NOVELIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2014, 29 September 1892, Page 37

NOVELIST.

[NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.]

BAY RONALD, OH, WHEN GEORGE THE THIRD WAS KING.

By MAY CROMMELIN,

Author of "Dead Men's DollarSj" " Goblin Gold, " A Jewel of a Girl," and joint author of " Violet Vyvirfu, M. F. H.," &c, &c, <fee.

[Copyright, 1892, Tillotson and Son.]

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

Chapters I and ll.— The sceno opens in the old family mansion of Rookhurst, in Kent, which was formerly occupied in turn by rivals in the time of the Cavaliers and Roundheads. Once, James Saxby, who had joined the Parliamentarians, was iv charge of an invading force outside the moat of Rookhurst, but they had been defeated, and Saxby himself had been missed, it being believed that he had been drowned in the moat. Years afterwards, in the days of George the Third, Rookhurst had descended to handsome George Hasledene, who had married Catherine Saxby. There is a descendant of the younger branch of the family, Philip Saxby, who was now a widower with a weakly child, Richie, whilst Hasledene was the father of a fine boy similarly named, but called Dick. Catherine is a somewhat neglected wife, her husband being too fond of sport and cards. He has become acquainted with a Captain Ratcliffe, a gay bachelor in the neighbourhood, who is a friend of both George Hasledcno and Saxby. One night when Hasledene is feasting a lot of roystering blades at his mansion, the skull of old James Saxby is discovered, and Hasledene orders the butler to place it under a coyer on the table. He impiously asks them to drink to the old fellow who coveted Rookhur?t. Philip Saxby, as the direct descendant of the owner of the old skull is offended, and leaves the house attended by Captain Ratcliffe.