{"numero_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_sha256": "ba4d48f2a12464bfce2f7fe99ab8c5289bebe300c5a94ac205f98002cf08490a", "source_tei": "https://github.com/Princeton-CDH/bluemountain-transcriptions/blob/main/periodicals/bmtnaat/issues/1914/03_01/bmtnaat_1914-03_01.tei.xml", "source_mets": "https://github.com/pulibrary/BlueMountain/blob/main/metadata/periodicals/bmtnaat/issues/1914/03_01/bmtnaat_1914-03_01.mets.xml", "url_numero": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01", "articles": [{"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c001", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c001", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "couv. 1", "page_fin": "couv. 1", "image_debut": 1, "image_fin": 1, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.1", "titre_corps": "THE ERNA VITEK", "titre_sommaire": "THE ERNA VITEK", "signature_source": "Alfred Kreymborg", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 1, "page_imprimee": "couv. 1", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.1", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 40, "texte": "THE GLEBE\nERNA VITEK\nBy Alfred Kreymborg"}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c002", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c002", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "n. p.", "page_fin": "n. p.", "image_debut": 3, "image_fin": 3, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.2", "titre_corps": "ERNA VITEK", "titre_sommaire": "ERNA VITEK", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 3, "page_imprimee": "n. p.", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.3", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 10, "texte": "ERNA VITEK"}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c003", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c003", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "[3]", "page_fin": "[3]", "image_debut": 5, "image_fin": 5, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.3", "titre_corps": "ERNA VITEK", "titre_sommaire": "ERNA VITEK", "signature_source": "Alfred Kreymborg", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 5, "page_imprimee": "[3]", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.5", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 30, "texte": "ERNA VITEK\nBY\nAlfred Kreymborg"}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c004", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c004", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "5", "page_fin": "131", "image_debut": 7, "image_fin": 133, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.4", "titre_corps": "ERNA VITEK", "titre_sommaire": "ERNA VITEK", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 7, "page_imprimee": "5", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.7", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 875, "texte": "ERNA VITEK\nI\nThree young men, the best of friends, a painter,\nBainbridge Breen, a writer, Eric Nielsen, and a\ncomposer, John Carstairs, were arguing that three-\nfaced conundrum, morals. Quite an accident had\nprovoked them to it: a waitress, Erna Vitek. From\npicking at her they had launched into axiomizing,\nonly to come back to her. Her morals were the vital\ntopic of the evening. Carstairs* studio provided the\nmise en scene.\n\"Well, we've hit a conclusion at last,\" said Breen\nwith an air of comfortable finality. \"Carstairs calls\nher moral, I say she's unmoral, and Nielsen that she\nmay be moral, unmoral or even both.\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Now, we've all conceded that Erna's not im-\nmoral—at least she doesn't lead a life inconsistent\nwith morality?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Very well then,\" Breen concluded contentedly.\n\"Now let me make a proposition.\"\n\"What kind of a proposition?\" Nielson quizzed"}, {"page_pdf": 8, "page_imprimee": "6", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.8", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1044, "texte": "in droll tones and looked at Carstairs, who was\nfrowning.\n\"There's very little to it. I can dish it out in a\nfew words. It's simply this: that we put Erna to\nthe test.\"\n\"What do you mean?\" was Carstairs' immediate\nchallenge.\n\"Don't worry!\" Breen responded blandly. \"I'm\nnot going to injure the girl.\"\n\"Well, what did you mean—\"\n\"Merely this,\" the painter interrupted quietly. \"I\ndon't believe that any of us know her very well.\nShe's only been working at Landsmann's a few\nmonths. Of course, Carstairs, you've taken her out\non one or two occasions, so you've had an oppor-\ntunity of studying her at closer range.\"\n\"Not of studying her!\"\n\"You don't study her, certainly. You—er—\nwhat would you call it, Nielsen?\"\n\"Why, John has been burned a little by the di-\nvine flame.\"\nCarstairs blushed angrily. \"If you fellows in-\ntend to be personal-—\"\n\"Never mind, John,\" Nielsen cut in. \"You\nmust allow us the occasional escape of some of our\nsurplus wind. Now, let's drop these bravado poses\nand get down to business. I want the rest of the"}, {"page_pdf": 9, "page_imprimee": "7", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.9", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1227, "texte": "proposition. We know that we're to put Erna to\nthe test. Now, Breen, tell us how.\"\n\"There's nothing to explain. I said, put her to\nthe test. Let each one, in his own way and for him-\nself, perhaps, pay her attentions—I don't mean,\nmake love to her—but simply, well, let him take her\nto the theatre or to supper some evening—she's free\nnights—and find out how close he can get to her—l\ndon't mean seduction—but that he penetrate her\ncharacter. Let each, in his own way, learn for\nhimself, and later we'll compare notes and decide\nwhether the respected lady has the moral or the un-\nmoral tendency or even whether she might develop\nan—er—\"\n\"See here, Breen!\" Carstairs exploded.\n\"Oh, I'd forgotten that we agreed to throw that\nout,\" the painter apologized. \"You see, I couldn't\nhelp thinking of that little affair with the young\nprize ring gladiator. What was his name? Allen!\"\n\"But that was only a temptation,\" Carstairs\nfought back.\n\"Of course, only a temptation. But we have\nonly her word that it never proved more.\"\nThe composer was ready with a hot retaliation\nwhen Nielsen interposed: \"Now don't let's revert\nto that topic again, Breen. We can never know the\nwhole story, and it only annoys John to refer to it."}, {"page_pdf": 10, "page_imprimee": "8", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.10", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1129, "texte": "We know that Erna was down and out at the time—\nshe'd just come to Landsmann's, was unsettled and\nthat sort of thing—that much we know and that\nyoung Allen followed her there with an offer of\ncash. At least, she intimated something like that to\nJohn and said it was a case of being good or bad\nthen and there. She chose being good. Even if she\nhad chosen the other, the transaction might have\nbeen an unmoral and not an immoral one, for she\nwas fond of Allen.\"\n\"But—\"\n\"Now never mind, Breen! We've threshed that\nout often enough. Erna didn't flop—in fact, she\nshowed Mr. Allen the door, hasn't seen him since\n1 )) *\nand—\n\"But we have only her word for all that stuff.\"\n\"All right. There's no other to contradict.\"\nBreen, although silenced, was busy reflecting;\nCarstairs' ire was appeased. Nielsen concluded:\n\"Let's take up Breen's proposition, John, each in\nhis own way, whatever that may be, and then we'll\ncompare notes some day and settle the business.\nAfter all, Erna's only a waitress; we needn't spend\nmore than an ordinary amount of excitement over\nher.\"\n\"But she isn't a waitress. I tell you, she's a\nwoman.\""}, {"page_pdf": 11, "page_imprimee": "9", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.11", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1132, "texte": "\"All right, woman let her be,\" Nielsen conceded\ngracefully. \"Now, we don't want to sit here throw-\ning words and phrases around all evening. We've\nbeen at it too long as it is. Why not put the matter\nto a vote and then drop it?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Breen, of course, votes that we put her to the\ntest. Will you vote that way too?\"\nCarstairs gave in with an effort.\n\"Fine!\" Nielsen applauded. \"I'll vote 4yes'\ntoo.\" .\n\"Motion proposed and carried that one Erna\nVitek, employed as waitress at the Cafe Lands-\nmann—\"\n\"That'll do, Breen. We' ve had enough of your\neloquence for one evening. You've given me a\nheadache. Besides, I'm sick of this subject. Let's\nstart something else.\"\nBreen laughed his ever-ready, self-satisfied laugh,\nand Nielsen, and even Carstairs, joined him. Pres-\nently, the studio slept the sleep of the unperturbed.\nCarefully, Breen filled his pipe and began a deliber-\nate puffing, while Nielsen introduced some new\nanecdote in his droll, even-tempered way. Carstairs,\non the other hand, was meditating gloomily: in an\nhour or so he would be due at that damnable hole,\nthe Phoenix Music Hall—where he earned his"}, {"page_pdf": 12, "page_imprimee": "10", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.12", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 143, "texte": "bread playing accompaniments. A second thought\ncheered him not a little. He would still have time\nto eat his supper at Landsmann's."}, {"page_pdf": 13, "page_imprimee": "11", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.13", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 830, "texte": "II\n\"Erna! What is the matter with you? Another\ncup of coffee for Mr. Nolan!\"\n\"I know it. I ordered it an hour ago.