The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-08
The Kings y ~
y y Messenger.

The Kings Messenger" Is the latest pus.
icatlon Of Mesars. Harper Brothers ana
WIZ doubtless become widely read vobna
by the lovers OF romance. IL IA NOT 40 n,ueh
an historical novel as II is a tale az 1--we
ana political intrigue. with an histortcaI
setting. The scenes are 4nld In old Ne,v
orleans, and the story opens In 17os when
feier was governor and Bicnville had horn
recalled TO France. The imposing henre
o. bienfille, tho Father Of Louisiana, As no
mas oeen called, projects itself into the
story as one OF the factors In Its develop
nleht' ana the old hero himself appears
olce more In New Orleans, In the LAST
triumph which Is a triumph for the kings
auVssehger ana her lover, as well as A no
ntlcal victory. The romantic and plctur
eSpue elements Of the period furnish a rich
ana vivid background for an exciting story
oi passion and intrigue and adventure. The
deepest interest In the book, however lies
III the fascination of the Lady Jeanne,s
personality Az royal messenger Of Louis
Nv she arrives In New Orleans on a secret
mission, but before she Is able to deliver
the message consigned 10 her care she has
inllen In love with Captain Layille. one OF
Benvllle's brave soldiers and loyal adher-
ents, and she learns that the message In.
wolves Lnvllle. and probably means death
for him. This Is the beginning OF a series
Of mishaps and mlsfortunes for Lady Jeanne
which happen In natural sequence and
succeed each other brcathessly until the
climax is reached. Jeanne, through ali
her troubles, holds her head high ana merits
admiration as romantic heroine: nor ia
captain Lavllle behind her as devoted
lover and brave fighter for loves sake and
FOR the honor of "my Lady Jeanne"
~
suzanne Antrobus, the author of "The
Kings Messenger" Is a well known nrure
In the social circles Of Detroit. She is the
wife OF Mr.. Albert A. Robinson OF that
city and the daughter of John Antrobus.
the artist. She was born In New Orleans
and educated in convent there. but after
her marriage she went North TO Detroit.
She has always retained her love for the
South. and never let's year 90 by without
spending several months In and around New
Orleans. Her sensitive perception Of the
color and glamor OF Louisiana life Is re-
Elected In the pages OF "rho Kings Mes.
scnger,' and the descriptive passages are
redolent With the warm and mellow atmos.
pherc Of the Sunny South "rhe Kings
Messenger" Is her first novel, but It will
not he her last. She has already manped
out a new story, also of Southern life and
character which may possibly see the light
next year
It was on one Of her Southern trips. some
years ago, that the author OF 1.-THE Kings
Messenger stumbled upon the material
which inspired her to write a story Of
those old and memorable days in the his.
tory Of louisiana In quaint old village
near New orleans she learned Of the ex-
lstence Of an old Creole lady who shut her
self up alone with her servants In a ro-
mantle looking house. Mrs. RobInson's
curiosity was plqucd, and very soon she bc
came acquainted with the old lady and won
her confidence. II appears that she was a
descendant Of the wife of an officer who
had come over with the Caskct girls In
the time of Louis XIV. and who had been
one Of the notablcs in the early history of
New Orleans. She Ind n number Of ancient
keepsakcs. one of which was small black
box containing a number Of letters which
had been written nearly two centuries ago
and which revealed one Of those romantic
and tragic attachments Of which that early.
lawoss time had an abundance. The own
er Of the letters would not part with them.
but she read them TO Mrs. Robinson. who
Incorporated the story which they limited
az, using the liberty OF the story teller to
substitute happy ending for the untlmely
one In real life. 'The Kings Messenger"
however, in no wise pretcnds to follow the
story unfolded In these letters, and the
author has done 30 only In so far as the
incidents ana characteristics lend them
selves to what might in reality be called
true story Of the time as typifying Its life
and character.