El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-21
Condensed Nouel Series-One 4 Day
The Awakening Of Helena Richie ]
By MRS. MARGARET DELAND. 8
Condensation by Miss Sara Ware Baset. 8

IN 1906 Margaret Deland. after hav-
I ing written several books, gave to
the public the fruit Of her maturer
skin in The Awakening of Helena
Richie" The volume is dedicated to
Lorin Deland who has since died. and
no wife could have reared a more
magnificent monument to honor one
dear to her than is this masterpiece
which stands. and will stand, for all
that is best in creative fiction.
The story is simple.
Stripped Of the charm Of its set
ting, and the subtle deliczcy Of its
treatment. we have a tale presenting
few characters. anS with no very
extended scope for action It is in its
emotional quality that its power lies;
and this emotion centers about the
moral conflict Of the heroine. and her
transition from a creature seeking
mere happiness TO a woman of alert
conscience and aroused soul
The scene of the novel is the same
small Pennsylvania town in which
Mrs Deland has placed two previous
books, "Oid Chester Tales" and Doc
tor Lavendar-' and it is with pleasure
that we continue in this later work
our acquaintance with several of the
characters already introduced to Us
in these earlier writings
At the opening of the story Mrs
Richie has come TO Old Chester and
taken up residence in the STUFFED
Animal House., so called because its
is little known to the villagers, liV-
ing an isolated existence, and shun-
ming any intimacy with the towns
folk nevertheless, she is universally
respected There is, to be sure, an
atmosphere OF mystery enshrouding
this beautiful stranger. who is pos
sessed of a culture and poise that
place her a strata above the simply
bred Inhabitants of the sleepy little
settlement, but since she goes to
church. is quiet and decOr0us, and
gives herself no airs. she furnishes no
cause for criticism
Her only visitor is Mr.. Lloyd Prior
known TO Old Chester as her brother.
As the story proceeds. however. we
are made aware that Prior is not her
brother. but is a Philadelphia wild
over with one daughter whom he
idoiizes; and thar he and Mrs. Richie
have for Is years been living together !
awaiting the death Of Frederic, Hell |
ena's husband. whose demise will |
leave them free to marry. Frederic I
has been dissipated man who, when /
not himself has been responsible for
the death OF the Richie baby and he /
Is now living a ulSSOlute lie IN PARIS /
The tragedy Of the baby's death has
been the eliminating factor in turn /
ing his wife's hatred and contempt /
for him into revulsion. and determin- 1
ing her to desert him and go to Prior 1
To her lover she gives all the affec- 1
ton which the loss OF her child and !
the destruction Of her hopes have /
turned back into her nature.
Prior, on the other hand, has
loved her in the past, but now. after
IS years Of deferred happiness. his
passion is burned out He is tired /
Of her. Alice. his daughter. is grow /
ing I'D. and he realizes the indiscre-
ton OF the ENHANCEMENT. further /
more his business demands his time:
il is less and less convenient to come /
to Old Chester: and he IS no longer
young He is a selfish. sensual being.
with the typical masculine distaste /
for everything that renders him IN
comf ortable either IN mind or body.
While he is willing. in an in6olent /
sort Of way. 10 continue his relation
with Mrs Richie: is even honorable 4
eaoush To marry her II he must. Il IS
obvious that he would gladly be rid
1f the whole affair
But to Helena Richie this Incident
IS not an affair" It is her life. She
owes Prior with a devotion engen-
Tered by her lonely. heart starved ex-
stence. and she looks forward 70 the
moment when Frederic's death shall
-elease her from her present p-ecari-
lus position and allow her TO con-
.ront the world with a clear name
mat an ultimate marriage between
mem VIII wipe out the blot on their