The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-16

lofty purpose and fine, tender southern
feeling. The reader breathes in the
balmy air of the south--the new south,
i'm large measure, but still freighted
with tile perfume of other days.
The characters belong to the south's
new order. chiefly the order of wealth,
culture and society. The love affairs of
two sets of young people are involved.
There Is a granddaughter OF the Con-
federacy practical, business like, mod
ern and a youth pleasure loving, hap
hazard, inconsistent. There is a maid
from the north, sentimental, clinging,
sensitive, and lad, serious, intent, pur-
poseful. II might be said, and correct
~, too, that there are two heroes and
two heroines. so closely Is the texture
of the two love plots woven and inter
woven and so well poised are the four
chief characters. But at the same time
neither phase of the story loses any of
its individuality, the double purpose
serving only TO enhance a new antithe-
sis that Miss Daviess has cleverly Gre
ated in the characters of the two hero
ines, For the author has lent a truly
novdi touch to her story by trading, as
il were, the traits which one might ex-
pect to find predominant in the two
women, VINO represent the two forever
differentiated sections of the country
the north and south.
Andrew, "the Glad" of this story. it IS
explained is the second of his family to
bear the title. His father acquired 1t in
his boyhood and retained II TO his death
And even when he found himself on the
brink of dependence and poverty, after
he had lost all he possessed over a dice
box to Peters Brown, the carpetbagger
Andrew SERVER, the first Andrew, "the
Glad" could not repress smile as he
thorght how fate Knocked him. And after
ward this same Peters Brown married
the beautiful Mary Caroline Darrah. a
Harpeth girl, and carried her back with
him to his home in the north. Brown
adored his wife, and when she died he
tried TO bring up his daughter to be as
much like her mother as possible.
The best idea in the story is the re-
turn of Mary Caroline Brown, daughter
OF this same carpetbagger, to her moth
er's old home. Ignorant of her fathers
standing in the south. after his death she
comes there 10 get acquainted with her
mothers people and to perpetuate her
mothers name among them. She meets
Andrew, who has Just returned fresh
from his triumph as civil engineer in
Panama. Having heen injured in the
collapse of a bridge on the ithmus. An
drew is In that interesting state of con-
valescence that invites the lowering at
tentions OF all his women friends. Be-
Sides he is playwright and q poet, and
with his pretty sentimentalism has won
a place in their hearts. Mary Caroline
recognizes Andrew at their first acc-
dental meeting, though ne is ignorant OF
her identity. and she frankly contides
that she has been 80 worried" about him.
And then, at their formal Introduction,
Andrew finds that this girl. whom he has
begun to love, is the daughter of the man
responsible for his fathers tragic death.
the man who made the beginning of his
fortune by taking advantage of the weak
ness Of Server. The terrible struggle of
emotions and the dire disappointment
which the lad experiences add powerful
element to the story.
Miss Daviess has created two noble.
old characters to shape the destines of
these young people. They are the madam
and the major two guardian angels of the
olden days. not ct all like the usual
madams and julep drinking majors aof
fiction. but stately figures. young enough
i'm hear to fall In with the new ways.
There exists between them and their
charges that full spirit of confidence, de-
void of familiarity, thorough good fellow
ship and eomprehending sympathy that
grows up between young an dold when
tact and tenderness rule in daily life.
Andrews simple confidence in Phoebe. his
confdante since childhood. and the great
admiration and friendship of David for
Mary Caroline afford warmth OF ten
der feeling.
To add zest to the book an amusing po-
Iitical situation has been introduced that
Is done with light touch and affords an
opportunity for some interesting COM
ment There Is 'possum hunt that Is
good and serves a subtle and original
purpose. There are many good sayings,
some exceedingly natural talk and