The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-23

wanted to marry his cousin Lucia but
there was risk in marrying her, and nc
would not take the risk, nnd Rlckmah
would marry her
Wa have quoted this passage here, not
because 1t is the best thing In the book,
but because 1t contains III q few words
the Keynote to the story. For that Is the
real story-how Hickman proved himself
worthy witt, the passage OF years and
Jewtwine proved himself unworthy,
These two had started for enough apart,
rs Jewdwine understood and on the road
they passed and, passing. Jcwdw q. =
found that they were moving II, opposite
directions. Over this discovery. fortu-
nntely. IT was not III Jewdwlne to make
hmseir permanently unhappy.
This book, considered purely as a work
OF the intellect, Is not foultless, though
the only fault OF any seriousness that
suggested itself in our reading Of It Is u
too great dliruseness IN certain parts
we are willing, however, to risk a judg-
mont which Jcwfwlne in the story shrank
from. and we cheerfully 20 on record rs
saying that 1t Is a. great BOOK. whlcn is
hardly surpassed by the work Of any Nv
ing novelist.
THE HOUSE or TULF1l,MpN.r BY
George Madden Martin. BY PIP. sl.bo
Mcclure, A'hillps Il Co., New York.
To demand OF the author OF Emmy
Lou" writing In quite different he!d, 10
create Immediately a second cassi &c.
Ewoi,ld be somewhat nvldicus, and It is IN
no way surprising that she has not done
II, There is so much that is good IN
."rhe House or Fulfilment," however. so
much deft sure writing and sklllul de-
lineation Of character. tina we wish me
story were not so scattering ana SO lack
ing in Capitalization. In Its present form
1t is more like a series OF 4cleverly Done
scenes than 1t is n story moving stead
NV forward from the first page to the
last with a gradual unfolding OF plot and
towards a definite loglcal end Greater con-
cantration, closer sequence, and larger
Infusion or plot or consistent purpose,
would, we think, have Improved. 1t great
ly. This Is OF course. criticism OF the
book viewed largely, ms whole Fl IN de-
tail there is no doubt about the quality.
What Mrs. Martin has written she has
written very we'll, indeed. we cannot
help rcgrettlng, too. that there is not
more OF that graceful and tender humor
that SO Illuminated the pages of%"Enin'y
Lou
Molly was Alexina's mother, whose ac-
Eqlaintance we mako at the very pc
ginning OF the story when she Is get
ting married to stern Alexander Blair.
or Louisville. When Alexander dies
4
sends her little girl or to live with her
fathers brother and sister, and a pretty
chilling pair Alexina found thcm.
The Biairs as a family had the habit OF
regarding ordinary affection, or at least
the ordinary demonstration of it, az little
short OF a barbarty, and in consequence
Aleyina had ra Their n curious child
hood. Her aunt Harriet however, be-
comes quite a different person after fall
ing in love with the Major, and Alex
ina becomes passionatcly devoted to
her. Austin, too, in his dispassionate
polar way, goes through q process or
falling in love. but. though he. marries,
his heart is not sufficiently touched TO-
become appreciably thnwed. and we are
given one or two interesting glimpses OF
his married life in the conversation Of poor
Emily with AleXinl. Z
Later on in the story Alexlna's pretty
little mother Molly returns to her daugh-
ter, having spent all her money and In
ciden,ally having become the victim OF
rather a bad habit. Largely for NIolly's
health they go to Florida, and Alexlna1
there renews her acquaintance with
friend OF her childhood. William Leroy.
This is in Part Three of the book. which.
on the whole. we like the best, and
which seems to show the greatest amount
of plot and consistency of aim. VIII
liam had by this time grown up into q
pretty good sort OF young fellow, and
hlexina. who had set rather a high store
upon INN AS a knickerbockered lad, was
not disappointed. No more was WI
liam in Alex.na. The trouble was that
Alexina was almost rich. while William
was poor-very poor indeed after the
thermometer dropped way down one
night and the frost killed all his young
oranges. After that William would have
died rather than ask A!exina to marry
him, but somehow the fact OF his love
was wrung from him. Nevertheless nc
still stood firm. He said: VERY WELL.
let's both be honest. I've fought 1t be-
cause I've had enough decency TO see
The possibillty-oh. my God what's the
use OF being fool enough to talk about 1t.
haven't one cent on earth that's my
own: I'm worse than a beggar, II we
are going TO be quite honest about mat
tiers. since I'm debtor, "
'''Oii.' said Alexina. '''oh, dont.','
81 fought 1t out, or thought had.
down there in the glades, ard then got up
and came back because ] couldn't lct you
go-without-'",
I'm glad" said Alcxina, I'm glad"
. You don't know what you're saying
T do know" said the Girl. :. I'm glad
I'm glad"
1AleXtna.'
Tim glad"
.,Iier young face was white ana solemn
ir the moonlight. but her eyes came up
10 his splendid courage. I'm .lad.N
she repeated"
William. could no longer pretend to mis-
understand. He took her hands
"rWTilI you waite he asked lier, "It
may be lcng.'" Alcxina would
Though the book is far from being
long one, the story begins some time be-
fore the birth Of the heroine. novel
constructed on this plan Is no doubt din
cult ~ development in any other way
than the manner which Mrs. Martin has
hey. used-that is rather q succe ssion OF
scenes tran tho method Of direct MARIA
tive and steady progress OF the plot. IN
other words. the author appears 10 have
Handicapped herself in fixing the scope
or general plan OF her story. We shall
be very much interested 10 see the next
novel from her pen and have n feeling
that IL viii be in general much more
satisfactory than THE House of Fnlhll-
ment." which though good, leaves a good
deal to he desired.
TIE ART OF CROSS EXAML-SArlON.
A New Edition, Revised and Enlarged.