\"\nThe stocky, middle-aged, stolid-faced German\nstared at the handsome sensual girl of twenty, mut-\ntered something, as she returned his critical stare\nwith a defiant one, and passed out of the kitchen into\nthe store.\n\"What is the matter with Erna to-day?\" he de-\nmanded of his stocky, middle-aged, stolid-faced\nwife, who stood behind the counter waiting on\ncustomers.\n\"Why?\"\n\"This is the third time she has been schnautzing\n99\nme.\n\"Oh, she has something on her mind,\" was the\nwoman's unconcerned reply.\nThe storekeeper was not satisfied. \"That fellow\nmust be to blame,\" he said.\n\"Who?\"\n\"That Allen! He's been coming here again.\"\n\"Has he?\" the woman returned with the same\nunconcern. \"Let him come. What do you care?\""}, {"page_pdf": 14, "page_imprimee": "12", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.14", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1279, "texte": "Erna Vitek was in a morose humor. Her pugna-\ncious nose seemed more pugnacious than ever, and\neven her mouth, usually so soft and yielding, ap-\npeared hard this morning. And her brown eyes,\nwhich could give you gentle glances one day and\nrepelling ones the next, were filled with ominous\nsigns. There was a good reason. She had just\noverheard the other waitresses exchanging remarks\nabout her. This would not have been so bad if their\ntalk had been without foundation. But it was true:\nshe had been glad to see Jimmy Allen yesterday\nnoon and evening, when he came in—after an ab-\nsence of three months. He had stopped drinking.\nHe had been living and training in the country, so\nthat the old color had returned to his face and the\nold light to his eyes. He looked stronger than ever,\nmore energetic and happier. Yes, he was to begin\nfighting again—next week—but that had never been\nhis worst fault. The girls said that she still \"liked\nhim\" or that she would \"like him again.\" This\nwould not have been so bad if—\nGretchen and Mollie were small, mean, dirty.\nThey were always gossipping about her. And she\nhad given them her old dresses, old hats, encourage-\nment, advice. What a lot of gratitude women felt\n/\ntoward you!\nHer face cleared. A laughing, splendidly built"}, {"page_pdf": 15, "page_imprimee": "13", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.15", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1145, "texte": "young fellow was making his way through the store,\nreturning salutations. He stopped in the kitchen\nlong enough to barter laughing glances with Erna\nand passed down the two steps into the dining-room:\na small low one containing six tables—Erna's em-\npire. There, he received more greetings and one or\ntwo short tributes on his return to the public eye.\nThe young athlete pulled off his coat and cap and\nhung them on the wall. He flung himself into a\nchair at an empty table and was soon at his ease.\nErna was a shrewd girl. She did not come to\ntake his order at once. First, she served another\npatron. Then, she cleared away some dishes.\nFinally, she came to Jimmy's table, but with a care-\nless air.\nHe gave her a frank look. \"How's the girl?\"\nwas his familiar greeting.\n\"Pretty fair!\" she responded in cool tones. \"How\nare you?\"\n\"Bully!\"\n\"What do you want?\" she went on indifferently.\n\"Gimme time to breathe!\" he protested, and tried\nto stare into her face and to take her hand.\n\"Stop!\" she warned him and drew back.\n\"Why, what the deuce—\"\n\"Customers are waitin'—\" she cut him short.\nHe gave the bill of fare a contemptuous glance."}, {"page_pdf": 16, "page_imprimee": "14", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.16", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 880, "texte": "\"Bring me a soft boiled egg, toast an* a glass o'\nmilk.*'\nShe looked at him with sudden irritation, but\nsmiled, turned her back and left the room with\naggravating slowness.\nJimmy appeared angry, but one of the patrons\ndisturbed his mood with an admiring: \"On a diet,\nJimmy?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"What night does it come off?\"\n\"Next Tuesday.\"\n\"How do you feel?\"\nJimmy expanded his chest, gave himself a solid\npunch and answered: \"Great! Harder than a\nrock!\"\n\"Feel sorry for 'the Kid.' How long are you\ngoin' to let him stay?\"\n\"Oh, part o' the second,\" was Jimmy's laughing\nassurance.\nA sigh of pleasure and envy escaped the patrons.\nAnd they quickly announced their intention to be\npresent at the joyous butchery.\nErna came back. She pretended to wipe off the\nneighboring table. Pretty soon, however, she was\nat Jimmy's side.\n\"What's the grouch?\" he asked confidentially.\n\"Nothin'.\""}, {"page_pdf": 17, "page_imprimee": "15", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.17", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 910, "texte": "\"Still sore at me?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Sore at somebody else?\"\n\"No.\"\nHe looked up at her anxiously, but Erna smiled;\nher eyes softened and winked slyly. Jimmy,\nwho was always willing to laugh, laughed again.\n\"You' re still the kiddo,\" he whispered.\nErna blushed and moved away.\n\"Erna!\" he called.\n\"Wait a moment!\"\nShe stayed away about two minutes and then re-\nturned with Jimmy's order, which was overdue.\nThree of the patrons, exchanging \"so longs!\" with\nthe prize-fighter, went out. Two remained, milk-\nmen, but they were fast asleep.\nErna set Jimmy's order before him. He tried to\ncatch her hand, but she was too quick. An irritable\ngrunt escaped him.\n\"What's the matter?\" she taunted him.\n\"What's the matter with pouP\"\n\"Nothin'.\"\nBut she dropped her glance coquettishly. He\ngave her face and figure an admiring look.\n\"Erna,\" he said gently.\nShe looked at him for a shy instant.\n\"I say, Erna,\" he repeated."}, {"page_pdf": 18, "page_imprimee": "16", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.18", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 685, "texte": "\"Well?\"\n\"You're not sore?\"\n\"No.\"\nno -v*f\nSure?\n\"Yes.\"\n\"You know what I mean?\"\n\"Sure!\"\nHe studied her. \"Then why do you treat me\nthis way—now?\"\nShe tried bold and bashful glances, turned her\nhead a little and said enigmatically \"Just because.\"\n\"Just because what?\"\n\"Just because.\"\nHe shook his head, but his ever-ready laugh came\nto his assistance. \"Then you're not sore?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Sure?\"\n\"Of course.\"\n\"Even though—\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Then you like to treat me this way just—\"\n««o »»\nSure.\n\"Why?\"\n\"Just because!\" she echoed and started to laugh.\nHe gave her an adoring glance and this time\ncaught her hand. She tried to pull it away, but his\ngrip was too powerful. He squeezed her hand."}, {"page_pdf": 19, "page_imprimee": "17", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.19", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 999, "texte": "\"Don't, don't!\" she begged in pain.\nHe let go and smiled. She was not angry. In-\nstead, she placed her hand on his biceps. He raised\nhis forearm and imprisoned her hand. \"00-oo!\"\nshe sighed in happy homage, and her eyes shone.\nOnce more, he freed her hand. \"Well?\"\n\"Terrible!\" she whispered. \"What'll happen to\nthe poor 'Kid'?\"\n\"Death!\" was his jovial rejoinder.\nHe caught her hand once more. \"Don't, don't!\"\nshe warned him. He let go as before, but she did\nnot withdraw it immediately.\nHis glance grew bolder and bolder, but he hesi-\ntated. He busied himself with his breakfast for a\nmoment, shaking salt into his egg and stirring it with\na spoon. He looked up and hesitated again. Final-\nly, he began: \"Then it'll be all right to-night?\"\n\"To-night?\"\n\"Yes. You said you'd tell me to-day.\"\n«(T 1 »»\n1 know.\n\"It'll be all right?\" he pleaded.\nShe eyed him a moment, softened a little and\nthen gave in: \"But where can we go?\"\n\"We can take in a show,\" he suggested.\n\"A show?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Where?\""}, {"page_pdf": 20, "page_imprimee": "18", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.20", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 764, "texte": "\"Oh, Miner's, the Gran' or a movie.\"\nShe meditated.\n\"Hurry up! Here come some customers.\"\nShe turned her head quickly, and then looked\nback at him. \"All right,\" she whispered.\n\"Where'll I meet you?\" he demanded eagerly.\n\"At the old corner—eight o'clock!\"\nHe pressed her hand in hurried understanding, as\nthree young men entered the dining-room. They\nwere Breen, Carstairs and Nielsen. Erna passed\nthem on her way out with a nervous \"good-morn-\n• 9»\ning.\nShe stayed out some time. Jimmy ate and drank\nrapidly, got up, took his check, put on his cap and\ncoat, and ignoring the newcomers, left the room.\nBreen and Nielsen had recognized him with amaze-\nment. They watched him curiously, but not so Car-\nstairs. He sat there, staring gloomily at the table."}, {"page_pdf": 21, "page_imprimee": "19", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.21", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 813, "texte": "III\n\"Moral or unmoral, but not—\" Breen started\nand waited for Nielsen to supply the last word.\nNielsen, who understood, shook his head and cor-\nrected: \"Moral or unmoral—no more,\" and smiled\nconfidently.\nCarstairs looked from Nielsen to Breen and con-\ntinued staring at the table.\n\"How do you account then for the recrudescence\nof our young gladiator?\" Breen went on.\n\"And what has that to do with Erna's life,\npresent or future?\" Nelsen argued amiably.\n\"If he's calling again?\"\n\"Let him call! Dtoes that necessarily affect\nErna's conduct?\"\n\"But hasn't it affected her conduct? Didn't you\nnotice it as we came in?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Well?\"\nNielsen wore a thoughtful frown, but smiled mis-\nchievously and declared: \"There was nothing im-\nmoral, as far as I could make out.\"\nBreen was gracious enough to agree: \"Perhaps\nnot.