The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09

HILDA CRAWFORD. A California
STORY BY Beatrice Hsrrasen- author
New s York 1 bad ai Mead ' &C. S Free
From all who read Miss Beatrsce Hsr-
radenz Ships That Pass IA the Night
this latest novel from her pen will receive
an eager welcome. ard the first impulse
VIII be to compare IL with that most sue
cessfui work which brought name and
fame 10 Its author some two years ago
While HiIda 6trnHordys Tn many respects
Stands the comparison well IL iacFs IN
some degree the subtle charm OF Ships
That Pass IN the Night" II IL not that u
- lacking either ia power or interest. al
though there In wanting that quiet humor
which now and then relieves the sadness
81 the former work
II is story Of Southern California. and
In contrast To the sunshine and flowers
with which we usually associate that
land. Miss Harraden gives To the enyiron-
menf Of her story desoIafe harrenness.
an atmosphere so cherries and forbid
ding that the reader. like the heroine of
tho story, becomes depressed and almost
fails 10 appreciate that Nature ever re-
Tents, or that when the long months OF
summer heat are over she begins 20 work
her miracle, and those who have eyes TO
how dearly she loves this hand Of sun
shine. and how In her own good tine she
showers her jewels upon ~" u " san
ssory-aii In minor KEY, fun OF p1fhos.
which perhaps touches the more kecniy
because II n never forced on the atten-
ton of the reader-and X seems Ike
true story. or at least the skill OF the
writer succeeds in making US feel inc
reality Of her scenes aud characters
There Is no plot and the motive Is very
simple. Hkda Lester was young. hand-
some and full of life. fIer home was In
London. where she lived In an afmos-
phere OF books and art Music and the
theater were her passions She became
engaged to Robert STAFFORD, who early in
the days of their engagement Was Obliged
To 80 70 California for hie health. He was
also poor. and N seemed TO be the only
place that offered him living In the open
air. He bought a small tract of ground
and started a lemon ranch. For more
than three years he nursed and tended
his trees. shaved and toiled 10 MAKE a
home for the girl he had left behind him.
At the time the story opened. the lemon
trees were full OF promise and some OF
them fui; OF plenty. And the little estate
which he had SO faithfully worked with
such untiring effort seemed about to re-
pay him for his labor.
During the three years Hlida had been
faithful and Was now on her way to
California TO be married. Robert was
madiy In love with her. but had his
doubts about bringing her 10 the desc
late country where he had settled.
but I don't know how I ever dared
hope that she would come out here" he
said. half dreamily. to his friend. Ben
over.eIsh. i've ionged for u and dread
ed IL. II were TO have message now
10 Eay che had thrown IL up I don't sup
II Un In Ia
but that Is not the worst thing that
would happen 10 me. ] dread something
far more-her disappointment. her scorn:
for when all is said ard done. IL is a
wretchea land. barren and bereft. and
Won know yourself how many of the
women suffer here. They nearly all hate
II. Something dies down In them. You
have only to look at them to know. They
have lost the power OF caring. l have
seen IL over and over again. and then
! have cursed my lemon trees" Rob-
ers's forebodlngs were correct.
Hiida Old NOT like Southern California,
nor the life of drudgery that opened up
before her. She had not realized what
II meant before she came; nor had she
realized that she did not really love her
husband.
IL was only the strenuous opposition
with which she met from her parents
and the arguments advanced against her
leaving her home. that stimulated her de-
sire TO 60 and gave her sudden loyalty
and pity for that lonely rancher who
ionged for her companionship This
coupled with desire fer travel and sd-
venture. made her take the step, now so
regretted.
II was hard life-hard on the men. bu,
harder on the women. And under the
stress of great misfortune. ard the ruin of
the labor OF years, with A husband crushed
t4saA A.&sa
Ing OF pity for Hilda STAFFORD with her
beauty and attachments. and the life she
had left In the old country when under
the strain and excitement of this mis-
fortune she unhurdened her penf-tn feel
ings TO her husbands friend Ben Oyer
leigh. Nothing could make me like IL"
she cried bitterly. at isn't only the seen
cry It's eyerything-the isolation. the
fearful distance from home. the absence
OF stimulus. One doesn't realize this AZ
home. 10 only one realized H. one would
not come. Nothing would make one
come she continued. exeitedjy .netther
love nor friendship nor duty nor rlebt.
ana as tor ambition 20 carve out n new
career for ones self-ga>d heavens A. 7
were man ! would rather S,arye In nv
old career. Why. why DO you people come
hereT she continued. what do they find
here 10 liker What do they set here I'm
exchange for All they've lozts why In the
name 81 heaven. did Robert settle in xnrh
place. Why did YOU choose 10 come
here Are YOU going TO stay here all your
fvesg Tell me what IL all means Tell
me frankly and honestly whether Won eare
for your iife here. and whether yon would
not throw IL NJ tomorrow III Won eo,,id -
Il viii tell yosi what Il All means said
BEN slowly. EFT means that n A. q lana
and a lie for men, and not for women.
We men gain in every particular No
- Il.
rrisonment tn atrlcSs offices. hat ont-of
door freedom. ard our own lives 10 orr
selves and our own land. That Sc what
IL all means ca as TIE YOU wosssn--xell--.'
'sNells" she said impatlentiy.
ITO YOU women IL In altogether same
thing different" he continued. And I'm
less you all know how 70 love desperate
iy there II not much TO redeem the ufe
cut here for ycts.''
She laughed bitterly.
.sNe apparently not much" she said
so here. as everywhere. the women come
or tho worst"
.sft seems TO 10 So he answered. re-
mctantly.
.'Ifaiexx We can manage 20 love dasper-
a,elv." she said in hitter scorn. "and then
even Southern California can become \
paradise 90 us. Is that what You think 90
~ think that love and friendship can
make things easier. even on a lonely ranch
in southern California" Ben replied.
But Hiida scorns his sentiment. and
shortly after breaks her husbands heart
by telling him the wretehsd truth
Tt Is a powerful story. IN which che
theme IL handled in a mastery manner
II - tho story 81 the hopeless struggle
OF y brave man. who - finally crushed hv
the selfiEhness OF a woman who Is una
nie 10 howe him as he deserves. or % aF-
rrsclate his sacrifices. or ~ make tho'e.
herself which love and duty alike demand