The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-12-23
ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

the late Vaughan Kester, and recently
reprinted by the Bobbs-M Merrill Com
pany, is an absorbing tale of the gold
digging days.
| 1t is, in addition, an interesting
study of the contemporary life of that
| day in the Middle West. A region
with which kester is familiar, since it
is the soil from which he sprang.
| Kesters early death is lamentable.
With his equally talented brother,
Paul Kester-best known to the gem
eral public as the dramatizer of Ma
! jor's novel when Knighthood Was
! in Flower"-he was in fair way to
become known as one OF the most sig
nifcant writer's of his day.
The Kesters, by the way, are kins-
people Of the family of Charles H.
Burchenal, formerly of this city whose
old home is now occupied by DR.. and
Mrs. Wafnpler, on North Seventh
street.
Kester came into the limelight a
few years ago with his delightful story
of "The Prodigal Judge his death
occurring shortly after this novels
publication.
| Since his death a posthumous book
has appeared-"The Just and the I'm
just" noticed here some months since
and THE Fortunes of the Land
rays" while having appeared before
in a limited edition. is now given to
the general public for the first time.
In this, as in his other novels, Kes-
ter shows himself a character writer
of acumen
1t is in the development of char
acter, rather than in concentration of
plot, that he excels. and he paints a
series of portraits that stand out
boldly from their descriptive back
grounds.
| Perhaps the story dominates a bit
more than usual in The Fortunes Of
the Landrays still the charac-
ter of one of it's principals. Jacob Ben
son. is drawn in distinct relief.
The action of the tale swings round
the departure of the two brothers
Landray-well-to-do citizens of a Mid
dle-Western state-for California in
search Of added fortune, going over
the protests of their wives.
Especially that of Virginia, the wife
of Stephen, who is one of the prin-
cipals and who is fascinating figure
OF their death on the plains, of the
life long love of Beuson for Virginia,
of the fortunes of the only scion of
the Landray family remaining-the
nephew of Stephen-of the complica-
tions attendant upon their associa-
ton, all this is we'll told.
The pictures of the life of that
period are interesting, especially of
the appearance and the exit of the
famous leaders of the Mormons, who
incidentally touch the fringes.
The book is we'll worth the reading
When John Valiant drags himself
from under his motor-car in a flower
embowered if obscure lane, far from
the madding crowd and encounters
the amused eyes of of beautiful
feminine being with swirling bronze
hair
Its not necessary to turn to the last
page.
All is done.
Nonetheless it's good reading be
tween the opening and the finale. is
this "Valiants of Virginia." by Halle
Ermine Reeves. author. as the cover
states, and everybody knows, Of
+ Hearts Coura geous" and Satan San
, derson."
, John Valiant. leader of cotillions
owner Of yachts, motor-cars and rae
, ing studs. vice president of a great
corporation founded by his father
, now dead. one day is brought to ba
; with suddenness that startles him
, self and a few others.
: The corporation had failed disgrace
fully
{ Valiant surprises everybody by al
exhibition OF manhood with which b.
} had not hitherto been accredited
curns over his entire private fortun,
and resigns from the yice-presidency-
all of which saves the former an,
, rescues his fathers name from threat
ened ignominy-and finds himself pos
sessed of S2.S00. one secondhand auto
mobile and the deeds to an old estat
in Virginia.
For all practical purposes he was
| New Yorker.