The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-04
NEW NOVEL.
BY MAJOR
Author of "When KnighthoOd
Mas in Flower. "


In his new novel Mr. Charles Major
has thrown down the glove TO those writ
ers of historical romance who have long
since satiated their readers with bold adj
venurers, promiscEous maideus. and
bloodshed. To be sure in tie first siz
pages Of Dorothy Vernon" six men are
killed; but this done in the most natural
way possible. and then the author. speak
ing through the lips Of Malcolm vernon,
gives rs a pure love story. fresh II newly
revealed caprlces Of both sexes. ard de-
hghtful in incident and dialogue.
The stage is small The characters few
IN number. But the action IS SO varied.
the incidents so punctuated with bright
chatter that one IS Brought close 10 most
fascinating period in Anglo-Scotch history
without having the imagination dulled py
an alleged imitation Of the speech and
customs Of the times. or the sersI5iiities
PANIED by an over-indulgence IN hair
breadth escapes. and the staying Of men
In short. 3Ir. Major turns the stock IN
trade of the average historical romance
into sheer Gerisi3u by Ignoring thern- As
q sort OF rabuke 10 his fellow craftsmen
f. this respect he svbordinates great his
torical personages to his own creations
which are essentially ~ flesh and blood
To make his divorce from conventions
stlI more absolute he decli-es to have
his readers burdened with a villain.
So much for his deliberate omissions
But what does he give us2
A romance Of much delicacy, variety
strength and grace. II which are revealed
the history Of four lovers who by their
purely human attributes are distinct
types. ana he gives them a setting just
across the Scottish border in England,
when Arary stuart flying from the north.
threw herself on Queen Elizabeth's pro-
tec-i0n. HAY u. ICES. n the picture thar
IS drawn we have given all the possiDih-
ties Of tory as IL should be employed III
fiction THE author throws SOP 20 the
carring crirlc by declaring that although
Malcolm. as story teller may not pay
due respect 70 written history, il IS so
much the worse for the records as young
Vernon helped 10 make the history or
which he writes. 9r. Major gives rs his
tory through life and atmosphere, GUS
toms. architecture. costumes. rather than
through facts and dates
In the painting IF Sir George Vernon
We have piece OF character delneation
Of consu-nmate skill. as a father u the
period ne believes that he has according
70 the cd S1x0n law absolute control
over the life. liberty and thought or ms
da71Er ter. He threatens her with the lasn
with chains. with the dungeon-hut all
this IS dore with so much arr Oh the part
Of the author. that the reader is. from
time 70 tine. as ready u forgive the OBJ
eilrata Sir George as is the fair Dorothy.
Two heroes and two heroines we have
4ha 1ifa-evorn friends. Sir John Manners.
son of Lord Rutland ard Malcolm YER
non. cousin of SIR George Vernon Dor
othv. who is beloved hy John. ard Lady
NTaedaIene Stanley. her cousin. who IS
Na1coIu's sweetheart The play ot pur-
noses fs inGuced through the TACT tAae
r,o--7f hatred evists Between Sir George
ana Lord Prrand and that Malcolm IS
REGARDED as uorothys inevitable husband
~ Sir GEORGE who hopes i'm this way 20
keen his estates in the Vernon name
put while The course Of true love rurs
smooth between Malcolm
and ,f7lee. who. blind from infancy is
ono Of The gs-tlcst and most sensitive
creatures in an age Of robust dispositions
.ra+ of Dorothy ard Sir John winds ITS
rorree through obstacles Of parental hate
tro-ne of r.utual jealousy and the extra
or5ira~v fiehts END caprices OF health
81 ,-orr~ persons wildly ana ioyously in
love. what could he more charming than
Vbe, Dorothy masQ ueradins In her cousin
,fafcolms clothes goes % keep tryst
with Sir Tohr2 IIe discerns her sex before
felr- 8 "a Z o.
.l,a first discovery. he has carelessly re-
lated q few Of his own love episodes 70
che supposed Young cavalier Nnen the
first revelation comes
II would know more of vou- SAID Jonn'
and ho s-epned toward the now INTEREST
inc stranger. But she drew away from
him ana told him ~ keep his hands on
ooh am ri-ht You are woman,
said John She was angry, lea!-
Gus. and hart hy what she had learned
-Co-e Sit by me GA this stone. sald
ro.7 ooqxinelv. The girI complied and
drew the cloak over her knees
-.--er me why you are here. he asked
..-rs meet q gentleman. she replied.
with low bent face
..rou me vou- name. John asked. as ne
drew ra- l1Lalcolm 81 glove from her pas
sira hand John hc-d the hand II MS
ard after examining il in the dim hshI
saw that b was n Ereat deal more tlat
~o.f Ed look uncn- Then he l1leo Il 20
ris Tins. ard said.
since our swce thearts have cisaI
~ ~ nav we not console ourselves WIN
s,ca .tasre' Tie placed his arm around
-, --r wts. ana drew her yie.diog
rs-- Tla-0tfr uEohser-el