Cirrus@Austlit

Practical little romance with realist touches. A soft-goods merchant is financially ruined and his son Charlie Fairfax must make his own way in the world - which he does by working his way up in another firm, despite the ill-wishes of the manager. Charlie then falls in love with Alsa Lee who lives in a pretty villa on his way to work - but they are separated when her father, Charlie's manager, discovers their meetings. Eventually Charlie is sent to Fiji where he makes good, but is recalled when Alsa's father commits suicide after being detected in a forgery. Charlie's father is at first opposed to Charlie and Alsa's marriage - revealing the secret of his own lost love stolen by Alsa's father years before ... (PB)