El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-09
Condensed Nooel Series-One 4 Day
E CHOIR INVISIBLE
By JAMES LANE ALLEN.
Condensation by Miss Sara Ware Bassstt.

/ LM writer's OF American ftction arr
1 better qualified to present tn
early history OF Kentucky than il
James Lane Allen. himself a native o.
the blue grass state
He chose as his setting for ''Th,
Choir Invisible" that picturesqu,
period during washington's admins
tration when the Mississippi was just
being opened for navigation, anf
great tides Of pioneers were migrat-
ing through the Allegheny highway
% settie The sparsely populated re-
gions Of the west and south
Lexington, KY. chaneiaz to be d.
rectly IN the path Of one tributal 81
{ THIS current received not only many
! OF those who were abandoning tbs
cities OF the coast for the untried ter
I ritory Of newer land, but also 9th
ers who having tested out the
! Dtopian western country and left
| there health. wealth. and dreams of
success, were returning broken-heart-
ed TO the homes from which they had
come.
Hence in Lexington one encoun-
/ thered persons Of every class. There
were students from William and Mary
I college, Voyageurs travelling for ad-
venture, traders. the gentler bred
/ English colOuist from Virginia, home
u
of friendly Indians.
II was a heterogeneous populace,
high Of courage and strong Of forth
tude, that amid clearing in forest and
eane-3Take laid the foundation OF this
Tine old southern city; populace not
to be daunted by discomfort. priva-
ton, or unceasing toll.
The heroes and heroines who thus
sacrificed their lives on the altar OF
civilization have. the author tells US.
IOnu since Tnfnad sfha oh 81 7. Il
Of the immortal dead" but they have
left behind them a heritage that has
come down TO US through the Cen
turtles.
The chief character Of the story is
John Gray, the master in the little
ing schoolhouse, and We have a charm
ing glimpse CT him. "a young fellow
Of powerful build. lean. muscular,
wearing simply but with gentlemanly
care a suit OF black which vas re-
leved around mis- wrists Hnd \ ok by
linen, snow white and OF the finest
quality He had a handsome head
covered with thick red hair. we are
told, and was man Of 81 II integrity
as TO render him worthy descend
ant from one OF Cromwell uncOu-
querable, hymn singing army"
We, therefore, are not surprised u
find him holding himself aloOf from
the fOllies OF the time, ana seeking
out the comradeship OF those TO
life appeal Yet he is very / uman-
a creature OF anger, passion. I'D a
multitude Of moods Moreover, 10 Is I
quite consistent with his -har7--e-
that he should fail IN love wiki = I
woman whom he idealizes- Amy Fal- I
coner. who was perhaps The first 4
beautiful girl of aristOcratic birth I
ever seen in Kentucky, ln1 The first 1
OF the famous train OF thoSe who 1or 4
a hundred years since tavs wrecked !
NIa Of H.. =
coQuet- vain. shallow, AM inca p15l5
Of deep feeling. and she losses iohu'5 i
love aside In a moment Of liiiue for
that OF Joseph Holden afterword. on
alseoNerlng tnat tnere IS Pr
OF Johns lnherltlng a fortune and be
coming a person OF importance. she
shamelessly offers TO ri herself uf
Joseph and reinstate loan in her
sraces-
John Gray, however. is not to be
20 lightly dropped and picked up
again The episode proves 10 hin
hat his idol has feet Of clay. and with
lis faith in her shattered he bids her
larewell
Amy. in the meantime. has made
her home with her aunt and uncle,
MAI. and MS Falconer. Mrs Fal-
.oner stands out against a back
ground OF high-bOrn Nirglnian an
,estry-a background Of jewels,
Irocades. fans, and satin sllpperSs OF
lA-A1 anu u n44I --e-----A-7 J. g
plantations and slaves The major
las been one OF those who has he
IDEALLY fought in the revolution. and
o whom the southern beauty out OF
gratitude has given her
and, braVeiv following him into the .
kentucky wilderness Unfortunately.
Though neither OF the pair confess
/, the marriage has been an uncon-
email one Both. however. are too Z
Oble minded TO do otherwise than BE- ;
rue to the union that holds them - I
ether. Yet there is a scar OF dis :
ppointment beneath the surface, and !
the Woman's heart a WEAKNESS Z
nd longing that nothing satisfies {
)uring John Gray's visits 10 her {
fece. Mrs. FalcOner has become +
eeplv interested in the young schS ol- :
iaster who is about her own age, and \
hose tastes she shares Between s
lem a companionship has sprung up
-hich each honestly mistakes for
iendship. n
cen an untutOred impulse Of the
snses. but Jessica Falconer's power 7
yer him is one Of deep spiritual in 1
Diration-
lat in reality it is Mrs Falconer
HON he loves his reverence for her. =.
sr purity. and her loyalty TO her !
1sband all bind him 10 silence She "
so loves him but IS in honor bound !,
give him no sign. and hence with y
eir love unspoken he goes East os- e
nsibly TO recover the legacy he ex- ..
cts 10 inherit. but determined never q
return. =
The lawsuit for his property goes =
sainst him and he is cast into jail :.
T debt, from which ignominy the ef- -
rts Of friends release him He is a -
oud man and wishing to pay this =
bt Of gratitude he proposes TO mar >
the daughter OF the family that
s hefriended him Before the mar -
lge, however. he tells his future a.
ide quite frankly that he loves a
income else who is not free. and it o.