The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-22
"JAFFERY"

4
BY William j. Locke Illustrated nv
f. Mataniao. The John Lane company,
publishers, New York.
from "Septimus,' one of William ].
Loclke's most popular novels to his latest
story, ''Jaffery," there is a perceptih1e
charm, for the two heroes are as dra
matlcally different as black is from
white, and yet each in his own way, is
as interesting as original and as an.
peaiing as any two fictional characters
ever depicted
'Jaffery'' is what NeitszcheN would call
"a great blonde beast" but such a
noble sort of a savage, so strong and
loyal that you forget the elementary at
tributes and only see him big, splendid
self-effacing, fine.
Ihe story has to do with an expedi-
.ion to Albania. in which Jaffery and
MS friend, Preston. are engaged.
They find themselves burdened with a
mountain girl ere long the men of whose
: FAMILY have been murdered and there's
a pretty "howdy do Their arrival ends
the slaughter and they take the girl,
Liosha. who alone has survived Preston
Ialls In love with her and marries her.
Ihen Immediately dies of fever, leaving
her in the care of Jaffery.
Liosha is as wild as her mountains,
and holds her head as high. She loves
Jaf1ery Chayne. but she knows he cares
J, nothing for her and she conceals her
feelings from him. Hilary Freed and his
delightful wife, Barbara, however, whose
mouse is the haven of his former coll
lese chums when lin trouble, guess the
truth when Jaffery returns to England
with the handsome wild woman Jaffery,
Freed, Boldero and Castleton had gone
through Cambridge together. Castleton,
the genius of the quatour had died. leav-
ing Adrian Boldero his executor About
the time of Jafferys return, Adrian,
deeply in love with the beautiful and
Intense Doria, whose father, Mr. Jorni-
crost--had long opposed her marriage to
z purposeless man-had just achieved
fame and wealth by the publication of
The Diamond Gate novel; the mar
Vicious Psychologist quality of which had
brought him the most enthusiastic re-
views. He and Doria Jornicrof on the
faith OF his first check from his pub
Usher, had announced their bethorthal
with Mr.. Jonicrofts blessing, and the
marriage was about to take place. The
publishers We're besieging Adrian with Of
fers for his next Forthcoming book and
his fortune seemed assured
The two interests of Adran's literary
career and of Jaffery's devotion to Doria
run parallel and after Adrian's death
merge into the basic fact of startling
tragedy. 1t were unfair to the reader to
analyze here the complicated human ele
ments out of which Mr.. Locke has
evolved decidedly original situation
The dominant note in the novel is the
splendidly loyal devotion of Jaffery The
fine unspoiled nature of Liosha. along
side of whose untutored rectitude Doria
appears as a stunted product of an eff
fete civilization. is also finely drawn.
As for Hilary and Barbara, their Sc
rene love and happiness, artistically
speaking, form a most satisfactory back
4 ground of soft neutral tint against which
the tragic events of Dora's life as we'll
as the whimsical scenes with which this
author has relieved his narrative-such,
for instance as Liosha's extraordinary
escapade with the unspeakable Ras Fen
dihook. the ventriloquist-come out in
sharp outline.
'Jaffery' easily ranks among the best
books of the season. and Mr.. Locke, with
his whimsical humor and tender pathos.