\""}, {"page_pdf": 22, "page_imprimee": "20", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.22", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1142, "texte": "They were silent. Carstairs watched them\ngloomily and then returned to his occupation. Erna\ncame in, affecting a matter-of-fact air.\nBreen and Nielsen pressed her with playful greet-\nings and compliments. She accepted them as part\nof the tribute due her each day, but her stereotyped\nexpression disappeared, and she was ready to take\nup her duties as gracious empress. Even her pugna-\ncious nose appeared less pugnacious. Having rec-\nognized the young men's tribute by a favor or two,\nshe criticized genially: \"You're late this morning.\"\n\"Nielsen overslept himself,\" Breen explained.\n\"Don't you believe him—he overslept himself,\"\nNilsen retorted.\nErna was leaning against their table, her arms\nakimbo. The pair received a glance each, as was\ntheir due, and then she studied Carstairs. \"Maybe\nit was you, Mr. Carstairs?\"\nHe looked up. \"Me?\"\n\"Yes- -maybe it was you that overslept your-\nself.\"\nCarstairs blushed, his friends laughed, and he\ndenied with a return of good nature: \"No. They\nwere the ones.\"\n\"He's not awake yet, Erna,\" Breen fought back.\n\"He doesn't look it,\" she seconded.\nThe young composer blushed again, but did not"}, {"page_pdf": 23, "page_imprimee": "21", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.23", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 834, "texte": "defend himself this time. Nielsen eyed him with\nfriendly concern.\n\"Your orders, gentlemen.\"\n\"What' s your hurry?\" Breen complained.\n\"You don't suppose I can stand here all day,\"\nshe reminded him.\n\"But I want to admire you a little,\" he protested.\n\"Who wants to eat in the presence of a—of a—\nWhy, look at the beautiful red ribbon! Is it a new\none, Erna?\"\n\"Yes,\" and instantly, Erna, always susceptible\nto praise or flattery, raised her hands to arrange the\nribbon.\n\"It matches your hair to perfection,\" Breen pur-\nsued. \"You love color, don't you?\"\n«4O 9 9\nSure.\n\"Red the most?\"\n(lf> »»\nsure.\n\"Blood, blood red?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"My favorite color, too!\"\n\"That'll do,\" Nielsen interposed. \"Don't steal\nall the crumbs, Breen.\"\nErna laughed.\n\"But they belong to me,\" Breen defended him-\nself. \"Color is my line. Red is my color too.\""}, {"page_pdf": 24, "page_imprimee": "22", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.24", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 933, "texte": "\"These grasping conceited painters!\" Nielsen\ngrumbled.\n\"No,\" Erna interceded. \"If he likes red, he\nlikes red.\"\n\"* A second Daniel*,\" quoted Breen. \"I thank\nthee, gracious Lady. Thou and I are of one mind\nand desire. By the way, Erna! Did you ever wear\nall red?**\n\"No—oh, yes, two or three years ago.'*\n44You did? Have you still got the dress?\"\n\"Oh, rve outgrown it. I'm—I'm stouter now,\"\nand she expanded her chest and laughed again.\n\"But you must find it,\" he continued with growing\ninterest. 44You could easily alter it to fit, couldn't\nyou ? I want you to pose for me. You know you've\npromised me several times. Wouldn't you like to?\nAll in red: red ribbon, red waist, and skirt and even\nred slippers, but best of all, red cheeks and red lips!\"\nErna's pleasure-loving scent was aroused.\n\"Will you, Erna?\"\n\"Sure!\"\n\"When?\"\n\"Oh, not to-day.\"\n44When then?\"\n\"Not to-morrow.\"\n\"Oh, pshaw—when then?\"\n\"My first afternoon off?\""}, {"page_pdf": 25, "page_imprimee": "23", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.25", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 915, "texte": "\"Fine! When will that be?\"\n\"Next Monday.\"\n\"Good! And you'll be ready?\"\n\"Yes, if you really want me to. But I won't be\nable—\"\n\"That's all right,\" he interrupted. \"Come any-\nhow! You'll be immense just the same. You will\ncreate—\"\n\"Pooh, pooh, and likewise tut, tut!\" Nielsen\nbroke in. \"When are we to hear an end to this?\"\n\"He's jealous,\" said Erna.\n\"Of course,\" Nielsen admitted. \"To the painter\ngo all the spoils. No one ever poses for a writer.\nIt wouldn't be proper.\"\n\"Why?\" she challenged.\nNielsen got up in a hurry. \"What?\" he de-\nmanded in mock seriousness.\n\"Order, order!\" she said roguishly and looked\naway.\n\"But—\"\n\"Order, order!\" Breen echoed. \"The lady is\nright. We must have order. Besides, we haven't\nordered.\"\nNielsen fell back with a philosophic sigh. \"All\nis unfair when bad puns make their appearance.\"\nIt did not take the young men long to make their\nchoice of breakfast. Erna went away."}, {"page_pdf": 26, "page_imprimee": "24", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.26", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 961, "texte": "\"Come back soon!\" pleaded Breen.\n\"In a wink,\" she called back.\nBreen started drumming on the table; Nielsen\nlooked across at him and hummed a pleasant tune.\n\"You' re a clever individual,\" he observed.\n\"Why?\"\n\"You're not going to have her pose, old Sly Fox.\"\n\"Certainly not, thou reader of souls.\"\n\"I thought not.\"\n\"But I'm only carrying out our program of last\nnight. You seem to have forgotten it.\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Then why criticize me for being the first one on\nthe job? It'll be up to you and Carstairs too.\"\n\"I know,\" Nielsen agreed jovially.\n\"Count me out!\" Carstairs interrupted suddenly.\n\"The sleeper's awake,\" Breen applauded. \"He's\nback from the land of dreams. What news from\nArcadia, Colonel?\"\n\"You can count me out,\" Carstairs repeated\nstubbornly, and would not look at his friends.\n\"Why, what's the matter?\" Nielsen interposed\nsympathetically, and raised his hand to forewarn\nBreen. *\n\"Nothing.\"\n\"Breen's only been fooling all along!\"\n\"I know.\""}, {"page_pdf": 27, "page_imprimee": "25", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.27", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 968, "texte": "\"Then you're not angry with him, or me?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Then what's the trouble?\"\n\"I don't like it—I hate it,\" the young composer\nwent on with difficulty.\n\"What don't you like?\"\n\"This business!\"\n\"What, this business of testing Erna?\" Nielsen\nasked gently, and studied him. \"John!\" The latter\nrefused to look at him. \"It's all in fun. I thought\nyou were satisfied with our arrangement? We are\neach to study Erna in our own way, then to com-\npare notes to learn whether— You don't have to\nuse Breen's method. 1 don't intend to. You don't\nhave to either.\"\n\"I know.\"\n\"Then there ought to be no complaint.\"\n\"Count me out anyhow.\"\n\"Why?\"\nBreen wanted to poke into the argument, but\nNielsen raised his hand again.\n\"She's not a waitress or a—or a working woman\n—or a table or a chair,\" Carstairs said with obvious\ndifficulty.\nNielsen understood. He squeezed his neighbor's\narm and declared with his most soothing tone: \"She's\na woman, of course—as we concluded last night."}, {"page_pdf": 28, "page_imprimee": "26", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.28", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1050, "texte": "Breen and I know that. You feel that we do, don't\nv*\nyou?\nCarstairs, who was in his most sentimental mood,\nseemed on the verge of tears. \"Yes,\" he managed\nto agree.\nNielsen broke off the subject at once. \"Well,\nwe'll talk over the whole business some other time.\nYou're not feeling well this morning. It must be\nyour work at that confounded moving picture hole.\"\n\"Yes,\" Carstairs said doubtfully.\n\"Cheer up!\" Breen succeeded in interpolating.\n\"Forget your troubles in the music world and listen\nto that concert over there. That duet recital, I\nshould say.\"\nCarstairs smiled.\n\"Tristan and Isolde are being undone,\" Nielsen\nadded, catching Breen's cue. \"Or Salome and\nJokannan, eh? Away with Wagner and Strauss:\nRichard the First and Second—what do you say,\nJohn?\"\n\"Yes.\"\nThe two milkmen, who were sleeping more\nsoundly than ever, appreciated their listeners' ap-\nplause. They were indulging in a crescendo.\n\"Silence and listen!\" Breen warned so solemnly\nthat Nielsen, and even Carstairs, laughed.\nBreen and Nielsen exchanged nods. They had"}, {"page_pdf": 29, "page_imprimee": "27", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.29", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1083, "texte": "accomplished their object. Erna came back with\ntheir orders.\n\"What music have we here?\" Breen hailed her.\nShe set their orders on the table, and arranged\ntheir plates, knives, forks and spoons. \"What did\nyou say?\"\n\"What music is this emanating from yon Orpheus\nand his Eurydice?\"\n\"Must be some ragtime,\" she suggested.\nBreen feigned disappointment.\n\"It all depends upon one's taste, you see,\" Niel-\nsen interpreted for him.\nAnd Carstairs laughed again.\nErna eyed him. \"Why, he's awake,\" she said.\n\"Yes,\" B reen and Nielsen assured her.\nCarstairs raised his head and met her glance for\nan instant, and the sudden warmth he felt brought\ncolor to his face. He looked elsewhere, but it was\nplainly evident that he was feeling better.\n\"You're sure you're awake now?\" she questioned\nwantonlv.\n\"Yes, thanks,\" he responded gratefully.\nThe young men started eating. Erna attended\nto her remaining duties with them and then went\nover to another table and sat down. Presently, she\nwas occupied folding paper napkins. Breen, with\nNielsen's assistance, opened a discussion on the new-"}, {"page_pdf": 30, "page_imprimee": "28", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.30", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1163, "texte": "est fad of French painting, examples of which were\nbeing exhibited at a Fifth Avenue gallery.