The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-29

Mr.. Valentine has not been content with
three or four characters and one main in
cldent, with perhaps halS-a- dozen or less
supplementary episodes, as the material
out Of which to construct his story. He
has sought to do something large, to show
from living characters the motives and
passions that move men. The effect is
that Of a strong picture which in its main
feature and in its details lays hold on
the observer. Were this novel, Hecla
Sandwich, indeed painting at an art ex-
h1bit, it would be a center of interest and
comment. AS a novel, it requires too
careful study and lacks that excitement
which many readers in these days de-
mand to gain a wide reading at once, es-
pecially i'm view Of the brighter lights that
are lacking: The characters are many,
they are very human, they are seen under
varying forms Of stress in a wealth Of
incidents, and they all contribute to the
emphasis given the central event toward
which the author leads with much Skill
tho now and then the hand Of the joiner
is too apparent. - "5,n. - 4 -! :e''5@
THE story is that Of the daughter Of a
Quaker tron1naster in the mountains Of
central Pennsylvania. She is a. girl Of pc
culiar temperament, in part the result OF
the strong impression made upon her
mind in early youth by the death Of her
mother in childbirth, following a shock
by lightning. by which she too had, SUI
fered. She has youthful fondness for a
cousin, whom Quaker beliefs will not per-
NIT her to marry. So she turns to an
Englshman, whose sturdy character she
admires The result is the story's center
Of interest. But it does not stand alone.
! It is worked out, as In life, among a null
titude of other interests, all OF which have
their influence upon the conduct Of the
principals.
The manner Of the telling is unusual for
it's excellence, to say the very least. IN
even tho it is, the average is high-away
up. Remembering Hecla's experience IN
the storm that resulted" in her mother
death, with the added knowledge that
Fallett is the Englishman alluded to-, the
following suffices as an example Of the
authors style: a.. ,-<t.
Hecla had disappeared. Evidently she had
taken alarm and was hurrying on in hope OF
reaching the, farmhouse before the storm broke.
He saw at once that she could not accomplish
this A second long red fash of lightning laid
upon the backs of the fleeing clouds, drove them
overhead, and as the roll Of thunder died, rain
stuug the leaves like showering bullets. Hallett
moved on thru the darkened woods, and at the
opening he saw n glimmering white figure clasp
ing tree trunk for support, as the gale whipped
the meadow grass into leaping silver lines.
| "Hecla,' he called. unconsciously using her
| first name as he approached. She did not hear,
and her face blanched with wild terror was
concealed from him. Her soft dress strained
! against her bent knees and her long white veil
partly detached luttered behind her like sig
nal Of distress. .,r 49,. -,-s -
'Hecla,'' he called again as he drew near. This
| time she caught the sound of his voice. AS she
| turned her head he had momentary glimpse
of her pallor and the strange dark look of her
dilated eyes. simultaneously fash OF light
ming, like three-rayed star, frightened the air
and with cry she ran to him and buried her
face on his breastss.A clap Of thunder deadened
| their If heaven bore witness to; the sur
render of weakness to strength. ~
The Bobbs-Merrill company, Indianapolis.