The times., 1898-08-07
ture in his novel. philadelphia: Lip


1.-The Chase of an Heiress'' by Chris
tian Reid, is one Of the most thoroughly
readable novels in the summer libraries.
The scene is laid in Santo Domingo, and
the heroine Is young Spanish-American
girl, who has suddenly fallen heiress to
a large fortune. whether in England or
America the author does not say, nor is
it stated whether the three principal
characters in the tale are English or
American. From their character and
conversation they might be either. There
is good deal of local color in the book,
most deity laid out, and one may learn,
incidentally, In the course of reading 1t,
much of the history of Santo Domingo.
(New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons)
"A Flag of Truce, and Other Stories.
by Kate Phelan Hampton (Mrs Wade
Hampton, jr.) is a book of short sto-
ries and sketches, showing considerable
talent in the writer Most of them first
appeared in the Philadelphia Times.
Two of the sketches, .The Dead in the
Rice Fields and THE White Rose Del
ia, are original in conception and skill
ful in execution. They are more artistic
than the stories, because more true TO
life. washington: McGill & Wallace.)
The Looms Of Time" by Mrs. Hugh
fraser, is very entertaining novel, with
good deal of originality in plot and
treatment. The scene is laid in Chile,
and the heroine is young, half-Enghsh,
half-Chilean and wholly charming maid
en-, called Giida Edmondson, while the
hero is an English officer by the name OF
McCalmont. When the story opens the
two young folks are on a steamer, bound
to Valparaiso, by way of Cape Horn, and
| the description of that part OF the voyage
which leads through the Straits of Ma
gellan is most fascinating. 1t is evident
that the author has either Travelled over
this route at some time or other, or had
access to some very good description OF
the region. There are also some fine de-
scriptiVe bits in the part of the story
which deals with Chile. The significance
of the title lies in the connection between
the prologue of the story and the last
few chapters.
The prologue recounts the tragic adj
venture of Spanish captain, hunting for
gold among the mountains, and tricked
by the Indians whom he has compelled
| to become his guides He finds the gold
! of which he is in search, but he also finds
| death; and the reader is naturally aware
| that this gold mine, and the bones of the
| unfortunate Don, are going TO figure in
! the story at some future time. They do;
/ but when the gold mine is again brought
in as a factor in the plot, the interest OF
I the story has shifted 10 another point
/ and the gold has become of secondary
! Importance, merely rounding out in fit
/ ting manner the happy ending of the
! love story. There is some strong char
/ acter drawing in the book. the charac-
ters of Carlos Edmondson. of the hero
and heroine and OF the small waif who
, answers to the name of Ernie. Not the
! least interesting parsonage is the weird
/ being known as the puma boy" half idi-
OF, half brute, green-eyed, 1.-THE and sub
I lie, fitting through the scenes OF the
! story like a gnome In most books of ad-
I venture this character would lose realism
and become altogether uncanny, but in
Mrs. Fraser's book he appears quite real
and possible The story is Il good one
to take into a hammock on some drowsy
afternoon. 1t keeps one awake without
being too exciting. (New York: d. APP
pleton & Coz
The Queens Cup" by c. A. Henty.
is one of the characteristic Henty novels,
full OF dash, vigor and interest. The hero,
one Capt Frank Mallett, is a fine, manly
/ young fellow, and is in love with d pretty
| and sensible girl, Bertha Greendsle, VINO
! of a story OF adventure Mallett's bete
| noir is a man by the name Of Carthew,
| who has been interfering with him in va
! rious underhand ways ever since the two
| were at school and at Oxford together.
/ Carthew is the means of Malletts losing
| first place in a swimming match, row
| ing match. and his classes AT school. and
| as these things are recounted in the
first chapter. the; interest and sympathy
of the reader are,at once enlisted for the
hero. Carthew IL one of the most con-
sistent villains in recent fiction.
| His master-stroke is the abduction OF
Miss Greendale. with whom he naturally
| falls in love as soon as IL Is well estab-
lished that Mallett seeks her hand and
the young lady is carried in yacht tc
n lonesome place in Haiti Mallett follow
ing. of course. After various lively ad-
ventures she is rescued, the villain is
| foiled and left behind with a broken
head and the much-tried lovers are
made man and wife On the last page
! Carthew reappears in disguise. offers to
| assist in rowing the boat which is to
| take Capt Maliett and his bride on
board their yacht, and manages to sink
the boat and grab Capt. Mallett around
| the waist. with the intention to take him
| to the bottom. This plan. however. IS
| frustrated by the prompt action of Nal
| let's valet who knifes Carthew and re-
moves all apprehension as to the possi-
BILE future of the welded pair. The in
| terest of the story is kept up through
| out. and the book Is an excellent one to
| include in a summer library. (New York;
D. Appleton & Coz