\nCarstairs stole cautious glances at Erna. Once\nor twice, she raised her eyes and caught his glance\nin hers. Both looked away in embarrassment. This\nperformance was repeated several times. There\nseemed to be some shy understanding between them.\nAbout a half hour later, the young men arose and\nput on their hats and coats. Erna came over and\ngave them their checks. \"So long, Erna,\" Niel-\nsen parted cordially. \"Au midi,\" Breen seconded.\nAnd the pair made their way up the steps and out\nof the dining room.\nCarstairs had delayed his departure a moment.\nHe approached Erna nervously and in a hurried\nvoice, began: \"Is it all right for to-night? You\nknow, you were going to let me know.\"\nShe frowned a little and then returned: \"Yes—\noh no, I can't go out with you to-night.\"\nHis face became tragic. She, possessed by one\nof her soft moods, played the sympathetic: \"Will\nyou be off again this week?\"\n\"Yes—Sunday night—from seven to nine,\" he\nexplained in an eager whisper.\n\"Well?\" She waited, smiling.\n\"Will it be all right then?\" he asked, his courage\nrising."}, {"page_pdf": 31, "page_imprimee": "29", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.31", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 926, "texte": "\"Yes.\"\n\"All right—-Sunday—seven o'clock,\" he whis-\npered, hurried out—and forgot his check.\nShe came after him and caught him at the counter,\nwhere he had joined his friends.\n\"You' ve forgotten your check,\" she told him,\nwith a bright glance.\n\"Oh, yes, thanks,\" he stammered.\nBreen and Nielsen stared at him. The trio\npassed out into the street.\n\"Where shall we go?\" Breen questioned.\n\"Let's bum a while in my room,\" Nielsen pro-\nposed.\n\"I can't,\" Carstairs declined.\n\"Why not, John?\"\n\"I want to work a little,\" Carstairs explained.\nBreen and Nielsen stared at him again.\nSomewhat later, the painter and the writer were\ncomfortably seated in the latter's comfortable work-\nshop.\n\"I guess so, but I hope it isn't true,\" Nielsen was\nsaying.\n\"Oh, he'll get over it. These attachments of his\nare never serious nor of long duration. And at best,\nshe's only a hardened little thing, a fact he'll realize\nin good season.\""}, {"page_pdf": 32, "page_imprimee": "30", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.32", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1038, "texte": "\"John was always much slower to learn matters\nthan the rest of us,\" Nielsen said dreamily.\n\"Yes.\"\n\"He's foolishly sensitive too.\"\n\"And foolishly sentimental,\" Breen concluded.\nThere was a pause.\n\"And how about your story?\" the painter con-\ntinued.\n\"By the way, I'm thinking of using Erna as a\nmodel for—\"\n\"Want her to pose for you too, old Sly Fox?\"\nBreen demanded in revenge.\n\"Of course, and incidentally to find out—\"\n\"I know,\" Breen interrupted, and the pair\nlaughed in mutual admiration.\nIn the meanwhile, John Carstairs was busy—\nworking. He was seated at the small upright piano,\nwhich monopolized a good part of the space in his\nsmall studio. About an hour later, he had finished\nimprovising and selecting and arranging his material\nand now placed a large sheet of music paper against\nthe piano rack. The staves were blank at present,\nbut it was certain that the young composer intended\ncovering them as rapidly as possible. First of all,\nhowever, he wrote the title of the composition at the\nhead of the page: To Thee."}, {"page_pdf": 33, "page_imprimee": "31", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.33", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1054, "texte": "IV\nAn evening performance was in full swing at the\nPhoenix Music Hall, a small but well attended five\nand ten cent moving picture and vaudeville estab-\nlishment on Eighth Avenue, not far from Lands-\nmann's. At present, the moving pictures were do-\ning a turn, and the auditorium was dark. Music\nfrom a piano, placed close to the stage, was the only\naccompaniment, but it was an adequate one. A\nyoung, slender, anaemic individual was seated at\nthe piano.\nAt the moment, he was playing a dainty popular\nwaltz as a descriptive background for a French\ncomedy scene. Many a laugh rolled toward him.\nThen he commenced a two-step, as the screen an-\nnounced a change of pictures. The audience\nlaughed more frequently and with heartier approval,\nas an American farce romped by. Again, the\nscreen announced a change.\nAn Irish romance was under way. For this class\nof sketch, Carstairs was expected to interpolate or\nto improvise something \"sweet and dreamy.\" There-\nfore, he took advantage of the opportunity. He\nleaned closer to the keyboard, lowered his head and"}, {"page_pdf": 34, "page_imprimee": "32", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.34", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1323, "texte": "was soon engulfed in what he was rendering—so\nmuch so, that he did not turn to keep in touch with\nthe pictures, as was his habit. The yearning senti-\nmental composition had made him captive.\nLet others talk against Erna, he would still hold\nfast to his faith in her. Breen was a cynic, and\nNielsen too. They flattered themselves that they\nknew human nature, but they did not, for they were\nlacking in sympathy. He had been foolish to listen\nto their prattle concerning Erna. He would not do\nso in the future. In fact, he ought to drop their ac-\nquaintance or to avoid their company, at least. He\nwould do that. Now, he could keep his thought\nof her, so pure, to himself—his thought of her, who,\nin spite of her fun-loving and prank-playing nature,\nwas as pure as the purest and whitest of— Yes, he\nwould keep her pure. And Jimmy Allen, well, he\nhad come back, but his influence over her was dead,\ndead since the day she had shown him the door, as\nshe had confided to him that time. He could trust\nher. She was strong enough and pure enough to\ntake care of herself.\nThis was Friday; to-morrow would be Saturday,\nand then Sunday, a long, long Sunday, would come\nand have to pass before she would be with him. Of\ncourse, he would see her tomorrow morning at break-\nfast, but he must be careful to avoid the cynics."}, {"page_pdf": 35, "page_imprimee": "33", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.35", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1320, "texte": "Even so, how could he tell her that he had composed\nthis for her, this, the best of his compositions, thanks\nto the circumstance that she had been its inspiration.\nPerhaps, it would be better not to tell her; it would\nbe a bigger surprise if he were to play it for her and\nthen offer it to her, as one would a flower or some\nother symbol.\nWould he have the courage to ask her to come to\nhis studio, so that he might play for her? And if\nhe had, suppose she should refuse? But she had\naccepted an invitation from Breen, and only to pose\nfor him. Surely, she would not refuse him? And\nif she did not, could he actually amuse and hold her\nattention by merely playing for her? Why not?\nShe sang a great deal in the store,—it is true, pop-\nular music, which he hated—but she had not been\neducated to anything higher. That did not make\nher any the less musical; moreover, she would learn\nin time, at his guidance perhaps, since she possessed\nso much temperament along with that lovely voice.\nTherefore, she would not object should he offer to\nplay for her. And he would play as he never had\nfor any one, eventually to lead up to this composi-\ntion, that belonged so naturally to her. What\nwould she say when he would offer it to her as her\nown? He must push his courage far enough to ask\nher to come to his studio."}, {"page_pdf": 36, "page_imprimee": "34", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.36", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 904, "texte": "Carstairs continued playing and dreaming.\nThe audience was very still now. At one end\nof the front row, a young couple were sitting, hold-\ning hands. When the lights were up a while ago,\none might have recognized them as Erna Vitek and\nJimmy Allen. Both were living in the proverbial\nseventh heaven.\n\"Ain't it lovely?\" she was whispering.\n\"The two boobs in the love story?\"\n\"Not them so much—but the music!\"\n\"Pretty good.\"\n\"Nice an' dreamy, ain't it?\"\n\"Yes sounds as though the guy was playing\nfor us.\"\nErna gave him a reproving nudge, and he\nlaughed. They listened and watched in silence.\nBut he grew impatient. \"Don't care for the story,\ndo you?\"\n\"Sure! What's the matter with it?\"\n\"Them two boobs gimme a pain.\"\n\"Why?\"\n\"I dunno.\"\n\"They're true to life?\"\n\"So's my dead gran'mother.\"\nShe laughed. \"What's wrong with 'em?\"\nHe squeezed her hand as gently as he was able.\n\"Where do we come in?\""}, {"page_pdf": 37, "page_imprimee": "35", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.37", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 594, "texte": "\"What?\"\n\"Ain't we true to life?\"\nShe pulled her hand away.\n\"What's the matter?\" he demanded.\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"Gimme your—my hand again!\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"Just because.\"\n««0 -v»»\n.bore?\n\"No.\"\nHe was silent.\nPresently, she commanded: \"Jimmy!\"\nNo answer.\n««r* t»»\nJimmy!\nAgain, no answer.\nHer hand slid across his arm and sought his.\n\"Mad?\"\n\"Mm—no.\"\n««0 -v»*\noure ?\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Then why wouldn't you answer?\"\n\"Just because!\" he mimicked her.\nShe slapped his hand gently, his hand opened and\nthey clasped again. There was a pause.\n\"Erna,\" he said in bolder tones.\n\"Not so loud!\" she warned him."}, {"page_pdf": 38, "page_imprimee": "36", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.38", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 660, "texte": "\"Well then Erna,\" he repeated in very low\ntones.