The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-07
'i-hc Price of Love-"
BY Arnold Bennett

Brothers.
OF course, II all happens in the Five
Towns. but excep, that "A name, a To-
cation. or character appears on the
pages OF Arnold Benefits new book,
THE Price of Love" that imparts a
local flavor to the tale. the partlcular
price paid for love in the story might
well have been demanded III any other
section OF the United Kingdom, or of
the United States. for that matter.
While there are several live moments
in the story, and while two or three
OF the characters introduced are clear
Is and Couvincingly drawn. the novel
is curiously incomplete. and its chief
interest consists in the fact that its
very incompleteness implies Il sequel
NJ the least And this implication Is
strengthened by the realization that
Mr. Bennett is one of the ablcst crafts
men of tho day, who would not be
likely TO put out so unfinished n story
unless he had "A purpose In doing
The material story rcvolvcs around
the theft OF u large sum OF money
nearly 1000 pounds--which rascally
old Thomas Batchgrew, sanctihed hypo-
critic in general and trustee for old
Mrs. Maldon In particular. insisted upon
leaving In the caro- OF his aged bene-
nclary for the night In spite of fire.
quens burElaries In the Immediate
neighborhood. With the old woman
lives only her companion. Rachel
Flcckr!ng-the heroine of the story,
by the way-but for tina; night one
OF her nephews, Louis Fores, offers
himself and Is accepted. Another
nephew. Julian Maldon. also takes sup
per with his aunt, but leaves almost
immediately afterwards This nephew
departs for South Africa ana goes, 10
well. out Of the story, until toward
the very end. when he reappears and
supplies one of the best moments I'm
the book
II Is explained rs the story proceeds
how Louis obtained possession of half
OF the money for short time, but
promptly loses it when 1t Is destroyed
in truly melodramatic style, but Ju-
Hans share In the robbery Is not sus-
pected until he returns from South
Africa
Rachel doubtless suspects Louis from
tho first. though this is not altogether
clear. but her Guicl1ly-awakencd love
prevents her from yielding to her sus-
p!cions: forces her, indeed, to close
her mind to It's own suggestions and,
soon after the death Of Mrs. Maldon-
brought about by the discovery Of
her loss-she marries him
Before this. much has been made OF
the character of Louis. who is the sort
of person often met with He is
good hearted. careless, kindly Young
man. with a disregard for the doctrine
table rather 10 weakness than TO vi
ciousncss. He is also generous as
we'll as sclf-!ndulscnt, and is endow-
ed with certain charm that carries
him ttiumphantly forward. where
more honest and less attractive men
md difficulty In proceeding.
After the marriage, however, the
personality OF the young wife occu-
pies the author quite rs much as that
OF the husband. On what lie fancics is
his deathbed, Louis confcsses---
agains; the Mortified rcmonstranccs of
the Wife. When lac RECEIVERS, he tries
TO explain TO her what his intentions
had been. but she VIII hear none of it,
and she puts him through 4 miserable
time. Finally. she takes n step which
he regards rs beyond the limit that
may be allowed even an indignant
wife and lie leaves hcr-or tries. to.
For his employer learns of his con
templated departure and orders him
not TO attempt 1t on pain OF being ar
rested for theft from him. SO the
checked husband returns home, finds
his wife Frustrated. and they take up
life together.
As they walk together to church.
she communcs with herself. saying that
If he had faults-and he had--She
preferred them (proudly and passion
ntely) To the faults OF other womcn's
husbands Hes mine, and
wouldn't have him altered Cor the
world / don't want him perfect. II
anything goes wrong. we'll. let It go
wrong! I'm his wife. I'm his!"
Thus she undertakes to pay the
price of love.