Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-30

acnDnn61 Iony BY Sir Gilbert
Hasksr. author Of Tho Seats OF The
Mighty" "The Right OF Way" etc.
PhilaAsipAia. Pa y. B. Lippincott
Co. <ea)
No doubt Z large majority OF the
admirsrs OF Sir Gilbert Parker-in
this country. at least-prefer his
stories that have Canada ~ q back
ground. There - much about our
friendly nsighbor to the north that 10
cougenial and appealing, and AZ to the
major elements Of human sentiment
they are ~ one. And "Carnac's Folly"
will take commanding lead Of his
stories dealing with lie and adventure
In Canada
Carnac 10 the presumed and accepted
son OF John Grier. q Canadian lumber
king with large business interests. a
man Of stern mind and indomitable
purpose. Carnac was entirely unlike
him, except as to determination In
these matters to which he chose to-
direct his villa painter by inclina-
ton. with no love for his fathers
business. Here was disappointment
to CArnac senior, rs he had quarreled
with Carnac's brother, and was COM
PEELED to look to the younger son as
his successor In the business. Carnac
took hold for q few years. showing
most effectively what he could do
when he would. and then returned to
his loved art.
Carnacs folly was not Of an un-
usual kind. He foolishly allowed him.
self to be tricked into an unloved
marriage to q girl much his inferior
in mentality, he believing the cere-
mony was a mere rehearsal for a
diversion. But 1t was in full legal
form, by q justice Of the peace. and
the woman refused to grant him a
divorce. And so. although they lived
apart, he was tied fast in iron bands
which kept him away from the
woman he loved.
Carnac. somewhat strangely. had
an inclination to politics, and in pur-
suance thereof he became a candi-
date for Parliament against the Pre-
m,er OF the Province Of Quebec. And
in the telling Of the exciting cam
paign that followed is revealed the
dramatic element OF the entire situa-
ton and the reason he was always so
estranged from his father. For he was
not the son OF John Grier. but Of his
political opponent, who had been an
acquaintance OF his mother in her
early married years. A summer in a
mountain camp, the loneliness growing
out OF the knowledge Of a neglectful
husband. . congenial young friend, a
moment OF passion the yielding 10
which was ever afterward bitterly re-
gretted-and then Carnao.
With rare dramatic power this
strange situation is developed, es-
pec;ally throughout the campaign.
which resulted in Carnac's triumph.
Success was endangered by his legal
wife, who gave her secret to his op-
ponent, but she was aterted from her
purpose to complete the exposure by
producing the fatal wedding certifi-
cate by the persuasive influence of
Junia. Shale. the woman whom Car
nae loved. Divorce and the promise
OF . congenisl marriage followed, as
Z matter OF natural sequence.
Nest fascipating is the story that is
woven from these unusual and in
tensely dramatic situations. 1t is full
Of life and action throughout. 1t holds
the reader fairly enthralled. especially
after the secret OF Carnac's paternity
10 revealed. And French Quebec
with its vivid humanity, and the
swirling river. with its fighting, striv-
ms. heroic lumber men. form the
vigorous background Of this most in
tercsting romance.
Received OF the publishers.
"Nobody's Girl" BY Hector Malot
Translated from the French by
Florence Crewe-Jones. illustrated
by Thelma Gooch. New York City:
Cupples & Leon Co. 443-449 Fourth
avenue. (S1.5o. net.)
II 10 only natural that "Nobody's
Girl" should have followed MaIot's
''Nobody's Boy" as Little Remi Of the
latter stcry proved the dearest ano
most delightful character in all tn,
literature Of child life. With .equa
skill, sympathy, pathos and interes
he has pictured the charming, good
and wise little girl, Perrine, in NO.
body's Girl"
From the very beginning Perrin,
dominates the story. She takes tn,
lead when. arriving in Paris with hel
dying mother. in a donkey cart, sh,
the mothers death, her father havin.
died several weeks before they start
ed for Paris. They were on thei
way TO the home of her father
father. who had become estranged b.
his sons marriage. and the mothe
fondly hoped her daughter would b
welcomed with love and find a SAT
home.
Left alone. Perrine bravely took VI
the road to her fathers home. withou
money. and many and severe were he
prtvations. But she had promise
her mother to obey the latters dyinl
request and nothing could deter he
rom her purpose Upon arriving a
the village where her grandfather ha
his large mills. she took employment
In an humble capacity and entere
upon her delicate task OF bringln
about recognition and reconciliation
How Perriue succeeded is a stor
OF amazing interest. She attracte
the attention Of her grandfather, VIII
was blind from cataracts on his eve.
and won his confidence and love be
fore he had the slightest inkling c
their relationship. She learned fror
him, to her disnnay. that while he sti
loved and longed for his son, he ha
hatred FOR the wife. whom he blame
Tor the estrangement. and was indit
1erent TO the child. But Perrine
gentle ministrations and sincere hel
oridsed this serious difficulty, and a