trying
to work against my own motions. It's
no use; when you think you've done II,
you haven't You never can get out or
this one gait that you were born to eX-
cept in your own looking glass. Go and
court Dorothy Fair, and in spite of
yourself you'll kiss the other girl when
you're kissing her. Well, | shan't cheat
Madelon Hautville that way
AFFAIR AND GENTLE WOMAN.
But Lot Gordon was only partially
right in his analysis OF his cousin S
feelings for Dorothy Fair, who came OF
a gentle and self-controlled race OF
New England ministers. Her face was
very sweet to see; her blue eyes and
her soft lips were innocent and fond
under her lovers gaze. Her llttle
white hand chung to his like a baDy s.
There was a sweet hollow under her
chin above her fine lace collar. Her
soft fair curls smelt in his face OF roses
and lavender. The utter daintiness oil
this maiden Dorothy Fair was seper-
ate charm and fascination full OF SUD
tie and innocent earthiness 10 the
senses of lover.
There is a most poetic description or
how they both looked at the ball, Where
the storm burst:
"No costly finery had Madelon haut-
Vile but she had done some cunning
needlework on an old black SATIN
Gown Of her mothers, and 1t was ntted
as softly over the sweet curves as
leaf over bud. Dorothy
Fair with her blue brocade petCicodI
fitting airly as she moved, with her
nink and white face smiling out Win
gentle gayety from her fair curls' step
nod delicately. pointing out her Dlue
satin toes around the ballroom, with
one little white hand on Burr GORDON
arm"
jealousy MADE A MADWOMAN'
The sight made Madelon mad with Jeai-
ousv. suddenly all her own beauty was
ohoananed "She saw herself swart anu
horeb-f aced. as some old savage squaw De
.,do this fair angel. She turned on herseit
os nm ber recreant lover with rage ana dis
dain" And she fled from the scene Oh tiie
hall alone through the darkness to"aiu
ber home. On a lonely stretch OF roau sue
..,, sbadowy figure. presently she saw
.t,a+ tho deue was a man, and coming her
- ord then her heart stood stiil' lot
49, ,,raw nv the swing OF his shoulders
.ho+ - was Burr Gordon. She threw oacK
her nroud head and sped along toward MIN,
eraen,ne her knife under her CLOAK anu
,ooLirg neither to the right nor left. she
$40 close TO him-so close that their
ehor1ders almost touched In passing IN the
narrow path. Suddenly there was qu'Ch
sigb in her ear, oh, Madelon' linen an
arm was flung around her waist and not
line were pressed TO her own. The mixed
hIood of two races. in which action Is QUICK
- follow impulse. surged up 10 Madelon's
had She drew the hand which held the
knife from under her cloak and struck.
.I<iss me again. Burr Gordon II you dare /:
she cried out. and her cry was met by
rroan as he fell away from her into the
snow. Madelon stood for second
looking at the dark. PROSTATE form. as one
of her Iroquois ancestors might nave look
ed AZ = fallen foe before he drew his scalp
ing knife: then suddenly the surging OF
the savage blood in her ears grew faint.
Sine fell down on her knees beside him.
Have I killed you, Burr? she said. and
bent her face down 10 his-and It was not
Burr. but Lot Gordon! Madelon felt along
his side and hit the handle of the clasp
knife, firmly fixed.
Don't try TO draw 1t out-you cannot
said Lot, and his pain forced a groan from
him. III live II I can. till the wound is
healed. for the sake Of your peace. Run
ming back toward the village Madelon en-
countered Burr and told him what had
happened. 4 met your cousin Lot just be-
low here and he kissed me. and took him
for you and stabbed him. If you must
know she sobbed out. dryly.
Burr gave choking cry Of horror. I
think I-have killed him said she. and
nulIed him on faster And you meant TO
.N-nr id