AustLit

Melbourne romance between a handsome Irish adventurer and a sallow, intelligent rich widow. She engages herself to a rich man, seeking a husband free of mercenary motives - but the Irishman assaults him in their club when he insults the widow, and happiness follows. Pleasant, bright and humorous. (PB)

Spirit romance. An old man's reunion with his dead wife, Agnes, in a dream on the seashore of a fishing town. He is found dead. (PB)

Paris romantic tragedy. An artist falls in love with a beautiful girl he engages as a model and after a brief marriage she dies. He soon follows her - but his picture lives on. Competent. (PB)

Juvenile tale of grandfather rat and his family. He tells them of a love affair as a boy rat with a circus tightrope rat, attending every performance, sending her rat poetry, and finally fainting when he discovers she is married. Lively tale, romantic ending. (PB)

Crime confidence trick on a jeweller and a physician skilled in mental disorders by a lady who orders diamonds to be paid for by him ... The physician believes the jeweller to be mad, and the jeweller believes the physician is to pay him. (PB)

US romance of a recluse disturbed by Easter tourists in his Pacific coast home - and his reunion with his intended bride of 10 years before, through her child. Basic sentimental tale - a heart meant for love finds it, etc. (PB)

Long Lead diggings. One of three mates accuses simple Bob Dyce of working their claim at night for his own profit. In fact Bill Gilbert is trying to cast suspicion from his own intentions to steal the gold and abscond. Bob's secret wife Margaret inteferes with Bill's plans, and is injured by him; but Bob's dog and his friends prevent serious injury. Bill was an escaped homicidal maniac eluding recapture. (PB)

Bush tale. Two shearers returning to Victoria from NSW decide to cross a swollen billabong rather than ride 10 miles further to the bridge. One is nearly caught in the reeds but thoughts of his new found love urge him to safety at his last attempt. Sketch-like; characters more important than action. (PB)

Account of the Russian Emperor Paul's despotic humiliation of a court favourite who dares to jest at his expense - a simulated journey to Siberia and execution. Moral tale; very slight. (PB)