The Topeka state journal., 1905-10-21

NOW that Mrs. Katharine Cecil Thurs
ton has traced the interesting career OF
her wild Irish heroine, Clodagh Asshiin,
to the eve of her second marriage and
promised happiness, where her latest
novel. The Gambler, somewhat abrupt
Iy. although not hastily, ends, she mlght
20 farther in her psychological STUDY
of the character and give US a sequel.
No one can complain that The Gambler
is too short, but the reader might Wen
dispense with some Of the less import
ant earlier details Of the heroine S MS
tory in order to know what erect tndt
, dark picture of the cold, stark BODY OF
Door Larry Asshlin lying on the bleak
Irish shore would have upon her Tuture
happiness. IT, as the author seems 70
indicate, her bOuyant optimistic nature
can shake off the terrible memory OF
what to the average conscience, would
seem nothing short Of a crime, ana
find perfect peace and all compensatlng
happiness in her absorbing love Tor hef
husband it must be admitted that MRS.
Thurston has created character Wnlcn
lifts her novel out of the commonplace
class to which it seems, until IT'S tragic
climax to belong.
Mrs. ThurstOn seems to have missed
her best opportunity in ending her novel
when she did. The announcement IS
decided shock, but when one RECEIVERS
from its first erect one IS dazed,
puzzIed. irritated by a sense OF incOm-
pleteness, of the lack Of logic or OF
decency Of whatever quality was need
ed TO make an undeniably strong sit
uation convincing. This is the books
greatest fault and at the same time its
strongest claim to notice. Without that
incOngruous, almost grotesque ending
it would not be worth much comment
But that is so impossible, so unheaId
Of that it is certain to arouse a resent
ful controversy. For an author TO be AT
some pains through hundreds OF pages
to make her heroine attractive, woman
ly, lovable, in some ways admirable,
and finally on the last to- show her ut
terly selfish, heartless and cruel is q
liberty with their feelings which few
readers will stand without protest. But
that is what Mrs. ThuTston has done.
Mrs. ThurstOn's former novels, The
Circle and The AasQuerader, while not
great were interesting. The Masquer-
ader was one of the best sellers Of last
year. Naturally her new book has been
awaited with impatience and VIII find
many readers. But it is not so absorb
ing as The Masquerader. although un-
doubtedly a more ambitious undertalZ-
ing, and it is fully as improbable in
some respects. There are whole pages
when 1t drags interminably. the situa-
tionE frequently seem forced and the
DEVELOPMENT of the story and OF the
principal character unpardOnably ted
ious. Still it has points and one of the
best, although It is by no means a new
idea, is the study in heredity offered
by the characters Of Denis Asshlin and
his daughter Clodagh. Mrs. Thurston
has managed this very cleVerly indeed
and If the counter motif of her heroine's
life, her love for Walter Gore, were as
we'll and convincingly done as her nat
ural, inherited passion for gambling
which ls the books real theme, The
Gambler would be a remarkably strong
novel. There are many unnecessary,
trivial even tiresOme episodes in the
story but none OF these have to do with
the development of ClOdagh's character
along the lines Of least resistance which
the failings and weaknesses of her an
cestors laid down for her. She is her
fathers daughter from the pony race
with Larry in an early chapter to the
wild night OF gaming which ends so
disastrously for the young man toward
the last, and another realistic touch has
been given to the character by the fact
that she resents the lizness and denies
it as long as she can. We rarely have
any sympathy for our own failings in
others and Clodagh's passionate childish
arralgnment of her old great-grand-
father, her clear insight into her
fathers character and her bitter de-
nunCiation of his great fault, give in
her young giTlhood the keynote to her
own weakness. Even then she has
shown the inherited passion for gam
bling which has wrecked the family,
but it is not until many years after that
she recognizes in herself the fatal fam
lily likeness.
Without that last unacceptable stu
alton Clodagh would be a lovable
character. She has many faults but she
has most OF their companion virtues.
too. She is reckless, but generous. she
IS Warm-hearted, impulsiVe, loVing-in
fact she has all those appealing oua1f-
ties which make the true Irish nature