In the small Midwestern town of Parthia, Myra Henshawe was a legend. The grandniece and ward of Parthia’s richest resident, Myra had shocked the locals by sacrificing her inheritance to run off and marry her true love Oswald. Thirty-odd years later, the still feisty Myra, now enjoying a sophisticated life with Oswald in New York, takes Nellie, the teenage niece of her oldest friend, under her wing. From Myra, Nellie discovers not only the fineness of art and culture, but the mysterious intricacies of friendship and romance as well. (Summary by Amy Dunkleberger)     [chương_files]  

The young Niel Herbert idolizes Marian Forrester, the beautiful and charismatic wife of a pioneering railroad magnate. After discovering Mrs Forrester’s affair with another man, Herbert loses faith in her and all he thought she represented. Content warning for one use of the N-word. – Summary by Rob Marland     [chương_files]