The St. Louis Republic., 1902-04-26

Many Waters by Robert Shackleton,
| ia decidedly one of the clever books of the
| season. The story centeTs IN a group of
| newspaper workers. but this fact OF class
| does not diminish the interest. The bohe-
! m.an life of the rEen, together with inter-
| esting bits of touching inside workings OF
! the profession make a most attractive back
! ground. Then there cones the love inter
| est which happily develops early in the
book
1t is a question as to which character is
uplermost In the II nd OF the author. John
| Shotterly or Marshall Hartford. both be-
| roes Hartford is the he.o of the love story,
| and to him come all the roses and happi-
| ness He is inamoured of one sweet Eiinor
! Wharton. who wavers for some time be-
| tween the attentions of well-to-Co ana
| handsome Mr.. Waters and the struggling
young journalist Hartford makes progress
however, both in business and love. ana at
last makes E.inor over into Mrs. Hartford
Shotterly is 4 clever journalist. much liked
by all his colleagues, but not properly ap-
preciated by his wife. the beautiful Zoe,
whom he ado-es. Il millionaire, one Ward,
a clear wel-conceived character, comes
into her life. She is charmed by his great
capabilities in 4 business way, and they
are forthwith desperately in love one with
the other. This is al! unknown to John,
the husband. and when the blow comes, it
ruins his life.
The most enjoying bit of the story is
developed when Mrs. Shotterly elopes with
Ward. Shotterly, who is the city editor.
receives an inside tip that the million
aire. Ward. has eloped with another mans
wife All eagerness to get the scoop
for his paper, he sends out his men with
orders for a big story and insists parucul-
arly on the name and picture of the woman.
The managing editor. having heard the
truth in the case, urges Shotterly TO drop
the story. giving the excuse that 1t was
nothing they wanted. Shotterly insists,
and when his men arrive afraid to tell him
that the woman Is his wife. Shotterly divin-
ing the fact leaves the office crushed, and
for weeks hides from all his frinds. He is
found only after his death. weak spot
In the story is the authors failure to ac-
count for Mrs Sho.terly. Nothing is known
of her or of her life with Ward. Only once
she is spoken of as Mrs. Ward-the only in
timation that they married. This pair and
not Hartford and E;inor, are the chief per-
sonages in the story.
The book begins with an interesting and
! an altogether unusual scsne Mayor NAL
rose of some New England town. the father
Of Mrs. Shotterly, having heard Ill re-
port of John. decides TO 70 to his daughter
and take her home with him. Shotterly
| learns of his intended visit by a etter which
| is delayed. arriving only a few hours before
the Mayors train gets in. He realizes that
something must be done to alter the May
or's opinion. He thinks quickly and
considering his father-in-law's human
vanity concludes to have dinner attended
only by brilliant and wealthy personages.
| John argues that IL the father in law finds
| that he is mistaken in the sort of company
that his daughters husband keeps he will
! be able to avoid a quarrel. and, possibly
the father will satisfy Zoe that her husband
| is not altogether worthless He meets with
difficulties in securing his men, for he
knows few Of them, except as he has met
| them in his Office. as a reporter. The
| thought OF having his wife taken from him
spurs him on. He is determined to succeed
| He explains to each guest as he invites
him, that he Is giving little dinner for the
| famous reform Mayor Malrose. whom they
are all anxious to meet. Finally by sheer
cleverness. he has his six men safely Sc
cured.
The father-in-law arrives, much in an
ger. He at first refuses to dine with the
son. but when he hears the name of Field
| er, that of Heating, the City Comptroller,
| those of Harlans. the bankers-all of the
| party the most influential men of the city,
| he hesitates and, hesitatingly he accepts.
\ The dinner Is success, the party lively
| and interesting company of men. The
| Mayor reaches the conclusion that Zoe has
| misjudged her husband and John wins the
! day. But. even though he succeeds in dis
| pelling the fathers anger, he cannot con-
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