Project Gutenberg 2006-05-25 Public domain in the USA. 127 Harte, Bret 1836 1902 Harte, Francis Bret Jeff Briggs's Love Story Produced by Donald Lainson and David Widger "Jeff Briggs's Love Story" by Bret Harte is a novel likely penned in the late 19th century, capturing the era's romanticism and themes of aspiration amidst adversity. The story revolves around Jefferson Briggs, the owner of a modest inn called the "Half-way House," and his interactions with travelers, particularly Miss Mayfield, a delicate lady seeking refuge due to ill health. The early chapters introduce a tempestuous setting that mirrors Jeff's inner turmoil and burgeoning feelings for Miss Mayfield as he navigates the complexities of duty, desperation, and romance. At the start of the novel, the narrative immerses readers in a stormy night at Eldridge's Crossing, where Briggs is left to manage his inn amid adverse weather and a lack of guests. Amongst his routine preparations for sleep, he receives an unexpected visit from his aunt, who expresses concern about his work ethic and the lack of patrons. After a while, Jeff encounters a wet and meek stranger seeking to rescue his wife and daughter caught in the storm. This event leads Jeff to venture into the tempest, where he heroically assists in bringing the stranded travelers to his inn, including a sickly yet captivating young woman, Miss Mayfield. The fervor of their initial meetings hints at deeper connections as Jeff's unassuming nature begins to clash with his feelings for the genteel Miss Mayfield. The opening chapters skillfully set the stage for a burgeoning romance characterized by social class disparities and personal insecurities, making it an enticing read for lovers of character-driven narratives. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 80.5 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Western stories American fiction -- 19th century California -- Fiction PS Text Category: Romance Category: Novels Category: American Literature 197840 2025-07-02T03:56:48.199228 text/html 203086 2021-01-27T13:42:59 text/html 138430 2025-07-02T03:56:52.936228 application/epub+zip 140670 2025-07-02T03:56:49.883184 application/epub+zip 140669 2025-07-02T03:56:48.820179 application/epub+zip 278851 2025-07-02T03:56:55.160172 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 267945 2025-07-02T03:56:52.293187 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 222769 2022-09-02T05:32:12.656843 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 168227 2025-07-02T03:56:47.813216 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 168166 2018-03-05T07:27:34 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 165342 2006-05-25T06:31:10 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 21481 2025-07-02T03:56:55.283144 application/rdf+xml 14047 2025-07-02T03:56:49.302203 image/jpeg 3959 2025-07-02T03:56:49.059216 image/jpeg 65996 2018-03-19T10:38:22 application/octet-stream application/zip 69562 2021-01-27T13:42:59 application/octet-stream application/zip 65617 2006-05-25T06:33:00 application/octet-stream application/zip 137409 2025-07-02T03:56:48.214214 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia