The St. Louis Republic., 1903-05-09

Some years ago Mr.. Harold MacGratn
entered the ranks of successful novelists
as the author Of THE Puppee Crown.
book which met with an immediate success
both IN the matter OF large sales ana ap-
preciaive recognition for good work II
was not q great novel. nor was 1t heralded
as SUCH but It was a rafting good story
OF romance and adventure. breezy. spirited
and full Of vivid color.
Now comes Mr.. Macirath with THE Grey
Cloak" fBobbs-Merrill Company. Indian
apolisl written. as was his first novel.avow-
edly 10 entertain tho party who love story
for the story's sake. and Il looks as II a
second success awaited this young novelist
who does not aim higher than to keep his
readers interested in the fortunes Of his
people. The same swift action. dramatic
quality. picturesQueness and ingenuity OF
incident that characterized THE Puppet
Crown" are in evidence in the present story.
foundation in the actual happenings Of his
tory.
Nevertheless. although Mr.. MacGraa's
latest novel must be classed as historical.
the eNuberant fancy which had free play
in his first effort has led him to take such
liberties with the lives Of certain famous
folk as to provoke from him an apology in
d comparatively brief foreword With this
candid warning against overconfdence IN
the reliability OF the history which he has
mingled with his fiction. the author plunses
into his story Whereupon We find ourselves
again in the Paris OF earlier days. with
such Incidental mention OF New France
across the seas as to make II reasonably
sure that We shall visit the America OF wild
Indians and missionary priests and French
Canadian yoyageurs before We reach the
story's end
Nor are We disappointed IN this anticipa-
ton It IS IN the days OF Cardinal Mazartn
and the old age Of Anne OF Austria that
We encounter the handsome Chevalier de
Cevennes. the hero Of the story under dis
cussion. in his apartment on the first floor
OF the Hotel Of the Silver Candlestick in
the Rue Guenesaud OF that earlier and moro
color-.Il Paris He has Just returned from
au arduous mission to Rome in tho Car
Ginars service. He h IN dire peril Of which
he knows nothing. On the preceding even
ing an unknown man. wearing . gray cloak
recognized as the property Of Do Csvennes,
had killed the aged Conte de Busac, hav-
Ing been discovered presumably attempting
a secret meeting with De Brissac's young
wife The Cheyalier de Cevennes is sus-
pected Of being the guilty man Where .'A
it comes about that Mazarin. because t-.e
Chevalier refuses to reveal the name of the
friend who had borrowed his gray cloak.
sentences De Ceyennes to resignation Of his
commission in the Guards and a five years
exile on his country estates
From this moment the action OF the story
Is rapid and dramatic. De Cevennes de-
votes himself TO a wild and reckless life
in banishment. He quarrels with his father.
most terrible old Marquis of the velvet
steel-gauntlet type, and is informed that
he Is an illegitimate SON. This leads him
to emigrats to New France, the promised
land Of gentlemen edveuturers. ard. some
how. the other important characters OF the
story, including the heroine and the villain
also find their way across seas. There is a
mysterious document OF conspiracy in ex-
istence, stolen from the papers OF the slain
Comte de Brissac. which imperils the life
of more than one Of these characters, and
this document plays an important part in
the story. 1t leads to plots and counter
plots OF absorbing interest, and not till It
is destroyed can we be sure that things will
turn out well for our hero In the mean
time. however. he has all sorts CT thrilling
adventures. and the heroine. the beautiful
and mysterious Gabrielle, or Diane, or
''Madane"-as you pleaseNundergoes perils
and hardships of which capture by the In
dams seems the least.
From all Of which It may be seen that
The Gray Cloak" promises entertainment
Of an absorbing nature Just how its story
ends is not the province Of a reviewer to
disclose. but the denouement is brought
about consistently. and, let Us hope, to the
readers satisfaction It ts story of cap
able construction. and told with much
spirit