The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-14
The Indy Paramount.

When Henry Harland, under the pseudo
nym of Sidney Luska," wrote several
novels some years ago they attracted at
tention by their originality and forceful-
ness But they were somber tales dealing
with life's tragic and seamy side, and
never gained the popularity that their lit
erary merit deserved. After this group
of novels came a long period during which
little in the line of fiction appeared from
his pen; then, a year or so ago, he sur
prised and delighted the public by offering
the charming love story, The Cardinal
Snun Box. He now comes again with
an equally pleasing tale, 1.-THE Lady Para
mount" Apparently he has cast his early
and gloomy fancies into the background
and elects to ignore the first books, for
they are not mentioned on the title page
or these later volumes. He has entered
a new field and perhaps feels that his real
literary career begins there. He has
learned new and better method, a Surer
and yet a lighter touch, has gained
mastering of his art where he was before
feeling his way; has, in short, found him
self"
THE Lady Paramount" is also love
story told with vivacity, grace and wit.
1t is comedy with just enough Of serious
sentiment and poetry to make one forget
its imDrobabilities; ii is idyl which is
trast to the glazing probabilities of TWEEN
ueth century life and most twentieth CEN
fury fiction. Susanna" the lady para
mount is a young Italian woman, with
English blood in her veins, and the posses
sor Of large estates on the island of Sam
paolo which, except for a wrong done by
one of her ancestors. would belong 10 an
English cousin, Anthony Craford. When
she comes OF age she goes in search of
Anthony and under an assumed name
rents summer home on his estate in
rural England. He occupies q house near
by. With her is Miss Sanders, shrewd
amiable. and seventy-four years old. but
young at heart: with Anthony is his friend
Adrian. eccentric. musical and amusing
These four are all the persOnages OF the
~. but the four MI the pages ana are
sufficient for all needs. The conversations
are witty and brilliant, the lovemaktng de-
lghtful, the outcome all that the most exact
ing novel reader could desire. The pages are
not burdened with description, but there
are bits which add charm 10 the tale. one
of them is the account of the feeding OF
the greenfinches; another Is the episode in
which the cat and the bird-and susanna
are chief ngures; and there are bits OF
poetry when Adrian tells the thought
that came to him when he was composing
Lady herself hear? IL was in the spring
time and IL was the end of the day. And
she sat in her garden. and God sent His
angel 10 announce the great thing 70
her. But she must not be frightened. She,
50 dear 20 God. the little maid OF fifteen,
all wonder and shyness and innocence,
she must not be frightened She sat In her
garden among her lilies. Birds were sing
ing round her; the breeze was whisper
ing lightly IN the palm trees; near by a
brook was purnng; from the village came
the murmur OF many voices. All the pleas
ant. familiar sounds OF nature and OF life
were In the air. She sat there. thinking
her white thoughts, dreaming her holy day