\n\"That's better.\"\n\"How about it?\"\n\"About what?\"\n\"What I asked you 'fore we came here?\"\n\"I asked you not to repeat that,\" was her re-\nproach.\n\"I know, but I can't help it. Don't you like it\nhere?\"\n««o *»\nDure.\n\"I mean here, side o' me—in the dark?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Well—\" He hesitated.\n\"Well?\" she mocked him.\n\"Think o' how swell it'd be—\"\n\"Be careful, Jimmy!\"\n\"I can't help it,\" he persisted. \"Think o' how\nswell it'd be—\"\n\"Jimmy!\" she warned him once more.\n\"Oh shucks!\" he returned aloud, and was silent.\nThere was a longer pause.\n««T« «»»\nJimmy!\nNo answer.\n««*• •»»\nJimmy!\nAgain, no answer.\n««*• .»»\nJimmy!"}, {"page_pdf": 39, "page_imprimee": "37", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.39", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 679, "texte": "A third time, no answer.\nShe pressed his hand and pushed against his\nshoulder, but he would not respond. Erna gave in.\n\"I'm sorry—forgive me?\"\n\"Mm—\"\n\"Do you forgive me?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"You don't say it very loud.\"\n\"Well, you jumped on me before for talkin'\nloud.\"\n\"You'd wake the audience,\" she apologized.\n\"Well?\" he challenged.\n\"Well what?\" she retorted.\n\"What did you want to say?\"\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"All right!\"—and he was silent.\n* \"Ah yes, jimmy,\" she resigned.\n\"Well?\"\n\"You can go on with—with your story, but—but\ndon't go too far.\"\n\"All right.\"\n\"Promise?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Then go ahead.\"\nHe revolved matters in his blunt mind, and re-\ncommenced: \"You remember, I told you 'bout the"}, {"page_pdf": 40, "page_imprimee": "38", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.40", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1061, "texte": "—the little furnished flat my manager, Nolan, asked\nme to move in?\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"Well, why couldn't we—just you an* me—\"\nJimmy!\n\"I know, but I can't help it, Erna. Things is\ndifferent now. When I asked you that time—well,\nthat's all over now. You an' I's forgotten that. So\nwhat's buried's buried. An' times is different now.\nYou've got a job, though it's a punk one. I've got\na little money an' more to come, an' I've cut drinkin'.\nMy health's fine an' prospects great. After I finish\n'the Kid' there'll be Young Walcott—an' after\nWalcott, a bunch o' others—\"\n\"But Jimmy—\"\n\"Don't butt in!\" he begged seriously. \"Now,\nI know you hate that job o' yours—\"\n\"It ain't all cheese an' honey,\" she confessed.\n\"No, an' it never will be. Now, why can't you\npull up stakes—\"\n««?• .»»\nJimmy!\n\"Don't butt in!\" he begged more seriously. \"This\nis different than last time. I'm a—a respectable\nman now an' you're a respectable woman.\"\n\"Always have been,\" she cautioned him.\n\"I know,\" he hastened to admit. \"What I've\nbeen tryin' to say is: Keep your job a little longer"}, {"page_pdf": 41, "page_imprimee": "39", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.41", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 808, "texte": "if you want to, till I go on with mine an* get lots o'\ndough. In the meanwhile—\" He stopped.\n\"Well?\" she ventured, but with an ominous in-\nflection.\n\"I'll rent the little flat off Nolan, an' you an' I\n99\ncan—\nli T* iff\nJimmy!\n\"But I'm askin' you to me this time,\" he\nprotested.\n\"I know.\"\n\"Ain't that different?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"Because it ain't.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"Because it ain't.\"\n\"But Erna—\"\n\"Now listen, Jimmy! You promised not to go\ntoo far.\"\n\"Oh shucks!\" he broke out.\nThey were silent. He let go her hand and drew\naway a short distance. She removed her hand\nrather reluctantly. Once or twice, she pushed\nagainst his shoulder. But he would not respond.\nThe romantic pictures disappeared, and the music\nceased. The lights were turned on. There was a\nsigh throughout the audience. Erna and Jimmy"}, {"page_pdf": 42, "page_imprimee": "40", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.42", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 992, "texte": "seemed glad of the change as well. A little sooner,\nthey would have been sorry.\nShe glanced his way. He was not looking in her\ndirection. She nudged him. He still refused to\nturn his head. \"Jimmy,\" she whispered tenderly.\nHe stole a half glance at her. She was smiling\nin invitation. He could not help smiling too.\n44You all right now?\" she ventured.\nHe turned toward her, and instantly, his ever-\nready laugh dispelled their gloom.\n44You all right?\" she repeated.\n44Yes,\" he admitted, and declared: 44Some scrap\nthat!\"\n44N0, it wasn't,\" she reassured him and smiled\nwith revived mischief.\nTheir hands fell back to their natural occupation.\n\"Turn out the lights!\" Jimmy commanded in so\nloud a tone that most of their neighbors, as well as\nErna, giggled.\nA German comedian made his appearance and\noffered the usual monologue. No musical accom-\npaniment was required for this act; therefore, Car-\nstairs had disappeared under the stage. He had not\nseen Erna and Jimmy, nor they him."}, {"page_pdf": 43, "page_imprimee": "41", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.43", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1003, "texte": "V\nCarstairs was waiting at the street corner rendez-\nvous early the following Sunday evening. Im-\npatience had kept him company all day, a long day,\nbut the impatience he felt now was even keener. He\nhad been ahead of their appointment by about\ntwenty minutes, for he was afraid that Erna might be\nthere first. His vigil was that much the longer and\nmore trying. What hours it took for minutes to\npass! Suppose she did not come?\nThe fates, however, were good-humored. He\ncould see an athletic figure coming along at a\nfamiliar leisurely pace. It was Erna. His joy and\nexcitement were such that he could scarcely wait\nfor her to reach him. What made her walk so\nslowly ?\n\"Hello/' was her soft cheery greeting.\nHe had avoided the bakery restaurant all day.\nHe could hardly return her salutation, the last of\nhis courage having fled.\n\"Where—where shall we go?\" he questioned.\n\"Anywhere,\" she agreed genially.\nNow was his opportunity. He must ask her. Of\ncourse, they could not walk the streets the whole of"}, {"page_pdf": 44, "page_imprimee": "42", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.44", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1062, "texte": "his two hours' freedom. Nor could they go to the\ntheatre so early. Would she sense these arguments?\nMoreover, they had been to a restaurant for a little\nrefreshment and conversation on their two former\noutings. She had not enjoyed those visits particular-\nly, reminding her, as they must have, of her daily\nlife at Landsmann's.\n\"It's a little bit too cold,\" he ventured.\n\"Not so very,\" she returned mischievously, as\nthey started walking.\nHe was frightened. \"But—\"\nShe was enjoying his embarrassment, but came to\nhis assistance with: \"Well, where shall we go? It's\nup to you. You did the invitin'.\"\n\"I've got nearly two hours,\" he explained. \"Can\nyou stay out that long?\"\n\"I'm off for the rest o' the night,\" she assured him;\n\"but I ought to be back under the quilt by ten. I'm\na bit tired.\"\n\"Of course, you are,\" he agreed hurriedly—this\nwas another opportunity—\"so we mustn't do any\nwalking. Do you—would you like to come—\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"How would you like to come over to my place?\"\nIt was out. What would she say?\n\"Will anybody else be there?\"\n\"Oh no!\""}, {"page_pdf": 45, "page_imprimee": "43", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.45", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1020, "texte": "\"It's over there on Fourteenth Street somewhere,\nain't it?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"I don't mind,\" she said.\nJoy and excitement overwhelmed him. He could\nnot speak. And he had imagined all along that it\nwould be so difficult to induce her to come. He did\nnot know what to say.\n\"Do we cross here?\" she suggested.\n\"Yes,\" he said in a low tone.\nThe need of politeness forced itself upon him.\nTimidly, he took her arm and led her across the\nstreet. As a matter of fact, it was she, who was so\nmuch stronger and more daring than he, who had\ndone the leading. They reached the opposite side,\nand walked along in silence. After a minute or so,\nthey approached an old building.\n\"Here it is,\" he declared nervously and let go her\narm.\nThey climbed three smelly flights of stairs, fol-\nlowed a dark hallway and came to a halt. He took\nout his keys and opened a door. \"Step in,\" he\nrequested.\n\"You've got the light lit,\" she announced.\n\"Yes, I thought it'd be—\"\n\"It's awful nice here.\"\n\"Do you think so?\" he questioned eagerly, greatly"}, {"page_pdf": 46, "page_imprimee": "44", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.46", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 932, "texte": "encouraged. \"But it's such a small, dingy place.\"\n\"Oh no,\" she maintained. \"It's nice an' cosy.\"\nErna walked about, examining articles with her\ninquisitive eyes. \"So this is your piano?\"\n\"Yes, it's an old box.\"\n\"No, it's nice lookin'. An' whose picture is\nthat?\"\n\"My mother's.\"\n\"An' that one?\"\n\"Oh that—that's only—\"\n\"An old friend?\" she assisted him.\n\"Yes,\" he agreed, and his blushes appeared.\nFortunately, Erna's back was turned. But she\nknew he was blushing, and her face lighted with\npleasure. She examined other articles.\nCarstairs asked quickly: \"Won't you take off\nyour things?\"\nSlowly, she removed her coat and hat, and fixed\nher hair at a small looking glass. \"Men use these\nthings too,\" she observed.