SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION.

"The Old Card." In "The Old Card" {Casscll mul Co., per f>. ami W. Mackny) that clever writer, Mr. Itolnnrl Pertwecl introduces us to a delightful old Thespian, an nctormnnager of thn old school, whoso curious name, Kliphalct Cordoinay, is (Sue to .conjure with in the provinces, especially in this big manufacturing towns of (ho iiorlli, where patrons of tlm dranin prefer the legitimate, and greatly favour, plays which end with Iho good.old vanquishing of villainy and the triumph of virtue.

Klipliulet is a warm-hearted and honest, if not a little egotistical mill a trille conceited, member of the sock anil buskin frntEi-nily, mul in jiian.v of these excel-' lent stories of h,is varied ups and downs ho is to Ijo found playing th« good Kiuiiiiritnn to less fortunate fellow-numi-bei's of the "profession." Ho is a real good fellow, is Miplialet,. despite , his uncouth limiio, and the reader.will, be yln<l to sec ihai, just nt the time the veteran is seemingly "down and out" and doomed to an old age of poverty, good luck rami's to' him in' the shape of the. sub : stantial kinemu: royniiieS of ;i piny which lie hud deemed his masterpiece, , but which, produced in the. ordinary way, had proved'a torriblq "frosv." Jlr. Pcrtwee's stories—or slon —for tlio'vnri-'i ens episodes in the career of the hero are held together by' a continuous interest, throw many curious side-lights on. the ways of the provincial stage, in the Old Country, and; certainly make 'pleas-' nnt reading for a.spare hour or two.

"Some Happenings." Nineteen separate''stories-are comprised in "Some Happenings," by Horace An-, iicsley Vaclicll (London. John ' Murray, per Whiteombc and Tombs). In fiomo (here is a vein of pleasant comedy," in others, notably.in "The Shadow on the Blind" and "'The Death Mask," the dominant note is. that of tragedy. As befits a writer who lias given us so many excellent yarns of lifein that ""wild and woolly West" in which he himself was, in his younger days, a sojourner, :Mr. • Yachcll include:) three 01' four stories which have quite- u'Bret_lTarteiin flavour. Those who have read and enjoyed the author/s admirable story, "Quinney"s,"' will be greatly interested in the sketch entitled "Tho Lacquer Cabinet," in which the novelist give.? a new and unexpected -Variant of one .of the' inmost dviniatic incidents in that well-known novel. Needless to say, all. these.- stories, although -varying' eo-much, in subject, are eminently readable. ■ "When Guy Was in France."

Before Guy "Warminster, the hero of Mr. Thomas C'obb's laiest novel. "When Guy Was in Vraiice"- (Stanley P;uil and Co.), went ■oft" to the front as a'jientenant in one of the London. Territorial battalions he. asked Cynihin Rutherford lo marry him. It was-the "second time of. asking,-" and Cynthia, albeit, more carried away by sympathy-for the yoiing soldier (linn actually, in' love with him, said "Yes." Whilst. Guy is. away iii Jb'rance there enters upon the scene the villain of'the piece, Oliver Mason, who has learnt that tho youhg lady has- come into a fortune. Mason 'concocts'au abominable story about Cvrithia's scapegrace brother, Bernard, who' lias, .lie nays,, ruined, and deserted a, pretty'young work> girl, . ■ who has borne, him a. child,-- whereas the truth ■is that Mason • himself is .the culprit.- He pases as a quite disinterested friend, and gradually wornis himself into' the young lady's affections. Fortmnvtoly, hoi-ever,. she hns good and shrewd friends, who', expose 'the-selfish"'trickster,- and' Guy returning from tho war' 'vounded, fimls a sympathetic and.by. this'time truly loving Cynthia; who recognises her folly in ever- having' listened : to-. Mason's, theatrically-declared affection.:' Mr. Cobb is it practised hand'lit a.'",story of. this kind, and his latest .'effort makes very pleiisunf reading.'

"Crucifixion.'* ...-.■''.'.'..:.."■■ Messrs.- Cassell and.Go., forward (per Simpson -and' Williams) --a- copy of ; a, new and cheaper ..edition .'.of- -Newman' Flower's.very popular;'iiovel; ; "Cnici-: fixion,"/first published, two years' ago. The- story, ■■which , ..has- formed'-.the sub-, ject of a highly successful -kin'eiua-' play, deals with the expiation by;n.'bea'utifnl actress of errors iii her earlier life; and. is replete with dramatic situations, notably tho reconciliation of:.husband and wife through the agency of tlieir : soldier son, to whom the.-mother,'not-aware-of his identity, writes a series of letters whilst; the lad is in the trenches'. 'In its new and cheaper, fonn the. story will, no doubt, reach a wider public, and achieve a new and extended popularity. ■■

Two Australian Stories. ]?rom the Xew-South Wales Boolcsiall Company.-coine-copies of,two recent additions to their now long series of popular shilling novels, by Australian writers.. )n "Dawn Asper" Miss Drcdii Keynokls, the anthoi , of. "The .Heart of the Bush-'-' and "The Selector's. .Uaughlor.j , sketches the life-f-roniance ,-of-a.; .pn% y girl, the .daughter "of V bficK'-bloeks dairy farmer. Miss Reynolds isigwieroiis in her supply of dramatic and sensational incidents, and the story moves throughout with an eijKaginp; vivacity find vigour. In. "Lydia's Lovers," by Gerald R. Baldwin,'.published ]>y the-'same firm, a eportiiig interest is predominant. Mr. Baldwin introduces us to a very charming heroine and an agreeable anil young hero,, and his racing' scenes are evidently the work of oiie who knows the turf at first hand. A very readable. little story. .......