The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-05

'it SidHt "lSidIld Vine tllat ran uD
to her window. I'm coming up" he
called. TO which she replied with the
exclamation. "Oh. Robin" The story
explains this. 1t let's us know that
Innocent at that moment was standing
in front of the wide chimney. studying
certain "armorial bearings" that an
early and noble hand had painted upon
1t, also that she was "in her little white
nightgown.' This, however, was but
small difficulty. She needed only an
instant ito throw on "a dark cloak, which
enveloped her SO completely that only
her small fair head showed above Its
cnshroudng folds. then 1t was en-
tirely proper for Robin to come up and
sit on the windowsill She was in no
danger from Robin, who had the good
ness of werther, land for all the
wealth Of Indies ould do nothing for
to hurt her" Ned Landon. lurking in
The shadows below. waited for Robin
to come down. Good night. my an
gel Innocent" said Robin as he de-
scended the giant wistaria vine. Get
Off my chest" cried the vanquished
Landon very feebly a few minutes later.
His poignant trouble Will excite no
sympathy.
chimney in Innocent's chamber belonged
to Amadis de Jocelin. knight OF France,
who came over with the Duke Of Aniou
in 1851. lie was disappointed in love:
he retired into the English country; he
was the founder OF Briar Farm. the an
cestor Of Hugo Jocelyn, worthy farmer.
careful haymaker. Innocents chamber
had been the French knights study II
was rare. a wonderful old room. There
was panel. Knocked upon. II gave
forth hollow sound. by pressing hid
den spring 1t could be opened. within,
| a narrow staircase ran up to a small,
| square, musty room. Here were two
enormous old dover chests containing
books and manuscripts written on vel
lum. This literature was a little din
cult for the young mind encountering 1t
300 years later, but Innocent mastered
Il. lived in 1t. saturated herself with IT..
| The consequence was that she was able
| TO be a wonderful novelist. Her first
story. written In the hours after sup
per at Brlar Farm and in a small cop
per plate hand. brought the intellectual
world, including the nobility. to her feet.
The speculation is a venturesome one,
but it may be questioned If any of Miss
| u
! stupendous success: nor have we for
! gotten the mystic work that penetrated
the whole of Europe and was translated
into all the languages Of India, as she
| herself has told us.
| We are cautious about abstracting
| from the treasures that an author has
entrusted to book and protected by
copyright. but We must tell briefly how
Innocent came TO be an inhabitant Of
| Briar Farm. on a wild night of thun-
der and lightning and a pouring down
from heaven Of rain In torrents, eighteen
years before the period OF this story a
| horseman bearing an infant rode up To
! Hugo Jocelyn, who was standing in the
shelter OF a shed rejecting gratefully
that the hay had all been got In. The
traveller was young and very hand
some. Dismounting. he politely removed
his cap. smiled and said: This is a
farm, | believe. ! want TO leave my lit
tie child hcO in safe keeping for n night.
She Is such baby cannot carry her
any further through this storm. she's
motherless. and I'm taking her TO my
relatives. But / have to ride some dis
lance from here on very urgent busi-
ness, and If you will look after her to-
| night II call Tor her Tomorrow. Poor
little innocent, she's hungry and fret
ful. VIII you let her stay with you?''
Said Hugo Jocelyn: Certainly. Leave
her here by all means And the con-
sequence was that Innocent remained at
Briar Farm for eighteen years for the
handsome young horseman rode away
IN the storm, waving his hand grace
fully in farewell. and he never came
| back.
Doubtless the qualities that fitted In
nocent TO be so great novelist were
bound To make her life unhappy. Tho
reader will grieve that she should have
taken the noble Joce!n family-par,lc-
ularly the middle aged painter of the
name whom she met in London-so Sc
riously, with so much passion of spirit
as TO be unable to survive the devas-
tatng action OF her emotions.