The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-18

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held most dear in tradition and his
tory.
"sIy Heart and steplnnic."
BY Reginald Wright Kaufman. Lie.
Page Company. Of Boston. $50.
a very romantic novel. which claims
to tell the hitherto unknown truth and
explain the mystery surrounding the
suicide OF Rudolf. Crown Prince OF
Austria. and the woman whom he loved
Marie vatsera 1t will be remembered
In connection with this tragedy OF the
royal family OF Austria that Rudolf's
reason was nearly wrecked by his mar
riage. for state reasons, to the bad
tempered daughter OF King Leopold,
and that Rudolf, madly in love with
Marie Vetsera. wrote to the Pope. beg
ging for an annulment OF his marriage,
that he might retire to private lie
with the woman of his choice The
Pope sent Rudolf's letter to Franz
Joseph. There was a violent scene, at
which the Austrian arcfdukes assisted.
The pride Of the Hapsnurgs was
aroused. and 1t was decided, or so Mr.
Kaufman states, that rather than Rur
dolf should be permitted to sully his
royal lineage he should be assassinated.
The princes body servant. Loschek,
was bribed, but failed in his object to
Kill Rudolf, so the reader Is further
informed, at Mayerling. Rudolfs hunt
Ing lodge. to which he had gone after
announcing to his relatives his deter
nination of not giving up Marie Vet
sera. Rudolf killed Loschek. and the
servants body was the one buried. in
stead of the prince. He and his sweet
heart fled to the United States, SO the
story goes in the novel under review.
They lived in the State of Iowa until
the death of his wife drove Rudolf
Into insanity.
The Austrian embassy at Washington
sent out secret service man from
Washington to take charge of the
| prince. The two went to small VII
lage in Pennsylvania. and there in an
alteration with his keeper, Rudolf
was killed These facts form the gist
of Mr. Kauffnans narrative. And
this is the mystery around which the
| novel is constructed. An American fe-
male detective. Frances Baird by name,
and an American journalist, Samuel
Burton. are drawn into the case and
cross the ocean In an effort to smooth
out its battling intricacies. A Hun
garian countess. whose first name Is
Stephanie. is deeply involved in 1t be-
cause OF political intrigues looking 10
the freedom OF Hungary. Samuel Bur-
plies the love story and the romance
OF highly-colored and entertaining
book on a subject which has always
appealed to the popular Imagination.
"Happy Island"
BY Jennette Lee. The Century Com
pany. OF New York 500.
This Is new Uncle William book
and repeats the picturesque simplicity.
the quaint charm and mellow humor
which made Mrs Lees earlier book SO
fine a success. In the best meaning of
the word There really is a Happy
Island" though 1t has another name
on the map of the Nova Scotia coast,
and the world is happier for the story
OF Uncle William most loyable and
inspiring OF do-nothings, and his life
there.
The story is all so quantity and SYM
pathetically told; the slow building of
Bodet's house, the coming of Celia to
the island. the call of the mackerel. the
unconventional wooing Of George, the
slow surrender OF pretty Celia and the
homecoming of Sersia and her little
one. Through every page moves "Un-
Gle William" with his big smile and
his childlike gladness in the simple
things OF every day
"Ihe Soul OF Scrfs
BY J. Breckenridge Ellis. Laird &
Lee. of Chicago. 800.
romance of love and valor among
the early Angles and Saxons. in which
is recounted the story of Usfrey,
young Saxon serf or ceorl. who yet had
dreams OF freedom. fame and fortune
awaiting him across the sea in thu
Western island OF Britain.
In the meantime this unwearoned
hero. looked upon by the ealdorIuen
above him as base creature of the soil,
dared to secretly lift his eyes TO Cuth-
bursa, the lovely ward of Lila. the
tribal chieftain of Usfrey. For Usfrey
believed in himself as man destined
emerge from the condition of seryitude
in which he had been held since he was
rescued from the sea as a child and
adopted by the tribe.
Cuthburga, proud, beautiful and i'm
pertous, was altogether unaware of the
passion she had inspired in Usfrey.
She did not dream that the hope of
winning freedom and rank by daring
achievements in Britain for her sake
helped him to endure his nisfortunes
and hide his purpose and his love In
ms heart. AS an entering wedge to
his career, Usfrey sought permission
from Lila to join an expedition. in
which the Saxon freemen and their
wives were to be transported to Brit
ain.
To see Lila. Usfrey had to go to the
meadhall, where the chief was giving a
great feast to Eumer, an Anglican
leader, and his followers Eumer was
also deeply in love with Cuthburga,
but the maiden had no thought of any
but Lila, on whom she bestowed all
her smiles. Dicing and gambling We're
special amusements of the Saxons and
Angles. and 1T this feast the main con-
test was between Lila and Eumer.
Eumer staked himself, to become Lilla's
slave, If he lost, If he won, Lila was
to give him Cuthburga. If Cuthburga
consented.
Eumer won and Cuthburga, sum-
moned to the mendhall, was informed
Of what had happened, and refused to
marry Eumer. saying she would choose
to we'd serf rather than such
traitor. She was held to her words,
and Ustrey presenting himself at this