The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-28

and exquisite reliance that makes each
one part of the others life. Cherry is
the youngest, barely eighteen, a rosebud
Of girl hardly removed from childhood;
Alix is the black eyed masterful elder
sister. This family circle is completed
with Anne, cousin of the two girls and
for time an essential portion of the
family, and Peter Joyce, an old friend of
the family, almost a brother.
Into this calm unruffled family circle
comes love in the form of Martin Lloyd.
He is the outside world with all its con-
flict and most of its futility. Rather
sketched by the author at first he speedily
develops into that type of man that is
never settled, never satisfied, always look
ing forward to fresh fields Of endeavor
and never achieving. 1t is Cherry that
he loves, the baby Of the family, the one
least expected to marry for long, long
time, and Cherry loves him with that
blind unreasoning passion that is so Otter
the eventual hafbinger of unhappiness.
They are married and for a time all goes
well, but life in small mining town with
q prosaic, rather thick skulled husband
brings its own awakening.
Dissatisfaction with her lot stirs in
Cherry's heart. The realization that she
has made great mistake is borne upon
her. 1t is with relief that she comes
home and escapes the monotony Of mar
ried life by plunging again into her old
careless girlhood But this is only for
time.
After Anne marries and leaves the
circle, after DR.. Strickland dies, after
Alix marries Peter, the tragic forces
hasten their work. Anne is developed
into a surprisingly selfish and small
minded personality She would even fghr
the two girls in the courts that she may
break their fathers will. The relations
Of Alix and Peter become an interesting
psychological problem. 1t is not hard to
suspect that Peter has awakened to the
fact that he loves Cherry long before the
author deliberately makes it truth.
III.
When Cherry comes to their home for
long stay the letters of abnegation strain
and are eventually broken. This love
must be squarely met and it is, with de.
termination on the part of Peter and in
decision and excited bewilderment on the
part of Cherry. Through it all the sacri-
ficing, beautiful figure of ,Alix steadily
grows in importance and roundness. 1t
is splendidly developed by Mrs. Norris.
Alix loves her sister tremendously; she
has always been sort of mother to her
and the unhappiness of Cherry means her
unhappiness. When the blow comes and
Alix realizes that Peter has awakened to
his love for CherSV and is shaken and
torn by it she is convinced that there is
but one thing to do. Both Peter and
lives together as they should have done
before Cherrys hasty marriage. The
tragedy that falls Like a thunderbolt on
the two lovers does not bring them TO-
gether, however. Life is too devious; its
contradictions are too many and too In
yolved. The end is sad but it has calm
sadness. Perhaps it is even a bit fatal
istic. But it has made new woman Of
Cherry, sadder person, more cognizan
of the abrupt problems of life; she is I
child no longer. Her husband, Martin
we feel, is bound to be different man
As for Peter, the change is apparent.
Mrs. Norris presents her facts object
lively. She sets them before the reade
with a calmness and deliberation that
admirable. There is a meticulous exact
ness in the way she develops each char
acter. There> is no theorizing abou
them, no limiting as to the ways in whic
they should move and didn't move. 1t
the object of the writer to dissect in som
measure their souls and conflicting emo
tons, but for the most part she lets the
/ actions speak for them. The reader mu:
draw his own conclusions as to whetht
or not the proper course has been take
by Cherry, by Martin, by Peter, by Ali
They have lived their lives for the reade
inexorably meeting the coils of circun