New-York tribune., 1903-03-01


dishonest practices disturbed by its new
mistress, for Elnor is promptly given the keys
Dy the dreamer, and, since she is a capable
woman, the neglect, and worse, from Whit n
Blndon-CheVeral has been suffering are soon
checked. Margery Nutmeg the servant afore-
said, is tenacious Of what she conceiveI % be
her rights, and she is cunning. a letter fs dis
patched by her to Sir David'e lnathed sister {
dissipated widow by this time. and when she
succeeds in wringing permission from her
brother to revisit her old home the skirts of
tragedy begin to rustic through the halls Just
what Lady Lochore attempts to do just how
the lovers are affected by her machinatiOns the
reader will want to find out for himself. Suf-
flee it to say that he will be absorbed in the
plot 1t is one of dark character. and its move
ment is made the more impressive through the
persistence Of that eerie atmosphere to which
we have already alluded. but the heroine stead
lily exercises her influence vision of beauty
and delight, and there other elements to
keep the tale from being too sombre. Master
Simon is a quaint figure; the kindly clergyman
and his wife who fit in and out of the story
are lovable and amusing personages, and the
dialogue IS frequently of a sort to relieve the
tension of the book. The manners of the eigh-
teenth century woman of fashion and her caNa-
liers also deftly sketched. Mt and MRS.
Castle have recaptured in this book the SAVIOR
and charm of Young April and their other
inimitable studies in the romance OF al earlier
day. Their figures are all interesting types,
they are vividIy realized, and both in structure
and in spirit the novel possesses admirable
unity. It begins the evocation Of potent
symbol of true romance, an ancient house with
mystery in its walls and in its environment 1t
is carried on, and 1t ends, in harmony with TINS
leading motive and It is as artistic piece or
work as it is beguiling.
FLOWERS of the Dust" is a story of the Franco
Prussian War, with a great deal in il that Is
not directly concerned with military matters,
a fact on which the author is to be congratu-
lated, as the war novel. pure and simple, Is pc
ginning to be bore. Mr.. OXenham HIS a Tar
number Of his chapters with the hcT"s eA"
periences among certain French friends before
he approaches the great conflict, and from be-
ginning to end, while the army is kept in mind
the chief object Of the author Is the develop
rnent of a love story. The hero. early in the
narrative, witnesses a strange episode IN the
woods He thinks little OF it. AS time goes
on he realizes it's tragic significance. Though
he wins the heroine without much difficulty,
he is involved in extraordinary family occur
rences and before he Is safely married MS
Marie causes him, through no fault OF her own,
an immense amount of anxiety and trouble
There is remarkably black villain in the book.
In fact, whenever Mr.. OXenham mas anything
horrible to put into his story. he puts il there
with a trowel. The narrative is again and again
smeared with blood, some Of it wholly super
fiuous. Still in its sensational way. this is
tolerable performance. One may not take it
seriously, but having begun it one is compelled
to read it through.
Mrs. Rice's book is in a vein similar to
that of Mrs. Wigs Of the Cabbage Fatch;
indeed she keeps to the scene Of that book and
continues to exploit some OF its personages.
She is amusing in her portrayal Of humble
ty pes; she makes them very human, and she
makes their affairs interesting. Her pathetic
and humorous elements are handled alike with
light touch. The earlier book was wholesome
and sunny, and say as much for its
successor.
Mr.. GiIson's stories of childhood are Ingenious
~ put together, and are very prettily told The
sentiment in them occasionally trembes on the
verge of mawkishness, but the tone Of the book
is not on the whole, morbid. 1t is unc"mmoniy
well Illustrated.