The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-08
A LESSON IN FICTION.
How To Get on TO the Curves of the Mod
ern Novel.

suppose bnaU III une opening pages OF the |
modern melodramatc novel you find some
such situation as the following, in which
is depicted the terrific combat between
Gaspard de Vaux, the boy lieutenant, and
Hairy Hank, the chief of tho Italian ban
ditti
THE inequality of the contest was APP
parent With n mingled yell of rage and
contempt his sword brandished above his
head and his dirk between his teeth, the
enormous bandit rushed upon his intrepid
opponent. De Vaux seemed scarce more
than a STRIPPING, but he stood his ground
and faced his hitherto invincible assailant.
Mong Dieur cried De Smythe. He is
lostp ~
Question. On which of the parties to
the above contest do you honestly feel in
clined to put your money?
Answer. De Vaux. He'll win
Hairy Hank will force him down TO one
knee and with,a brutal cry of Har, har"
will be about TO dirk him, when De Vaux
will make sudden lunge, one he had
learned at home out of q book of lunges,
and
; Very good. You have answered correct
, ly. Now, suppose you find u little later
5 in the book, that the killing of Hairy
Hank has compelled De Vaux to flee from
his native land to the east. Are you not
fearful for his safety in the desert?
A.-Frankly, l am not. De Vaux is all
right. His name is on the title page, and
, you can't kill him.
Q.-Listen to this, then: 1.-THE sun of
Ethiopia beat fercely upon the desert rs
De Vaux, mounted upon his faithful ele-
} plant, pursued his lonely way. Seated in
: his lofty hoodoo, his eye scored the waste.
Suddenly u solitary horseman appeared on
the horizon. Then another and another
} and then six. In a few moments a whole
, crowd of solitary horsemen swooped down
, upon him. There was fierce shout of
'Allahp a rattle of firearms. De Vaux
/. sank from his hoodoo on to the sands,
A while the affrighted elephant dashed off in
, all directions. The bullet had struck him
in the heart"
There, now, what do you think of thatf
Isn't De Vaux killed nowP
a Al am sorry. De Vaux is not dead.
, True, the ball had hit him-oh yes, it had
. hit him-but 1t had glanced off against a
family Bible which he carried in his waist
0 coat in case Of illness, struck some hymns
:. that he had in his hip pocket, and, glanc
, ing off again, had fattened itself against
D6 NauA uldry Oh MS llle III UUo ueSerU
which was in his knapsack.
S Q.-But even If this doesn't kill him,
5 you must admit that he is near death when
n he is bitten in the jungle by the deadly
dongola?
A.-Thats all right A kindly Arab
G will take De Vaux to the sheiks tent.
O Q-What will De Vaux remind the
. sheik off
!, A.-Too easy. OF his long lost son, who
u disappeared years ago
o Q.-Was this son Hairy Hank?
IS A.-Of course he was. Any one could
d, see that, but the sheik never suspects it
: End heals De Vaux. He heals him with
IS an herb, thing called a simple an amaz-
o ingly simple, known only to the sheik.
@ Since using this herb the sheik has used
no other.
Q.-The shcik will recognize an over
coat that De Vaux is wearing, and COM
plications will arise in the matter of Hairy
Hank, deceased. Will this result in the
J." death of the boy lieutenant?
% A.-No By this time De Vaux has real
IS lied that the reader knows he won't die
&c and resolves to quit the desert. The thought
of his mother keeps recurring to him, and
ID of his father, too; the gray STOPPING old
;. man-does he stoop still, or has he stopped
% STOPPING? At times, too, there comes the
UHOuSlu uuOUHcT, Ulluu Ills laUDGT,
she whose-but enough, De Vaux returns
20 to the old homestead in Piccadilly.
% Q.-When De Vaux returns to England
IS what will happenp
- .A.-This will happen: "He who left
;" England ten years before, raw boy, has
IS returned sunburnt soldierly man. But
la who is this that advances smilingly to meet
n himP Can the mere girl, the bright chile
n that shared his hours of play, can she have
~ grown into this peerless graceful girl, al
20 whose feet half the noble suitors of Eng
20 land are kneeling9 Can this be herP' hi
N asks himself in amazement."
Q.-Is it herr
III A.-Oh, it's her all right. 1t is her, ant
es it is him, and it Is them. That girl hasn'
as waited so pages for nothing.
m Q.-You evidently guess that Low,
affair will ensue between the boy lieutenan
~ and the peerless girl with the broad feet
Y. Do you imagine, however, that it's cours
20 will run smoothly and leave nothing t.
M recordp
~ A.-Not at all. 1 feel certain that TIN
90 scene of the novel, having edged itsel
es around to London, the writer will not fee
M satisfied unless he introduces the following
49, famous scene:
Stunned by the cruel revelation whtcl
III he had received unconscious of whittier hi
20 steps were taking him. Gaspard do Vau1
c. wandered on in the darkness from stree
. to street until he found himself upon Lon
~ don bridge. He leaned over the parape
60 and looked down upon the whirling STREAM
20 below. There was something In the still
es swift rush of 1t that seemed to beckon, T.
:, allure, him. After ALL why not? VIVA
ID was life now that he should prize it? Flo
ia moment De Vaux paused irresolute. "
es Own he throw himself in9
co A.-Well, say, you don't know Gaspard
He will pause irresolute up to the limit
co then. with "A fierce struggle, will recall hi
Z. courage and hasten from the bridge.
co Q.-Ths struggle not to throw onesel
co in must be dreadfully difficulty
A.-Oh, dreadfully! Most of us are s
es frail we should jump in at once. Blu
ma Gaspard has the knack of it. Besides h