\n\"Yes, we do,\" he echoed, and put her things on\nthe couch, where he likewise laid his own.\n\"Sit down,\" he advised.\n\"Over here?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Oh, this is a nice soft chair.\"\nCarstairs walked about a while. He was so"}, {"page_pdf": 47, "page_imprimee": "45", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.47", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1100, "texte": "nervous that he did not know what to do. Never-\ntheless, he realized that he must offer to entertain\nher. At least, he must say something.\nBut Erna spoke first. \"What makes you walk\naround?\"\n\"Oh nothing,\" he returned abruptly, looked about\nin confusion and finally selected the piano stool,\nwhich, however, was so close to Erna's chair that his\nconfusion grew. The girl, herself, had betrayed a\nlittle embarrassment once or twice, but she had con-\nquered its last sign. This was perhaps possible be-\ncause of her enjoyment of Carstairs' rather pathetic\ncondition. Erna loved and craved praise or flattery,\nand the young composer's substitute for them was\ncertainly a decided tribute.\n\"It's awful nice here,\" she repeated.\n\"I'm glad you think so,\" he responded gratefully,\nand glanced toward her, only to look away.\n\"It's kind o' restful too.\"\nThis was an excellent opening.\n\"You must be very tired,\" he declared.\n\"A little bit.\"\n\"You' ve been working all day?\"\n\"Since six-thirty this morning.\"\n\"Lord, then you must be tired.\"\n\"Not so very much,\" she denied with pride. \"I\ncan stand work.\""}, {"page_pdf": 48, "page_imprimee": "46", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.48", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1024, "texte": "He dared a glance at her strong body and her bold\neyes. How splendid she was!\n\"But \\)ou must be tired,\" she continued.\n\"Yes,- -no, only a very little.\"\n\"You ve been workin' all day too.\"\n\"At the afternoon performance. I didn't get\naway until six o'clock.\n\"An' you go on to-night?\"\n\"From nine to eleven, yes,\" he explained, and\nfelt ashamed that he was so weary. And she had\nbeen working in that stuffy, unhealthy dining room\nand kitchen since half-past six and was as cheerful\nas ever.\n\"You'll be needin' a rest now,\" she went on.\n\"Oh no!\" he hastily assured her.\n\"Then will you play for me? I never heard you\nplay, an' I've heard Mr. Breen an' Mr. Nielsen talk\nso much about you.\"\n\"They are flatterers,\" he said, with a self-con-\nscious laugh. \"But if you'd like—if you—would\nyou really like to have me?\"\n\"Of course.\"\nThis was his next opportunity, but again, his\ncourage would not assist him. What should he play?\n\"Do you really feel like listening?\" he began once\nmore.\n\"Of course—I like music,' ' she argued."}, {"page_pdf": 49, "page_imprimee": "47", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.49", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1135, "texte": "There was nothing else to do. He had better start\nplaying. And Carstairs turned on the stool. \"What\nshall I play for you?\"\n\"Anything at all.\"\n\"But wouldn't you rather—\"\n\"Play somethin' you like yourself,\" she inter-\nrupted.\nCarstairs hesitated. He had not had the faintest\nidea how difficult it would be. Moreover, he could\nfeel her soft brown eyes resting on him. And he had\nbeen vowing such wonderful deeds of late: that he\nwould play for her as he never had for any one—\nthat he would play her composition, which belonged\nso naturally to her. Instead, he could scarcely touch\na key.\nA spirit of self-condemnation took possession of\nhim. He must forget himself. She would think him\na fool. Besides, she might learn how much he—No,\nshe must not learn that. He commenced improvising.\nThe young composer blundered considerably at\nfirst, but his self-resentment helped him, and his ef-\nforts soon displayed more coherence and warmth.\nShould he open his program with \"To Thee\"? Why\nnot? Why wait until later? But she might under-\nstand. She might catch its significance and then—\nBut how could she know that he had written the"}, {"page_pdf": 50, "page_imprimee": "48", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.50", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1266, "texte": "composition? It might just as easily belong to some\nother composer. Yes, he would play it.\n\"Are you ready?\" he asked with attempted\nlevity.\n\"Of course, don't stop!\" she encouraged him.\nCarstairs played \"To Thee\", at first, with timidity\nand uncertainty, but by and by with more resolution\nand consequent expressiveness as his faith in the com-\nposition, as an expression of himself, returned.\nGradually, too, he realized how appropriate was\nthe mood that flowed through its measures.\nErna watched him. A greedy little smile played\nabout the corners of her mouth and her nose twitched\nslightly. But the corners straightened and her nose\nstopped twitching.\nNo, he was too soft. His shoulders were so weak\nand his hands so small and his face so pale—just\nlike his nature. He belonged to his mother up there\nand to that soft pretty face over there. But he was\na nice, decent fellow. And he was lots of fun, he\nwas so different from other men. But he was sad.\nShe loved joy and freedom. He seemed like a mean\nlittle prisoner, and he made her feel soft too. But he\nhad always been decent toward her. Yes, he be-\nlonged to such as his mother and the pretty face.\nAnyhow, he knew how to play the piano .. . What\na different time she had had last night! Jimmy was"}, {"page_pdf": 51, "page_imprimee": "49", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.51", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 968, "texte": "such a big, strong, happy fellow. But even he did\nnot quite satisfy her. Erna sighed just a little.\nShe regained immediate control of herself and\nstopped studying Carstairs. Instead, she followed\nthe patterns in the small rug at her feet. Presently,\nshe gave herself up to the music. It was very pretty.\nIt sounded familiar too.\nCarstairs finished playing.\n\"I like that,\" she said instantly.\n\"Do you?\" he demanded, wheeling toward her.\n\"Yes, it's awful nice,\" she complimented him.\nHe brightened perceptibly. \"Do you really\nthink so? Do you really like it?\"\n\"Of course!\"\nHe could not repress his emotion. \"Do you—l—\nwhat do you think?\" he asked with enthusiasm.\n\"What?\"\n\"Do you know who wrote that?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"I wrote that,\" he broke out, and leaned forward.\n\"You did?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"It's awful nice,\" she repeated.\nThis was not very strong applause, but it was\nmore than sufficient for Carstairs, and he grew reck-\nless. In one moment, he had confessed himself the"}, {"page_pdf": 52, "page_imprimee": "50", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.52", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 961, "texte": "author of the work, and in the next, such was his\npresent rashness, he was about to go much farther.\n\"How would you like—\" but he stopped, and\nsmiled in a happy way.\n\"What?\" she urged him.\n\"You're sure you like it?\" he repeated.\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Would you like to have it?\" he asked with sud-\nden boldness.\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\"Don't you understand?\" he rambled on, and\nexplained: \"Composers, you know, write songs and\npiano pieces and orchestral works, and afterward\nthey often dedicate them to somebody—to one of\ntheir friends or—or one of their relatives. Do you\nunderstand?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"That's what I want to do,\" he continued ex-\ncitedly. \"I wrote the piece—it's nothing wonderful,\nbut I—l put myself into it and—and you like it—\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"So I'd like to give it to you.\"\n\"But I don't play,\" she protested.\n\"That isn't the point,\" he declared. \"I'm dedi-\ncating it to you—that is, your name appears on it:\nfirst, the name of the composition, then my name, as"}, {"page_pdf": 53, "page_imprimee": "51", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.53", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1006, "texte": "composer, and then 'to Miss Erna Vitek.' Do you\nsee?\"\n\"Oh yes!\"\n\"Do you like the idea?\"\n\"Yes, that's fine.\"\n\"Great!\" he cried.\n\"But what's the name o' the piece?\" she requested\nquietly.\n\"Why, I—l gave it a name—but suppose I call\nit simply: 'A Song'?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Sure! That'd be a nice title, wouldn't it?\"\n\"Yes.\"\nHis emotions threatened to run over. He wanted\nto tell her the rest: that, as a matter of fact, she had\nbeen the one to inspire the composition—his inspira-\ntion—but, well, that would be going too far. She\nwould be learning too much. But this was the hap-\npiest day of his life. He had made a long stride,\neven over the evening when, for a few confidential\nminutes, she had confided to him those details of her\npast relation with Allen. He must compose many\ncompositions for her.\nCarstairs played other music, composition after\ncomposition, many of them his own, but all the while\nhe waited to hear Erna ask him to repeat her com-\nposition. She did not do so at once, but eventually,"}, {"page_pdf": 54, "page_imprimee": "52", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.54", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 880, "texte": "bored—to tell the truth—by the incessant flow of\nmusic, she made the request. Overjoyed, he re-\npeated the work, and every measure lingered,\nbreathed and swayed with the mood of its creator.\nNear the close, Erna succeeded in stifling a yawn.\nIt was after nine o'clock when Carstairs conducted\nher down the three flights. He would receive a\nreprimand and fine when he reported at the music\nhall. But what did he care?