The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-05
NEWS OF BOOKS
A MYSTIC AUTHORIZES
TELLS A ROMANTIC TALE

Mare Curcllis story of Innocent"
fCcurgc H. Duran Company tells us Of
Brlar Farm This was fine old place.
as old as Queen Elizabeth. The road
that ran 10y the farm was old; II ram
oiled; descending, It penetrated a dusky
dcu where the shadows were deep green.
Elder. hazel. blackberry. thorn--such
were the growths that bordered this
stumbling way. Birds inhabited these
thickcts; their mclodious notes softcned
the impression of Witness and neglect.
So did the ploughed fields and rich pas
lures that stretched beyond and far
away Here there were primroses. thou
sands " EN- with small elfin faces peer
ing from messy corners. also secret
yiolcts IN the grass. also wild roses that
assembled with CELEBRITY skyward in re-
sponse To the thrill communicated by
summer dew.
The farmhouse was rich in Tudor
characteristics. 1t was "a rambling old
place full II quaint corners, arches and
odd little steps up and down leading To
cupboards. mysterious recesses and de-
vious winding ways which turned into
dark narrow passages branching right
and left" Innocent used to run lightly
through these passages. carrying her
pet dove. Coming to her foster father.
Hugo Jocelyn by name. she would say
Dad" very softly. and he would reply,
"Ayc. LASS What Is it," Then he
would inquire IL tho last load OF hay
was in all safe before the rain, and she
would assure him that 1t was in and all
safe. The affection between these two
was deep and beautiful. 1t Is pictured
h.r ,,tt al m 49,
trained romantic novelist has at COM
mand.
We see Innocent lighting candles held
in tall brass candlesicks that stood on
a carved oak press. This was in "a
roughly timbered apartment in the style
Of the earliest Tudor times" and there
fore In style earlier than Elizabeth
who was the grand last figure OF those
times. her cousin James. who succeeded
her and who hated tobacco, not being a
Tudor. The furniture was in keeping;
It had thick legs and there were settles
and dover chests. When we state that
the three legged stools were quaint"
We have the agreeable consciousness Of
having discharged an obligation
A curio hunter would have been de-
lighted with the three legged stools. the
authoress credibly declares. The eight
day clock had the sonorous boom OF
. cathedral bell. 1t recorded not only
he hours. but the days and the lunar
months. 1t sent out into view from
its CapaCious insides waxing and wan
ing and full moons. Old Hugo Jocelyn
grasped his stick and rose from his
chair as the clock struck II was the
supper hour He spoke profoundly as
an old man will do: How fast the
hours go by he said. When we're
young they don't count. but when we're
Old We knOw that every hour"-aye.
and every Manufacturing us nearer to
the end-the end, the end OF all. An
other night closing in-and the last
load cleared fror. tho field" His
thought wa. still upon the garnered
hay.
supper was in the Great Hall. which
was distinguished by this name from
the lesser, or entrance hall. OF the
house. IT was nobly proportioned.
very lofty apartment, richly timbered'
Inc liable, readily set up as il was
wanted, was formed " long board, laid
upon trestles. The fare was hearty.
abundant and fairly luxurious. Suf-
nclent attendants brought in three
huge smoking joints on enormous pew
ter dishes; then followed other good
things OF all sorts-vegeta bles, pud-
dlncs, pasties, cakes and fruit" Robin
Clifford. handsome and sterling fell
low, the farmers nephew and heir,
carved the sirloin of beef. and Ned
Landon carved the roast pork. Lam
don was dark and villainous man, who
prosecuted Innocent with his amorous