New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28
FICTION.
Dir. Hornung'S Nc5C Story.

pp 52l + A Stokes Company
THE KEY or PARADISE; by Sidney 33r Picker
SYTvIRs HUSBAND. by Mrs. Burton Harrison
I6Iuo. pp. 81. u. Appleton & Co.
Mr. Fornuns's new novel is built upon lines
60 conventional that if it not for a few re-
deeminC strokes of character drawing we Sould
hardly recognize it for his. a shipWreck win
the poverty-stricken neros rescue or the flch
and lovely heroine; his departure for the mines
to dig out a fortune Before he will consent to
make the protesting maiden his: the interference
Of a villanous rival. using the easy devices OF
SUPPRESSED letters and returned betrothal gifts
all this is hackneyed enough. The period Is that
in which the first wild rush was made TO the
Australian gold diggings, and the most readable
part Of the story deals with the pigheaded hero
experiences at BaIlarat. He wins, Of course, the
fortune that is to take him to his lady love- but
he passes meanwhile. through many discourage
1nents The most unpleasant and original Oh
these Is due to q base emissary of the hated
rival At the moment when Dent at the bot
tom of me shaft, strikes magnificent nugget
the e125,sary wishing to dispose Of him quietly,
5rops down huge poisonous snake. Dragging
himself toward the mouth of the narrow tunnel
Dent is about to return joyfuuy TO the upper air
when he sees. not eighteen inches away from his
face. two glittering eyes OF death.
Whether minutes OF only moments few
rose suddenly the serpent arched It's neck 70
spring Instinctively Denis followed suit, was
feled to his face by the roof of the tunnel ana
Law stunned as mercifully as beast for slaughter.
Much more mercifully; for the snake recoHed'
first in fright, finally, in disgust The snake
must Kill its own Denis owed his respite 10
that law Of reptile nature; he seemed dead
enough already Far away he fancied he
rould hear the slightest OF sibilant sounds, and
by degrees he opened his eyes. In his position
he could not see many inches in front Of him,
hut they were inches Of bare ground. lie raised
his head imperceptibly; the snake was circlng
round the patch of daylight at the bottom OF the
shaft. gliding half its length up It's shppery
sides GaTtug its fOrked tongue out and II, ana
slowly moving its head, as II SEEKING LOT some
Now he was crawling forward again, feeling
his way with the pick, his open knife between
lis teeth; and he crawIed with less caution,
savoring the fight. The pick rang against
stone The snake was aroused. Its body
writhed in angry knots and circles, still in the
square Of ylight, but now with tongue daTung
and eyes piercing into the mouth Of the tunnel
at each coutortion Denis felt its body was
about TO follow. made the rush himself on hands
and knees. frightened the enemy by 50 doing and
next instant
Enough: We VIII not spoil for the reader Of the
book the highly exciting conclusion Of this ad-
venture. It IS much better told than are the
episodes Of the Crimean War described at the
end Of the story
There is the true flavor OF romance in The
Key Of Paradise" The scene Of the story is
italy, ia the days or Napoleon and Nelson, when
among Apulian vineyards brutal and criminal
men seized the opportunities Of war to murder,
ulunder and Cypress. The little princess" the
fairyIike heroine, has a brave soul. that shames
her inches and she does many daring deeds in
her efforts TO rescue the husband who has never
loved her and has wickedly imprisoned her in a
lonely castle set q spur Of the Apennines.
How the cold Roman noble learns the value Of
the treasure he has thrust aside how out Of
the nettle danger they pluck the flower Of NUT
Ual love and trust-these are pleasant matters
related with much spirit, and with more than
due passage Of thrilling suspense. The earlier
chapters offer picturesque glimpses OF Roman
society at the beginning Of the last century. a
time when the cavaliere servente noUrished ex-
ceeIingly, a time when Jealousy had not far to
look for convenient bravo and the dark street
corners Of midnight Rome saw many a bleeding
victim.
''Sylvias Husband" is 4 novelette, of the frothy
kind, which women sometimes like, but which
hardly calls for serious criticism. 1t is mostly
talk and if the tridng descriptive passages were
removed il might very well serve as one Of the
conventional. unreal stage pieces Of the day. 1t
zeal wholly with English society, and presents
q set Of characters which might have been taken
bodily from 4 Duchess book-the brutally
rude selfish and malicious woman Of the world
who attempts to dominate another wonan's
husband; the beautiful young wife. who is al