Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

31257

Title

Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in late 19th-century Virginia, this melodramatic romance follows Dainty Chase, a poor but beautiful schoolteacher who wins the heart of wealthy Lovelace Ellsworth. Her happiness is threatened by jealous cousins and a stepmother who plot to steal her inheritance and force her into an unwanted marriage. A tale of kidnapping, forgery, and near-death experiences, the story ultimately celebrates the triumph of true love and justice over greed and malice.

Summary up to 500 words

In Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller's *Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday*, the story centers on Dainty Chase, a cheerful and innocent young woman from a poor family in Richmond, Virginia. Invited to a grand summer wedding at the home of her wealthy aunt, Mrs. Ellsworth, Dainty meets Lovelace Ellsworth, a handsome heir returning from Europe. Both are immediately smitten, but Dainty's cousins, Olive and Ela, are jealous of her beauty and hope to win Lovelace themselves. They conspire to prevent Dainty from traveling, but Lovelace arrives just in time to escort her, sparking a romantic journey filled with mutual affection. Upon arrival, chaos ensues during the wedding ceremony. Dainty mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind a forged letter claiming she has eloped with another man. Lovelace, devastated, is pressured by his stepmother, Mrs. Ellsworth, to marry one of his nieces to secure his fortune. However, Lovelace reveals he has secretly married Dainty weeks prior, rendering the stepmother's schemes void. The plot thickens when a madman, Vernon Ashley, shoots Lovelace during the ceremony. Dainty is presumed dead after being drugged and left in a burning cabin, but she survives, giving birth to a son. Lovelace, believing her lost, eventually recovers his sanity and searches for her. He discovers she is alive and caring for their child with the help of a loyal black mammy. In the conclusion, Lovelace returns to Ellsworth in his right mind, exposing the treachery of his stepmother and jealous nieces. They are forced to leave, while Lovelace and Dainty are reunited, raising their child together. The novel concludes with a moral victory for virtue and love over the destructive forces of jealousy and avarice.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Romance
• Fiction