The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-22

tain woman. ignorant OF the usages Of
official and social circles: that she
could only n Reuben Ward In the
eyes OF his friends: that she would
remain in tho village homo tina. was
so dear to her with her children. and
that he could accept mis- honors and
:lll his post. knowing that his family
were happier and better off in an
environment which suited them.
Reuben demonstrated. but in vain.
Mary was u devoted wife, yet strong
in her convictions. Her husbands am,
bitions were a part of his life. and
In facing this crisis in their joint lives,
Reuben Ward had a severe test OF
character. But he gave up in the
END. lie personal advance
inent for happiness in his home. and
with her whom he had sworn before
the altar. to owe and to cherish.
"Thc Why of "a Wonlnn.,
By Rlna Ramsay. j. Vaughn Nc
Fail. illustrator. Dodd, Mead & Co.,
of New York; Sl.25 net.
Here is an unusua piece OF fiction,
inclined to mclodrama perhaps, but
melodrama we'll told with enough blot
to fire the imagination and enough
sentiment and pathos to keep interest
we'll alive.
The girl whose ways are past ind
Ing out in these chapters of her life.s
history, Is known only by the name
OF susan. She is a Southerner BIZ
birth. who. finding herself alone and
dependent in II friendless world, tried
and failed to turn her one talent
that Of acting--to account.
Stranded and i'll. she is left behind
In a little Western town by the com-
pany with whom for a brief time She
has been associated. Plying her lone
Illness and her fright at being left,
ono of the women Of the company.
klnd-hearted II a trifle coarse. slipped
on the girls finger, a wedding ring
which had marked the actress as the
widow OF an Enslishman, John Barna-
bas Hill whom in a moment of caprice
she had married. The reported death
Of the Englishman shortly afterward
had set her free. to her great relief.
She told Susan that tho English
mans lawyers were hunting for Bar
naoS fiils Wife. She stuffed under
eusans pillow letters and ape which
would render an Identification com.
plete. and then went on her way.
a severe illness for Susan followed
When she returned to consciousness
sne found herself recognized as Mrs
Eli. and. as soon as she was able to
ravcl she was taken baok 10 Eng.
land to Barnaby Hits home and
mother. 1t seemed wicked enough to
susan to deceive a dead mans mother
but. as IL that were not SUFFICIENT.
shortly after Susan's arrival. Barna-
by Hills death is proven falsely re-
ported by the arrival OF Barnany ON
the scene.
The novel from this time on becomes
extremely interesting. The problem or
how Barnahy Hill will deal with n
woman who is posturing as his widow,
a woman whom he has never married.
the problem OF how Ba old
sweetheart. who is fercely Jealous ar
Susan. will behave toward her: tho
problem OF how the real state OF the
case is to be kept from Barnahv
iills mother. who has grown very
fond of Susan. form an array of dim.
oulties which only the cieverness OF
the writer can successfully face and
work out. 1
The story is well constructed and
well written. Circumstances and In
cidents are made subservient to its
climaxes. and they come about natural
~ and satisfactorily.
Combining much that is Original
with wholesomeness OF style and a,