The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-24
SOME OF THE new BOOKS



A delightful story of an unreconstructed
Southern girl and of a Northern man TO
whose indomitable energy and plain COM
mon sense were given the task of rescuing
a sweet old Southern home from the raw
ages of war, is 1.-The Conquering of Kate"
from the pen of the late j. p Mowbray,
j. p. NJ" 1t is poor compliment to write
that the tale is infinitely better than the
many preceding ii, whose themes have been
somewhat similar-the winning OF daughters
of the South by sons of the North i'm the
teeth of pride amounting to fanaticism, OF
dark memories OF carpet-bagging days. of
ignorance and misunderstanding. 1t is sim
pie truth TO say that in its sphere, THE
Conquering of Kate" is little short of a per-
feet story. Its scenes are thrilling I'm their
utter naturalness. Its men and women are
real and women, who courteously
smile and talk to one from the pages. Its
plot moves along easily, logically respon-
sive to the personality of the characters.
Its love story is delightful. There is no
lack of exciting situations. but the villains
are flesh and blood scoundrels, the hero
and heroine are not the melodramatic sort
To Bourgeonville, in Franklin county,
Pennsylvania, just over the Virginia line,
to the old estate of Catalpa Grange, where
1.-The late Colonel Fairfax Bussey always
spoke Of the atmosphere as one OF his
assets" comes John Burt: a matter-ef-fact
young engineer, intrusted by the County
Court at the request Of the late colonel's
creditors with the task Of making the plan
tation pay interest, at least. principal. II
possible, of the debt saddling 1t. Expect
ing assistance. if nothing more, but hoping
for active cooperation from the three
women most concerned in the betterment
of the property, Kate Bussey, the elder
aunt, Miss Sussex Bussey, the young man
is received in cold scorn, with scant cour-
tesy, and made to feel that he is an inter
loper. whose presence is thoroughly dis
tasteful. Such treatment TO John Burt.
whose only presence is TO rescue the daugh :
tiers from the consequence of their lathe.
imprOvidence, is like slap in the face;
but it causes him to set his teeth, resolve
to keep away from the house and work out
the salvation of the estate unaided. Young
and impressionable, the grace and beauty
of Kate Bussey cannot fail to be attractive
to him, and he sets himself to break down
the barriers of naughty reserve and cold
dsdain.
To this situation is added cunningham,
| an Englishman, Rates betrothed husband,
| for whom she fancied she once entertained
| love. Supposed to have persisted In a
| steamship accident cunningham turns UP
| suddenly, and in domineering, selfish,
| egotistical way, proceeds to take charge OF
Kate and her affairs. Utterly out of SYM
patty with the girls likes and dislikes,
cunningham so wears on her patience and
| self-control that she is constantly on the
point of withdrawing her word to him
Folingsby Hickshent, son of Judge Hick-
shent, for many years friend of the
| Busseys, is in love with Kate, but his vul-
| garity and lack of breeding disgust the girl
who tolerates him for his fathers sake
| These, with Mrs. Hickshent, the judges
| low-born wife; Sylvia, the merry sister OF
Kate, and Suke Twick, the half-wild cir
of the mountains, who gives all her heart
| to the worthless Folingsby Hickshent, are
| the characters of Mr.. MOwbray'S book
| How John Burt saves the estate and ICON
| quers Kate" how Mr.. cunningham pays 9
| terrible penalty for his domineering, over
! bearing course; how Folingsby ends q
| worthless life, and how Sylvia wins a lovel
for herself, are happenings worked out IL
| the most interesting fashion. 1t does no
| hurt the story that the book lends well.
| Doubleday, Page & Co, New York.