The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-08-20

Taless IL 1854. n which she made
faaous her childhood home. "rhe
Iroa WemAn" appeared n 1911.
TN 1900 Margaret peland, after hav-
Ing written ne, eral other books,
= gave to the public the fruit Of her
maturer skill In 1.-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 .laced 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 it's
former owner was 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. an atmosphere Of
mystery enshrouding this beautiful
stranger who Is possessed Of culture
and polse 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 hel
brother. but Is n Philadelphia widowe
with one daughter whom he idollzes
and that he and Mrs. Richie have 70
thirteen years been living togethe
awaiting the death Of Frederic. He
ena's husband, whose demise wi
leave them free to marry. Frederi
has been dissipated man who,. whe
not himself. has been responsible IL
the death Of the Richie baby; and h
IL now living dIssolute life In Pari
The tragedy Of the baby's death hn
been the eliminating factor in turnin
his wife's hatred and contempt fo
him into revulslon. and determinin
her to desert him and go to Prior. T
her lover she gives all the affectio
which the loss of her child and the d.
struction Of her hopes have turne
back into her nature.
Prior. on the other hand, has love
her In the past. but now. after thi
teen years of deferred happiness, h
passion Is burned out. He Is tired {
her. Alice, his daughter. Is CROWN
up. and he realizes the indlscretion ,
the infringement; furthermore h
business demands his time: It is LEI
and less convenient to come to Oh
Chester; and he Is no longer youn
He Is a selfish. sensual being. with Il
typical masculine dlstaste for ever
thing that renders him uncomfortab
either In mind or body. While he
willing. In an indolent sort Of way.
continue his relation with Mrs. Richi,
IL even honorable enough to marry h
u he must, II is obvious that he won
gladly be rid Of the whole affair.
But to Helena Richie this incide
II not an affair" 1t Is her life. 81
loves Prior with a devotion enge
dered by her lonely. heart-starved q
istence, and she looks forward to I
moment when Frederic's death sh,
release her from her present preca
GUS position. and allow her to confro
the world with q clear name. That
ultimate marriage between them "
wipe ont the blot on their past g
does not question. In the meanti
she can only possess her soul OF
tlence. and make the best of her
forced seclusion. No one knows !
secret. No one can know 1t. The
fore she feels quite secure-that Is,
secure a. Ia possible In the face
The evcr-present danger Of exposure
Into this fevered life Of hers tn
important characters project thu
0elves: Doctor Lavendar, the mil
~ u Old Chester; DR.. william ri
- Village physician; and David,