Cirrus@Austlit

Tale of Czar Peter the Great forging bars of iron himself. Industrious royalty theme. (PB)

A policeman recalls the murder of a girl at the foot of the Grampians years before, when he was posted there as a police cadet chasing cattle rustlers. In love with the girl himself he is eclipsed by a clever mysterious Frenchman - who proves to be very jealous. The girl's murder soon after their engagement is attributed to an escaped cattle rustler but the narrator has his own theory. Well written romance/murder story - a little in the 'W. W.' style. (PB)

A young man's harsh judgement of the woman he once loved is softened when he learns she broke her engagement with his dying cousin because of his alcoholic addiction, not for vanity ... Moral tale; thin. (PB)

A woman's dream of marriage to a rich man without love persuades her to follow her heart and marry for love and contentment. Slight romance, thin but with touches of originality. (PB)

A visitor to a mine sees the frayed condition of the rope hoisting them to the surface, but his concern does not seem to worry his miner companion. (PB)

An English country house party; war against Afghanistan in India; the ruins of Rome; and the soothing shores of Lake Como are the scenes against which this story of youthful love renewed and misunderstandings overcome is played out. Indian army Colonel Spenser and the quietly beautiful Maud Mercier live up to their military and matrimonial duties - and ultimately find themselves free. Well written English romance with no surprises but a scheming widow. (PB)

Tale of a ladies seminary - boarding school, and of bold Kittie Lake who met a man clandestinely outside the park walls until she accidentally met Harry Rodney, brother of a schoolfellow. Kittie transfers her affections to him, until one night her first lover asks her to meet him and mistaking her for his wife demands money ... Silly tale, perhaps intended to be exemplary (ie. don't meet men secretly.) Plot weak and poorly realised. (PB)

Emperor Joseph II receives a cup of hot chocolate very early one morning from a kindly woman and her beautiful daughter. As a reward for their kindness he gives the girl 1000 crowns so she can marry - a royal whim at Aix-les-Chapelle. (PB)

A widower, his daughter and young son are devoted to each other for years until they are separated for a few months and all return with a partner. Light. (PB)

A wife ensures her husband will not protest if she borrows money from his pockets at night. Humour. (PB)

A young girl hears the sad tale of her uncle's love for a young woman whose father owed him a debt, of their engagement, and his discovery that she loves his ward. His banishment of the boy brings remorse to his life ... Weak. (PB)

Handsome Harry Sanders spurns Helen Langley as a green country girl - but discovers several years later that she is a beautiful and sophisticated woman. But by then his friend Roger has won her heart. Slight - usual name-changing/uncle's will device. (PB)

A younger son of a Methodist family encourages his brothers to put out a fire with "Amen". Humour. (PB)

A burglar's clever ruse in obtaining an address from a hat - and his stupidity in leaving his own in its place. Slight. (PB)

A family accepts an apparently model gentleman as a boarder in their home - only to discover he is a thief - too late. Slight. (PB)

A wine-beffudled lawyer argues the opposing case until he discovers his mistake and retrieves the argument. (PB)

Slight romance, probably set in USA. Gladys Alcott is attracted by her grave and thoughtful suitor until a tale of his cowardice and the charms of another tempt her to marry the latter. An overheard conversation and her rescue from a fire reveal the true state of affairs. (PB)

Light college tale. Two friends, one a hard working and the other lax, quarrel one stormy night, and when the latter appears wet and pale from fishing, he is mistaken for a ghost. Humour. (PB)

A doctor's mistaken ignorance in treating cholera. Humour. (PB)

Gerard persuades Maude Temple to marry him despite the stigma of her marriage to a dead felon. When he learns that her husband did not die but is to be hung as a murderer the following day he persuades the man to keep his secret ... Overly honourable and unlikely. (PB)