The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-05-20


extreme melodrama to the portrayal
of everyday life. She was perhaps
unduIy priced in her day and Is unduIy
appreciated now, but that is the way
with best-seIlers. "The Shadow of
Ashlydyat, was her own fayorste; her
Johnny Ludlow tales are perhaps her
most artistic work. "East LynneD
however, is the book her name sug-
gesta to readers.
TIT EFT penniless orphan when
timid and sensitive girl of eight
cen, the beautiful Lady Isabel
Vane found herself at the mercies of
an unsympathetic relative. In her in
nocence she admired certain frequent
visitor at this home-Captain Francis
Levison, an unprincipled spendthrift.
Beyond heartlessly leading her on to
care for him he made no honorable
mention of marriage. Small wonder
was it then that she accepted Archi-
bald Carlyle, when that worthy and
straightforward country lawyer, the
purchaser of her fathers estate at
East Lynne, took courage because of
her distress over her unpleasant sur
roundings to ask her in marriage.
Il ought to tell you'll must" she
confessed to him in historical tears.
Though have said YES do not
yet-thts has come upon me so by sur
prise" she stammered. 81 like you
very much; esteem and respect you :;
but do not yet love you"
Il should wonder If you did" Archi-
bald replied. "But you will let me earn
your love, Isabel??"
"Oh, yes" she earnestly answered,
II hope So"
Passiyely she LET him have his first
kiss. my dearest" he said, at is all
/ ask"
Six years passed. Life at East Lynne
was not all that one might wish for.
To be sure Lady Isabel had a most de
voted husband and three lovely chill
dren. But her happiness was married
by two thorns, of which her husband
was quite unaware. Cornelia Carlyle,
the domineering and narrow-minded
half-sister of Archibald, had steeled
her heart against Isabel from the be-
ginning, and made life at East Lynne
quite miserable for the poor little mex
perienced bride. The second disturb
ance was the suspicion that her hus-
band loved and was now renewing his
love for Barbara Hare, the daughter of
the neighborhood justice. Incited by
the idle gossip of servants, this suspi-
cion grew into jealousy.
1t was true that Archibald seemed
to have many meetings with the pretty
Barbara-but how was poor Lady Isa-
Del TO know that in reality these meet
ings concerned only private business
OF a professional nature? Barbara
Hare had brother, Richard, who years
before had been accused of murder.
her mother was an invalid, and her
stubborn, unforgiving father would
near naught of the son who had dis
graced him. Barbara's secret meet
lngs with her exiled brother had con-
WINGED her of his innocence. Her one
recourse, when implored by Richard to
seek help in finding the real criminal,
was to confide in their old family
friend, Archibald Carlyle.
Always ueHcale IN health ana W0I~
rled sick over her imagined troubles.
Lady Isabel was finally persuaded by
her physician to go to the French
coast for change of air and scenery.
Inc autocratic Cornelia forbade her
being accompanied by the children.
Lady Isabel was looking forward to
lonely fortnight before her husband
was to Join her, when she CHANGED to
meet Francis Levison, exiled to the
continent because of his debts In Eng
iand. Bewildered when she began to
realize that she still had that indefin.
aoie' involuntary feeling toward him,
she was yet completely fascinated, as
IN the old days before her marriage.
she would have given all she possessed
20 overcome this attraction. Courage
talIed her to confide all in her husband.
Fuil of sophistries as before, the un-
scrupulous Captain Leyison compelled
her to listen to him. "The past is
gone" he said; but If ever two people