\nThe young composer did not return to his sanctum\nuntil eleven thirty. He»quickly lit the gas. At the\ntheatre, a thought had come to torment him, as he\nhad rehearsed the evening's doings and joys many\ntimes over. He went to the piano and took down\nthe picture of the girl. Presently, he buried it under\na heap of odds and ends that littered the drawer of\na bureau, and said to himself for at least the fiftieth\ntime: \"What a careless damned fool I am!\""}, {"page_pdf": 55, "page_imprimee": "53", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.55", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 946, "texte": "VI\nIt was early the next afternoon. Breen and Niel-\nsen were arguing in the former's studio: a large un-\nusually well furnished and attractively decorated\nWest Fourteenth Street skylight room.\n\"Now, you clear out of here!\" Breen was com-\nmanding. \"She'll be here right away.\"\n\"Sure she won't disappoint thee?\" Nielsen\nmocked pleasantly. *\n\"No, I saw her this morning and this noon for a\nmoment, and she intends keeping her royal promise.\"\n\"How about the rouge garment?\"\n\"She hasn't had time to alter it.\"\n\"That won't make any difference, of course,\"\nNielsen ventured in provoking tones.\n\"Go on! Clear out of here!\" Breen repeated.\n\"You painters!\" sang Nielsen, as he backed to-\nward the door.\n\"We're no worse than you fellows are,\" Breen\nretorted. \"Besides, this afternoon is no more and\nno less than an experiment in line with the contract\nof our triumvirate. Your inning will come, espe-\ncially as you are writing a story, for which pur-\npose—\""}, {"page_pdf": 56, "page_imprimee": "54", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.56", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1151, "texte": "\"I know,\" Nielsen admitted with cheerful sly-\nness. \"And I really need Erna to help me with it.\"\n\"And Carstairs will have to contribute his share\nof the contract, unless he persists in that 'count me\nout* air of his.\"\n\"Oh, he'll come around, in his own way,\" was\nNielsen's confident assurance. \"I saw him this\nmorning, by the way—the first time I've seen him at\nLandsmann's in several days.\"\n\"How is he?\"\n\"Unusually cheery and affable.\"\n\"He'll recover from that foolishness.\"\n\"I think so too, but—\"\n\"Now, get out!\" Breen commanded a third time.\n\"You'll be gossipping here forever.\"\nNielsen took hold of the door knob, smiled in an\naggravating manner, opened the door, bowed low\nand said in a droll tone: \"Moral or unmoral,\nbut—?\"\nBreen followed him, but Nielsen escaped, and the\npainter slammed the door. His mood changed in-\nstantly. He bustled around the studio, fixing this\nand rearranging that object and eventually looked\nabout with satisfaction. He then approached a look-\ning glass, readjusted his tie, smoothed his hair with\nhis hand and otherwise subjected himself to a critical\nbut self-satisfied examination, which, however, was"}, {"page_pdf": 57, "page_imprimee": "55", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.57", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1184, "texte": "cut short by a knock at the door. He hurried over\nto the door and opened it. \"Come in!\" he said\ncordially and stepped aside for Erna.\nShe was wearing her best clothes, which were\nvery attractive on her. Unfortunately, the only red\nin the picture was a profusion of ribbons on her black\nhat and a neat tie-—but fortunately, her red cheeks\nand lips were not missing. Altogether, Erna was a\nseductive apparition.\nCertainly, this was Breen's opinion too. \"How\ncharming you look, your Ladyship!\" he exclaimed.\n\"Do I?\" she retorted, smiling.\n\"Oh decidedly, decidedly,\" and Breen bowed in\nanticipation of a pleasant afternoon. Bringing all of\nhis courtesy to the surface, he helped Erna to re-\nmove her coat. She went over to the looking glass,\nlaughed, cried: \"You've got a glass too,\" and took\noff her hat with careless ease.\n\"What do you mean?\" demanded Breen, stand-\ning behind her and surveying her reflection with open\nadmiration.\n\"Nothin',\" she returned rather impudently.\n\"A lovely girl that!\" he added significantly.\n\"Think so?\" she challenged.\n\"Decidedly,\" he repeated.\nShe shrugged her shoulders a little and smiled at\nhim in the glass. Breen's interest grew. He tried"}, {"page_pdf": 58, "page_imprimee": "56", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.58", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1143, "texte": "to put his hands on her shoulders, byway of con-\nfidence, but Erna turned toward him with a quick\nsupple movement. Like the accomplished artist she\nwas, she said nothing, not even byway of reproach,\nbut laughed again. He eyed her with still franker\nadmiration.\n\"Well?\" she questioned.\n\"Oh, I know,\" he said, recollecting his role, and\nwent on evasively: \"But you're not wearing your\nred dress or very much red?\"\n\"What difference does that make? Maybe you'd\nrather have me come some other time?\"\n\"No, no! You stay right here, now that you've\ncome. You'll do just as well in that costume. The\nsame Erna Vitek is inside it. But—er—\"\n\"But what?\"\n\"I won't attempt a color sketch of you in that\ndress. There, there, forgive me—it's very charm-\ning, my dear, but— Perhaps, I'll just make a pencil\nsketch of you to-day. Artists ought to commence\nwith pencil sketches anyhow, until the characters of\ntheir subjects have had time to properly enter their\nblood, so to speak. Which, of course, is all Greek\nto you. Do you object, madame?\"\n\"No, do me any way you like,\" she consented.\n\"Oh, if you feel that way about it,\" he hinted\naudaciously."}, {"page_pdf": 59, "page_imprimee": "57", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.59", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1152, "texte": "\"Take care!\" she warned.\nBreen went over to the model throne and pre-\ntended to place the chair for her. He was sorry\nthat he had had to suggest even a pencil sketch of\nher, but he was forced to attempt some part of their\noriginal agreement. What is more, he had prac-\ntically cast away all thought of \"studying\" Erna,\nlater to make his report before the triumvirate. She\nwas too interesting and magnetic an individual to be\nused for such a childish purpose. \"Come over here\nand sit down,\" he requested calmly.\nGiving herself an unexpected air of modesty, she\ncomplied, at the same time adding a prudish touch\nby fixing her skirt carefully as she sat down. Breen\nwas puzzled, but drew up a chair, took a pencil and\nsketch book and seated himself. \"I'm going ta draw\nyou at close range,\" he apologized. She smiled in\nencouragement.\nBreen commenced drawing, very carelessly, it is\ntrue. Erna watched him with innocent eyes. \"Do\nI pose right?\" she asked at length.\n\"Yes,\" he assured her.\nShe was silent.\nA little later, she asked: \"Do your models have\nto keep quiet?\"\n\"Not at all! Chatter away!\"\nBut she preferred to remain silent. To tell the"}, {"page_pdf": 60, "page_imprimee": "58", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.60", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1223, "texte": "truth, this was not Erna's first experience as a sitter.\nShe had posed for two or three other artists in the\npast: once as Carmen, another time as a madonna,\nand a third time for some allegorical effort concern-\ning Spring. Breen continued to study her for the\ndrawing. His mind, however, or that region wherein\nits desires lay, was more busy than his pencil. Ten\nminutes or so later, he stopped drawing and held the\npad off, squinted one eye at Erna, then at the draw-\ning and again at Erna.\n\"Do you like being winked at?\" he asked.\n\"Depends upon who's doin' it,\" she commented.\n\"Don't you like me to do it?\"\n\"I don't know,\" she replied enigmatically.\nHe got up from his chair and approached her.\n\"Bring the picture with you!\" she requested.\nBreen, however, once more tried to put his hands\non her. She pushed back her chair, and in outraged\ntones commanded: \"Mr. Breen!\"\n\"I beg your pardon,\" he said with well assumed\ncandor, but he was irritated to a considerable degree.\n\"I merely wanted to change your pose a bit.\"\n\"Well, why didn't you ask me to do it?\" she\ncomplained, her innocent self again.\nHe returned to his chair without explaining.\n\"Am I all right now?\" she asked.\n\"Pull your chair forward again.\""}, {"page_pdf": 61, "page_imprimee": "59", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.61", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1276, "texte": "\"So?\"\n\"That'll do.\"\nErna watched him as before, and Breen went on\ndrawing. But his usually well balanced mind was\nruffled. He tried to construct some other scheme.\nErna had always been quite prone (after all, she\nwas only a waitress) to permit occasional familiarity\non his part at Landsmann's. What made her play\nthe prude away from home? Perhaps she was, at\nheart, like the rest of her class, nothing more than a\nnarrow moralistic thing, and not the unmoral soul\nhe had constantly given her credit for being. His\ndisgust was supreme. On the contrary, he mused,\nshe might only be playing a part. Admitting that\nErna, in society, only held the position of waitress,\nstill, she was a very shrewd girl. He must try some\nother attack, allowing her the credit she deserved.\nHe had attempted flattery, pleasantry and not a little\nboldness. What should be his next step?\nEventually, the young artist tried bribery. Hav-\ning finished his work, he presented it to Erna accom-\npanied by a short but eloquently complimentary\nspeech. The girl did not neglect to admire the\ndrawing and to thank him for the present. His act,\napparently, made no stronger impression on her.