The Penn's Grove record., 1920-09-24
1906 Margaret Deland, after hav

ing written several other DOCKS,
~ gave to the public the fruit of her
maturer skill in "The Awakening of
Helena Richie"
The story is simple.
Stripped of the charm Of its setting,
and the subtle delicacy of its treat
ment, we have a tale presenting few
characters, and with no very extended
scope for action.
The scene of the novel is the same
small Pennsylvania town in which
Mrs. Deland has placed two previous
books: "Old Chester Tales" and
doctor Lavendar,"
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
former owner was a taxidermist. She
is little known to the villagers, living
an isolated existence, and stunning
any intimacy with the townsfolk new
~ertheless she is universally respected.
There is, to be sure, ar atmosphere Of
mystery ~enshrouding this beautiful
stranger who is possessed of a culture
and poise that place her a stratum
above the simply bred inhabitants of
the sleepy little settlement, but since
she goes to church, is quiet and dec
orous, 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 widower
with one daughter whom he idolizes
and that he and Mrs. Richie have for
thirteen years been living together
awaiting the death of Frederic, Hell
ena's husband, whose demise will
leave them free to marry. Frederic
has been a dissipated man who, when
not himself, has been responsible for
the death of the Richie baby; and he
is now living a dissolute life in Paris.
The tragedy of the baby's death has
been the eliminating factor in turning
his wife's hatred and contempt for
him into revulsion, and determining
her to desert him and go to Prior. To
her lover she gives all the affection
which the loss of her child and the de-
struction of her hopes have turned
back into her nature.
Prior, on the other hand, has loved
her in h past, but now, after thir-
teen years of deferred happiness, his
passion is burned out. He is tired of
her. Alice, his daughter, is growing
up, and he realizes the indiscretion of
the ENHANCEMENT furthermore his
business demands his time; it 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 every
thing that renders him uncomfortable
either in mind or body. While he is
willing, in an indolent sort of way, to
continue his relation with Mrs. Richie (;
is even honorable enough to marry her
if he must, it is obvious that he would
gladly be rid of the whole affair.
But to Helena Richie this incident
is not an affair" 1t is her life. She
loves Prior with a devotion engen-
dered by her lonely, heart-starved ex-
i~stence, and she looks forward to the
moment when Frederic's death shall
release her from her present precari-
Ous position, and allow her to confront
the world with a clear name. That an
ultimate marriage between them will
wipe out the blot on their past she
Coes not question. In the meantime
she can only possess her soul of pa
tience, and make the best of her en-
forced seclusiOn. No one knows her
secret. No one can know it. There
o r she feels quite secure-that is, as
secure as is possible in the face OF
me ever-present danger of exposure.
into this fevered life of hers three
important characters project them
-+lyes: Doctor L3vendar, the minis
Ter of Old Chester; DR.. William King.
the village physician; and David, an