Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-04


the negroes. She imagines that she ID
a special instrument for their elevation
and salvation. but, later on, abandons
this idea.
Tho meeting of Steve and Ruth IS ro-
mantle and thrilling. and. to say the
least, novel. The young lady one bright
day takes II into her head to ciimp
cherry-tree, and. while enjoying this eie-
walton, Steve comes along and espies her
in her perch. Thinking she Is one OF
the neiqhborhood girls, and fedgeling
at that, he climbs the tree too, and rnds
himself face to face with damsel whose
acquaintance he had not made. But
like most young men in books, he says
| the proper thing. is dlgnifed ana chlvai-
ric while in most monkeyned positloh.
| and smoothes matters over as II he had
thought out the whole programme pe1ore-
hand. This cherry-tree acquaintance
ripens into love, and many complications
ensue. The two are parted, and DIM
culties present themselves. The pain Oh
true love IS like a suburban street in Its
lack Of smoothness.
Ruth like most women, is incapapie
of secrecy. One day. while undertaking
TO defend Steve, she foolishly aluoes 10
his having borne a comparatively lnno-
cent part in certain Klu Flux pranks.
Her statement furnishes the enemies OF
the young Confederate clue on Wnich
to base a prosecution. Steve Is arrest
ed and the girl summoned to testify
against him. This is very unpleasant
for all the persons interested. Few men
care TO be sent to prison; none desire
to be convicted on the evidence OF their
sweethearts. Ruth IS in agony, and
bitterly laments her indiscreton.
At last IL is suggested that II she mar
ries the man whose confidence she has
betrayed all will be well. At that time
husbands and wives were incompetent
witnesses for and against each other.
Ruth visits Steve in jail, and offers 10
marry him-just to save him from
prison, you know. 1t doesn't take mueh
persuasion to get Steve 10 agree 10 this
proposition. In fact, both of them are
only too glad TO marry, and to place
themselves beyond the purvfew OF
"Greenleaf on Evidence"
Blair Cary, a pretty southern girl, ana
Jacquelin Gray. the melancholy and most
unlucky hero, also have little love ar
fair which ia finally settled TO their mu-
tual satisfaction, while a certain MISS
Docket. daughter of the County Clerk,
ultimately surrenders to clever little
Yankee officer. The northerner, how
ever had hard fight before he won.
In "Red Rock" the author shows that
he has not forgotten his old profession
az q lawyer a most interesting chan
Gerry suit. with fraud as an issue, and
the Gray estate as its subject matter, is
introduced. The reader follows this litl-
cation from the filing of the lis pendens
10 the successful contamination OF com
nromise favorable 10 the injured COM
plainants. Lawyers Will especially APP
preciate the details incident to this feat
ure OF the novel, and, at times they will
hardly be able 10 suppress their indigna-
ton at the unjust rulings OF the Yankee
judge.
z But the story has scores Of attractive
features. and life and action a plenty.
A dozen or more most interesting char
| acters are introduced. and by the PEN
strokes OF their creator maintain their
| individuality and make themselves
| agreeable.
Or. John Cary, the noble old county
| physician, whose life was one long story
| OF goodness, charity. and self-sacriiice
| is. perhaps, the best-drawn character
Of the novel. When he comes home at
| last TO die we freely give him our tears,
| and feel a blessed confidence in his eter-
nal salvation.
| In Red Rock" DR.. Page is tender and
| pathetic. humorous and loyal. candid and
! and firm in his patriotic convictions. He
has wrought a history out of fiction. and
J nobly sung a requiem for a knightly race
| whose deeds are done.
| PRISONERS OF HOPE. A Tale OF Co
lonal Virginia. BY Mary Johnston
12mo. Houghton Mifiln & Co. Boston,
1898 For sale by the George NJ. West
! Company. Price $50.
This carefully studied and well written
| romance is a brilliant illustration Of the
| fact that in our early history are to DO
| found materials of surprising interest
for the pen of tho novelist, not less than
| for the more exacting research Of the
| historian. In Miss Johnston's story, the
novelist has almost preceded the histo-
| rian in dealing with facts and conditions
OF social life that have been largely OBJ
scured or ignored. though their evidence
| is abundant in the records Of Colonial
| life. 1t is gratifying 70 find That at
| least one southern writer has discovered
| tho value of this material for purely
! literary purposes, and has proved Its use,
as we'll as her own ability, In constructing
| a story of strong and often thrilling IN
terest The title OF the story hardly Of
fers the clue TO its real subject, or 70 the
| historic facts and conditions on which 1t
] is based The prisoners OF Hope are
redemptioners and other white servants,
sold or condemned to temporary seryi-
| tude as was very common at that day.
| Such white servants were in one sense
a distinct class, very different from the
negro slaves. who were the absolute pro-
Derty Of their masters. Under the opera
| lions OF the English Uniformity Acts ana
! other ecclesiastic or political proscrlp-
ton. It might, and did often, happen that
| the victims of such laws were men OF
sterling qualities and character. The
| tails OF England were full of them, ana
a favorite mode OF disposal Of such pris
oners was by transportation TO the Colo
MES. where they were sold for limited
| serVitude.
| The main interest Of the prisoners OIL
| Hone" is woven around plot for insur-
| rection, planned by some Of the boider
victims OF such servltude. That such
| men should be restless and impatient I'M
der yoke was one of the dangers and diff
| dculties Of Colonial government. and the
author has admirably depicted social and
political conditions, Of which there Is but
| too little record I'm books She is almost
| a pioneer I'm a new field, rich In romantic
| elements based on facts Of which the de-
| tails are few and obscure, thus calling
|
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