Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-21
FAN Gaines New Work.

No novel viii cause more comment
this year than Hail Gaines latest,
The Woman Thou Gavest Me" @.
h. Lippincott & Co, $3.50, which has
been running serially in Hearsts
Magazine.
The story OF Mary O'Neill, the hero
inc Of this very human book, has al
ready excited furore Of discussion
In this country and England. The
reason for this IS not far to seek, for
her life presents in vivid color the
struggle between tho soul and the
heart, between the duty she feels she
owes to the Catholic Church and its
teachings and the duty she owes to
herself as a woman.
In brief the outline OF the story Is
this: Mary is the unwelcome daugh-
ter OF a millionaire father who,
though sprung from the lowest peas
antry, is eaten with the lust for title.
Her childhood, her girlhood, and her
womanhcod are regarded by Daniel
O'Neill as merely a means to an end.
For her az q woman he has not the
slightest regard She is a Chattel
and he is her owner
After seeing her mother die and
her hateful aunt assume the Teins Of
household government, Mary is sent
to "A convent in Rome and there meets
the nemesis of her later years, Alma
Lier, an American girl, who has
neither principle nor character.
From her island home she carries
only two happy memories of the
living-one is Father Dan. the other
is little Martin Conrad. who WAS wont
to take her "asplorin." Time goes
on; she comes to a marriageable age
and her father appears and announces
that she is to wed the young Lord
Raa. of Castle Raa, in her native FL
Ian.
Mary protests and here begins her
first experience Of the futllity of
fighting against the combination OF
parent and church. In the end she
gives in and finds herself married to
rake ana a prodigate whose debts
have been paid by her father and
upon whom an allowance has beer
settled.
Mary revolts on her wedding eve;
there is a terrible scene and the
bridal pair, nearly at the point of dis
ruptment, start on their honeymoon
with a promise wrung from the bride
groom that he is not to obtrude him
self on the bride until she has learned
To love him. Mary ConSCientlOuSly
tried to do this but her husbands
character Is of so low a grade that
she finds herself more and more dis
gusted and one question appears and
reappears. What's the good
on their way to Cairo they meet
Alma Iier. and from that moment
the American girl already married
and divorced, plays the part Of wife
in the Raa establishment. Mary tries
to outshine her in vain; she finds that
her husband Is engaged in brazen
liason with her, and when she starts
to upbraid him he filings back her
compact at her
So Mary puts up with her ignominy
until she meets Martin Conrad. back
from the Antarctic. Her feeling for
Martin is reawakened and Alma sees
and plays on II.
Lord Raa departs TO Castle Raa and
with him Alma and his wife and then
at the crucial point of the story
| comes Martin TO make a visit He
comes while Mary is away at her
| fathers and his telegram Is read
| by Alma. who plans an excursion on
| the spur Of the moment and thus
when Mary returns Martin finds her
alone.
Here again the old story OF church
| training versus the impulses Of the
woman comes into play; and the
/ woman's Conquers. Mary walks into
Martins room and the last step in the
| drama is begun.
! When she finds she is to be a
mother there is no use in minCing
matters. Her furious husband strikes
| her across the face and she fees 10
| London and there lives the lonely life
| OF the outCast Till the baby comes
| Her sufferlngs-h anguish on hear
| ing that the boat bearing Martin has
| been reported lost and her frantic eff
! forts to provide for her ailinE child
| form highly tragic chapter.
! As q last resort she is forced to a
I resolve TO adopt the life of tbs