THE ROAD TO LOVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 79

THE ROAD TO LOVE.

By MADAME ALB AXE SI, Author of '" Capricious Caroline," "The Strongest of All Things," "Susannah and One Other," "Love and Louisa," "The Way to Win,"

Etc., Etc.

[Copyright.] »

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTERS I and ll.— Richard Yarley tears of the accident which has befallen Sir Patrick Milner on the hunting field. The landlady at the inn -where he is staying informs him that Sir Patrick is dead. Afier dinner Bichard Yarley walks over' to Corbyn Cou.t. He leaves his card, and sends a mesEage 01 sympathy to Sir Patrick's only child. Eilen Milner. Although he is due back in London the- following day he is almost minded to stay and offer his services .to Ellen Mjlner. A wire from Norchester, saj'ing he is leaving England immediately and must see him bsfore he departs, causes him -to change his mind. Sir Patrick had made a foolish marriage, but Ellen's mother died when she wa3 two years old. Since that time she had grown up in ncr father's society. She knew no relatives, and had no women friends.She had heard of her mother's sister. Mrs Barneith, and her son and two daughters. Her Aunt Margaret makes hear an offer to come and live with her and. share household expenses. Ellen has a little over a hundred a. year, through a life insurance, and her lawyers advise her to fall in with Mrs Barmeith's proposition. She does so, and spends the dreary winter months in exile in a. sordid little home, amid most uncongenial surroundings, in a north country town. She finds the atmosphere of her aunt and cousins narrow and constricting, and in the early spring months decides to make her escape. At a. junction railway station she sees a. young mxn, whose breezy, well-bred manner attracts her very much. The staiionmaster calls him v 'your lordship." This young man finds her m, third-class railway compartment. She little knows that she and he will meet under more intimate circumstances.

CHAPTERS 111 and IV.— JEllen goes to liondon, and visits the Chadwicks. Mrs Ch&dwick was formerly a maid at Corbyn Court. Tliey make her welcome, and here she accidentally meets Richard' Yarley again. He discusses her future with the Chadwicks. He meets Lord Nbrchester in a smart club, •who confides his domestic difficulties to him, Uichard Yarley promises to look after Lady iNbrchester while- her husband is away. She Lias expressed her wish for a lady companion, and Yarley at once thinks of El'.ea Milner.