The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-04
THE NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME OF THE LATEST BOOKS OF
 THE SEASON.

ViIkins-LsonaEd, ths Luckless, by 1 ". E. NOrris-Light in Dark Places, by Rev. pr. Newman Smyth-A sum mer in New York, by Edward Town scnd-A Daughter of Thespes by John | D. Barry. "The Wind in the Rose<Has is a new and striking collection of stories of the supernatural by Mary E.. Wilkins (Mrs. Freeman) whose reputation in different fields Of fiction writing is al- ready so we'll esta blished. but who in this unusual volume makes another new achievement. Her ghosts are as real as her inimitable New Englanders, and besides the admirable character drawing which every reader would nat urally look for, she exhibits ability in making story creepy" that will bring goose fiesh'' to the most skepti cal. When the first tale appeared in magazine many pronounced it the au- thor's masterpiece in the short story line. This collection is certainly a remarkable one. Her ghosts as says the New York Sun, "are the old fashioned kind of ghosts that make your flesh creep for no other reason than that they are dead. There is no psychological nonsense about them and they can't be explained away. If Mrs. Freeman Wilkins narrative does not make the readers hair stand on end he can turn to MT. Peter Newells hideous illustrations"
 The story which gives the book its title tells of the visit Of Michigan woman to a New England village to offer her niece a home. The girls mother, sister of the woman from Mich igan, was dead, and the visitor had come east, believing that the girl was living with her fathers second wife. The stepmother acted queerly when the woman from Michigan presented herself. Agnes was at the house of a neighbor, she explained, and would be home soon. Two days passed, and there was always some excuse for the girls absence. A bush with single rose on it shook mysteriously when there was no wind to stir it. The sight filled the stepmother with terror and the visitor had an uncanny feeling Sometimes the aunt thought she caught glimpse
 
 door opened and there was no Agnes in the flesh. In the night the strains of 'The Maidens Prayer" fioated up from the piano in the parlor, but when the visitor went down to greet the player the instrument was silent and the room empty. To take up her mind, the aunt seWed on a fleecy dress which belonged to the girl, and laid 1t away in bureau n -l- found it unfolded on the bed with the garden rose at the breast. More mystery, for the rose vanished, and there 1t was again on the bush from which 1t had disappeared. An urgent letter from Michigan called the aunt home to nurse a relative The relative was net Ill and no letter had been wriften. Al inquiry of the New EEie Mrs John Dent said to have neglected Mrs. John Dent said to have ieglected stepdaughter. Girl was sick. Medicine not given. Talk of taking action. Not enough evidence. House said to be . Haunted. Strange sights and sounds, Your niece, Agnes Dent, died a year = ago"
 There are six of these weird stories in '"The Wind in the Rose-Bush, each of which is told in popular style. Pub lished by Doubleday, Page & Company Price $1,50. For sale by the Pease- Lewis Company and the E. P. Judd Company.
 The new book, Leonard, the Luck less" by w. E. Norris, published by Henry Holt & Company, is certainly g readable story very cleverly told. Tn character drawing is excellent and thor oughly realistic. Lord Leonard is sure. ly a difficult person in his social side Well meaning, refined, diffident ant meditative and painfully truthful. ht makes his own troubles or rather stun bles into them through his besettine failing of unintentionally saying or do ing the wrong thing. Perhaps it should be added that he was partially the vic tim of circumstances which with tao he might have controlled. III luck fol lows him any way. His bosom frien' and playmate of his academy days buoyant athletic, attractive in man ners and person, but disloyal, win away from him the bright and charm ing young woman who had promised t be his bride. A tricky, scheming gov # erneSS III the 1amlly or tue ldiLLieS young woman's parents, next lays tra for the luckless Leonard, determine though much beneath him to captul F. him and Lord Leonard speedily fall into the trap and the willy, designin t:< governess captures him. She proves be wicked and low minded as well a sfrewd and designing and Lord Leon ard awakens at last to the fact. Aga1 the friend of his youth crosses Leon ards track and, owing to the compro missing position in which Leonard find his wife and the aforesaid chum of oth CT days a duel results. Lady Leonar speedily goes to the bad altogether an Lord Leonard rears beautiful girl a his daughter, although he has gray F. reasons to doubt if she is so. The1 are several strong dramatic scenes .< the story. $1.5O; for sale by the Pease ~a Lewis Company.
 "Light in Dark Places" spiritu; imagination, by Newman Smyth, D. ssWhat is Worth While Series" 12mo white leatherette, net thirty cents. E mail, thirty-five cents. Published b Thomas Y. Crowell & Company