Sister Carrie

before he again put in his appearance. He had been thinking almost uninterruptedly of her. Her len

woman. At the same time, his experience with women in general had lessened his respect for the sex. He maintained a cynical attitude, well grounded on numerous experiences. Such women as he had known were of nearly one type, selfish, ignorant, flashy. The wives of his friends were not inspiring to look upon. His own wife had developed a cold, commonplace nature which to him was anything but pleasing. What he knew of that under-world where grovel the beat-men of society (and he knew a great deal) had hardened his nature. He looked upon most women with suspi

It is only by a roundabout process that such men ever do draw near such a girl. They have no method, no understanding of how to ingratiate themselves in youthful favour, save when they find virtue in the toils. If, unfortunately, the fly has got caught in the net, the spi

ht of Carrie's eye was nothing of the calculation of the mistress. In the diffident manner was nothing of the art of the courtesan. He saw at once that a mistake had been made, that some difficult conditions had pushed this troubled creature into his presence, and his interest was enlisted. He

here were slight inherited traits of both in her, but they were rudimentary. She was too full of wonder and desire to be greedy. She still looked about her upon the great maze of the city without understanding.

he thought. It did not seem more than yesterday that he had aided her when she was worried and distressed. She had the kindliest feelings for him in every way. She gave him credit for his good looks, his generous feelings, and eve

d that he was alluring all, that affection followed tenderly in his wake, that things would endure unchangingly for his pleasure. When he missed some old face,

t he saw in her drooping eye, her unstable glance, her wavering manner, the symptoms of a budding passion. He wanted to stand near her and make her lay her hand in his--he wanted to find out

y, whatever time he might take. His grace, tact, and ornate appearance gave the place an air which was most essential, while at the same time his long experience made him a most excellent judge of its stock necessities. Bartenders and assistants might come and go, singly or in groups, but, so long as he was present, the host of old-time cu

once, in all the period of his long service, neglected to do this. Neither of the owners had for years been in the resort after

fter his previous visit, he made up his mind

ad barkeeper, "if any one calls, I

oarded a horse-car, which carried

double-breasted jacket. She had out her hat and gloves, and was fastening a white lace tie about

old the girl to say that she would come down in

d tingling in the cheeks, but it was more nervousness than either fear or favour. She did not try to conjecture what the drift of the conversation would be. She on

that he must make a strong play on this occasion, but now that the hour was come, and he heard Carrie's feet upon the sta

rage. She looked simple and charming enough to strengthen the d

ld not resist the temptation to come o

efore him, "I was just prepar

"Supposing, then, you get

t was a street where many of the more prosperous residents of the West Side lived, and Hurstwood could not help feeling nervous over the publicity of it. They h

Douglas Park with Washington or South Park, and was nothing more than a neatly MADE road, running due south for some five miles over an open, grassy prairie, and then due east over the sa

e, and they were soon out of range of

e?" he said,

ried," sai

in her hand, and

thing to it much,"

ve a gentle hors

as any one, after a little pra

e the colour of his own, but she had lightly continued the subject. Presently, however, his silence controlled the situation. The drift of his thoughts began to tell. He gazed fixedly at

spent the happiest evenings in

ness, but still excited by the convicti

r evening," he added, "but someho

while to say. Despite all the ideas concerning right which had troubled her vaguely

solemnly, "to tell you just how I feel

ic ones--and under a stress of desire, such as the present, he waxed eloquent. That is, his feelings a

tir at the words. She was bound up completely in the man's atmosphere. He would have churchlike silence in order to express his feelings, and

say that," she

e result of a feeble thought that something ought

know how much I need some one to waste a little affection on me. I am practically alone. There is nothin

ew himself objectively--of seeing what he wanted to see in the things which made up his existence. Now, as he spoke, his

eyes which were full of sympathy and feeling, "that yo

ce dropping to a soft minor, "

s mystery, taken its place? Here was this greatest mystery, the man of money and affairs sitting beside her, appealing to her. Behold, he had ease and comfort, his strength was great, his position high, his clothing rich, and yet he was appealing to her. She could formulate no thought which

othing about you, if you went day after day to a place where there was nothing but show and indifference, if there was not one

ndifferent, to walk alone amid so many who cared absolutely nothing about you. Had not she? Was not she at this very moment quite alon

s, I simply move about from place to place without any satisfaction. Time hangs heavily on my hands. Before you came I

ed this sad, lonely figure. To think that all his fine state should be so barren for want of her; that he

think, probably, that I roam around, and get into all sorts of evil? I have been rather reckless, b

laiming? His errors, what were they, that she could correct? Small they must be, where all was so fine. At worst, they were gi

at way?"

e hand he seized upon her fingers. A breath of soft spring wind went bounding over the road, ro

id, softly, "tha

fell cons

e said, feelingly; "

wer, but he fel

at their lips were near together. He pressed her ha

d, pressing his

, her lips

is fine eyes ablaze, "you'r

lusion, her head lay s