SOLVED. "The Bishops Rules," YA novel set in Southern papermill town [s]

[Beth]

Around 1970, I read a paperback novel whose title I cannot remember, although I DO remember that the cover said the FORMER title was "The Bishops' Rules." It was about a young orphaned girl gone to live with her father's family, the Bishops, who were the prominent owners of a paper mill in a Southern town. The family had disapproved of their son's marriage to the girl's mother, whom they regarded as a loose woman.

The novel concerned the girl's relationship with her aunts and uncle, and particularly with her kind, handsome cousin Mason, who was involved with a local lower-class girl who became pregnant with his child. Mason joins the military before learning of his girl's pregnancy. His young cousin, for reasons I cannot remember, writes to him and tells him, untruthfully, that his girl has forgotten him and is seeing other boys. Mason is killed and his girl bears the brunt of an unmarried pregnancy alone. With Mason dead and the baby born, the novel ends with a somewhat hopeful note that the snooty Bishops will accept the baby and their (unwed) daughter-in-law.

Does that ring any bells for anybody? I'll love to get my hands on teh book again.

[``Laurie]

Hello Beth, I think I might know the book you are referring to. In fact, I thought I had the book here someplace but after an hour of digging through old paperbacks I can't put my fingers on it at the moment, but it's here somewhere. So I'm not able to read the synopsis on the back cover to verify if this is your book.

The book I have somewhere is titled The Mill and is set in the south that much I know. I searched for this title here at GRs and about 100 option came up to dig through. I looked though most of them and couldn't find the book I'm looking for.

I hope this is a little bit of help for you anyway and if I can find my book I'll update you.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

It was definitely a paper mill and not a cotton mill?

[Beth]

Definitely a paper mill -- there was a lot of talk about how it smelled bad. And thank you, Laurie, for trying!

[Lisa]

The Ruling Family by Mary N. Dolim. Original title The Bishop Pattern.

[Beth]

DING DING DING DING DING. We have a winner!!!!! Thank you SO much, Lisa! As you see, I conflated the original and the updated titles.

ETA: Now I guess I'm supposed to move this discussion into another folder, but I'm not seeing how to do that....help?

[Lisa]

You're welcome.

[Michele]

The Ruling Family for the clickiness.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Beth, no need to move anywhere etc. A mod can always do that. Done.