Romance, Inc.

MARGARET YORKE--Kathleen Norris-- Doubleday, Doran ($1).

Margaret Yorke is the mysterious, young, occasionally beautiful companion of a rich old California lady and governess to the r.o.C.I.'s adopted little boy. Margaret is above her station; there is not much doubt of that. But why is she so hostile to rich, tanned, charming, fairly young Stan Crittenden, her employer's nephew and favorite? For a time Margaret herself cannot discover the reason. But when scheming, divorced, baby-blue-eyed Shirley appears on the scene, re-establishes herself in the community, re-engages herself to Stan, Margaret's cold but not really hard heart has begun to blossom. There are naturally complications; in fact, the situation becomes so sinister, hopeless and black that you can hardly hope there will be a happy delivery. Authoress Norris, however, comes smiling through.

Kathleen Norris, 49, novelist, clubwoman, war-abolitionist, feminist, is married to Author Charles Gilman Norris (Salt, Brass, Bread). She has one son of her own, Frank (two daughters have died), but in the summer the Norrises' 200-acre ranch at Saratoga, Calif, houses a cheerful bedlam of children--wards, cousins, children from miles around needful of home life and a good time. Among other fauna at the Norris ranch are children of Poet Columnist William Rose Benet whose first wife was Mrs. Norris's sister, the late Teresa Frances Thompson.

Mrs. Norris writes like an incurable romantic for almost the same reason Louisa May Alcott did. Miss Alcott had brothers and sisters to support. Mrs. Norris feels she must support the hearts of the thousands of people who began to write her letters when she began writing books. She cannot fail her public. A devout Roman Catholic, her conscience is with her as constantly as her portable typewriter, which it is not unusual to see in action on station platforms or in railroad cars when her copy is nearly due. Mornings at home, her telephones (and her husband's) are disconnected until the day's stint is done. Said she once to an interviewer: "Please don't make me out a prig. I wish you'd think of me as a strong, silent character, but I'm afraid you won't."

Other Kathleen Norris books: Saturday's Child, Martie the Unconquered, Certain People of Importance, The Callahans and the Murphys, Barberry Bush.

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