WIFE BY ADVERTISEMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 21662, 26 March 1932, Page 11

WIFE BY ADVERTISEMENT.

Clive Ketterton went to Canada to make money so that he could marry Cicely Retford, but she stayed in England and promptly tossed .him overboard. In a fit of pique Ketterton advertises for a wife, and along Came Jill Ferguson who, having seen only a portion of the advertisement, thought the post was housekeeper. Ketterton’s hut was in the sparsely peopled West, and Jill was fleeing from a cruel brother. So in desperation she agreed to a documentary marriage to last for six months, by which time her pay would be enough to secure her passage back to England. Into this simple arrangement came all sorts of complications, made more difficult by the fact that each of the two people loves the other, while believing that the other’s heart is given elsewhere. Jealousy can sustain misunderstandings in the books at any rate, and so Annabel Lee’s “Lumberjack Jill” runs its romantic course without any flagging of interest. Ketterton’s unexpected inheritance of title and fortune leads to their return to England and the re-appearance of Cicely Retford (aware of Ketterton’s changed fortunes) leads to general revelations and to the conclusion the reader finds very satisfying. This is a very pleasing story and shows an advance in Annabel Lxje’s work. It should be popular. “Lumberjack Jill” by Annabel Lee, published by Messrs Mills and Boon Ltd., London w’hence came my copy.