\nLater, he suggested and, with her consent, prepared\nand served some tea and biscuits. They were sitting"}, {"page_pdf": 62, "page_imprimee": "60", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.62", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1355, "texte": "at a small cosy table. About them, the atmosphere\nhad spread a halo of warmth and intimacy. And\nBreen played host and admirer to the best of his\naccomplished ability. But Erna refused to respond\nany more than she had done earlier. She appeared\ngrateful; she talked a good deal; and she seemed\ncompletely at ease with Breen and her surroundings.\nBut she would not respond more than she had done.\nBreen's disgust threatened to reach a climax.\nThere was a reason for Erna's conduct. She, in\nher greed of heart, playing with Breen, as she had\nwith Carstairs, the part of a watchful cat, had come\nto several conclusions. She disliked the artist's long,\nangular figure, his sharp, shrewd face, and most of\nall, his cold, self-sympathetic eyes. And she dis-\nliked him personally even more. Without claiming\nany undue powers of discernment for Erna, one\nwould surely have had to credit her with the posses-\nsion of a strong feminine instinct. Her instinct had\nresented his attentions, for, behind them all, she had\nfelt that he, as a gentleman, was shoving her down\nwhere she belonged. She was a waitress, but she\nwas good looking enough and lots of fun for him—\nand much more in prospect. In a word, Breen had\nbrought out the hard calculating side of her nature,\nand she had raised her guard against him.\nFurthermore, Erna was in a bad humor when she"}, {"page_pdf": 63, "page_imprimee": "61", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.63", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1283, "texte": "came to Breen's studio, her genial conduct notwith-\nstanding. She had seen Jimmy that noon in the din-\ning room, but he had spent all of his time talking\nfight with the customers. As though the fact that\nhe was to turn to the ring to-morrow night would\nbring the world to an end! She would pay him for\nneglecting her. Besides, Mr. Nielsen had been ap-\nproaching her. He had been asking her to \"pose'*\nfor him too. Did he also want to take advantage\nof her? Still, there was something human inside of\nhim. He had always acted a little differently from\nthe others. As for Jimmy—\nBreen interrupted her reflection. He reached\nacross the table and tried to touch her hand. Erna's\nface flushed with anger, and her hand came down\nupon his with a loud slap. Just as quickly, she re-\ncollected herself. \"Excuse me!\" she asked sullenly.\nBreen, however, was through. He arose from his\nchair. This had been impudence beyond all im-\npudence. And the man of success turned his back\nupon the waitress.\nErna likewise got up, leaving the sketch on the\ntable. She did not offer a second apology. Instead,\nshe drew on her coat, picked up her hat and walked\nover to the glass. Her face was crimson.\nBreen was quite sorry. He came behind Erna\nand made several attempts to clear some momentary"}, {"page_pdf": 64, "page_imprimee": "62", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.64", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1121, "texte": "pangs of conscience. But Erna would not listen.\nHe moved away, pride clouding his face.\nErna hurried toward the door. Breen followed\nher, offering one or two final excuses. But she\nrefused to answer, and went out. Breen slammed\nthe door behind her. Presently, he was busy pacing\nthe studio in a vain endeavor to regain some of his\ncomposure.\nSteps were to be heard coming along the hallway.\nThe door was opened cautiously, and Nielsen's head\nand shoulders appeared. And his caressing voice\nquestioned: \"Well, your Highness, what is your\ndecision? Moral, unmoral or—?\"\nBreen faced about, swore a strong oath and com-\nmanded: \"Get out of here!\"\n\"But, dear Bainbridge—\"\n\"Get out, you spy!\" Breen continued angrily, and\nwent toward the door.\n\"But I want to know your decision.\"\n\"Moral, moral, a million times moral—she has\ndegenerated—in fact, she hasn't even degenerated.\nI wouldn't do her the honor of saying so. She's al-\nways been a narrow, conventional, contemptible little\nthing. Is that enough, you ass? She's a—\"\n\"Enough, noble Sire!\" Nielsen interrupted with a\nmysterious air. \"Thou hast spoken. Enough!\""}, {"page_pdf": 65, "page_imprimee": "63", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.65", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 93, "texte": "Luckily, his head and shoulders disappeared just in\ntime.\nBreen slammed the door."}, {"page_pdf": 66, "page_imprimee": "64", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.66", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1053, "texte": "VII\nWednesday morning was a particularly noisy\nmorning in the rear dining room of Landsmann's.\nJimmy Allen was the hero. On the night before, he\nhad knocked out his opponent toward the close of\nthe first round. Some of his admirers had met at\nLandsmann's to discuss and celebrate the event, and\none who had been present was supplying the others\nwith the details.\n\"An' toward the end o' the round,\" he was de-\nscribing, \"Jimmy ducked under the poor 'Kid's'\nflabby guard an' caught 'im an awful soak in the\nguts, an' as 'the Kid' doubled up, Jimmy swung the\nfinisher —it was a terror! right on the point o'\nthe jaw. 'The Kid' hit the mat deader than a door\nnail. An' they carried 'im away, a smashed hope\ninside o' three minutes.\"\nThe listeners clamored for more, and one of them\nqueried: \"But I thought 'the Kid' was such a clever\nsidestepper?\"\n\"He is, but he couldn't sidestep Jimmy. Jimmy's\na terror in the ring. He's a good-natured feller out-\nside, but the sight of another feller in front of 'im\nkind o' riles 'is Blood. He can't rest till he's bat-"}, {"page_pdf": 67, "page_imprimee": "65", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.67", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1258, "texte": "tered the guy away, an' let *im see a little blood,\nlike 'the Kid's* mouth bleedin', an' it's all off 'cept\nthe count, for Jimmy goes wild. He got to 'the Kid*\nby constant borein' in. Half a dozen fierce body\ntaps weakened the poor guy, then a couple o' face\nsmashers, an then the finish. Oh, it was awful.\"\nThe listeners sighed with awe. \"An' Jimmy?\"\nrequested the interlocutor.\n\"Oh, he got a scratch or two. But he was 'is\nsmilin' self soon's it was over.\"\nStanding near the doorway, listening to every\nword with feverish interest, was Erna. Her eyes\nshone, and her heart beat with joyous pride.\nLandsmann suddenly called to her from the\nkitchen: \"Erna, your order is here.\" She did not\nheed him, but waited for more details. Again, the\nstorekeeper called to her, but once more, she refused\nto heed him. The man appeared in the doorway,\nhis face red with vexation. \"Erna! Do you hear\nv»\nme?\n\"Yes, yes,\" she retorted petulantly, and hurried\npast him. He followed close behind her, and as she\nturned, gave her a stupid but indignant stare. Erna\nreturned his stare with interest, and Landsmann,\nbeaten as he had been so often, retreated to the store,\nthere to seek muttered consultation with his wife.\nErna was about to take up her order, when she"}, {"page_pdf": 68, "page_imprimee": "66", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.68", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1282, "texte": "came upon a remarkable sight. She stopped, stared\nand, stimulated by a desire to emulate, tiptoed for-\nward, her strong white teeth showing in the joy of\nanticipation. On the bottom of the kitchen sink, a\ngoodly sized rat was drinking.\nThe girl continued to sneak forward without mak-\ning a sound. Suddenly, her hand darted out and\nseized the rat by the neck; at the same time, she\nturned on the water from the large faucet. With a\nstrong grip, she held the squirming, squeaking animal\nunder the stream.\nGretchen screamed and ran out into the store.\n\"Was ist los?\" demanded the storekeeper. Gret-\nchen told her story in a frightened whisper. Mrs.\nLandsmann and Molly screamed; several customers\narose and, led by Landsmann, who waddled for-\nward, came into the kitchen. Landsmann stopped\nshort at a respectful distance from Erna, eyed her\nfuriously and shouted imprecations. She paid no\nattention to him, but continued her pleasant task, her\nface alight with animal joy and brutality. The rat's\nlife was soon extinguished, due, perhaps, more to\nErna's fingers than the water. Proudly holding it\nout by the tail for display, she dropped the body\ninto a pail under the sink.\nThe storekeeper approached her, followed by the\ncustomers. The latter profferred congratulations,"}, {"page_pdf": 69, "page_imprimee": "67", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.69", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1305, "texte": "but not so Herr Landsmann. He grabbed some\ntable refuse and dumping it into the pail, piled some\nold newspapers on top, all the while averting his\nface as much as possible. He then turned upon\nErna, but she stood her ground, defying him, and the\nstorekeeper was forced to resort 'o still stronger im-\nprecation. Erna grew impudent m the knowledge of\nher righteousness, and Landsmann had to retreat\nonce more, but this time with threatening gestures\nand for an even angrier consultation with his wife.\nThe other waitresses refused to return to the kitchen,\nbut went over to assist Landsmann.\nThe customers, who had been joined by others\nfrom the rear dining room, refused to leave the\nkitchen, each one wishing to pay Erna homage by\ncompliment or by taking her arm. Jimmy Allen\nwas forgotten. At first, the girl, conscious of the\nsensation she had created so accidentally,—killing\nrats was not entirely new to her—faced her worship-\npers with an exultant smile. Soon, she tired of their\npraise, and more so of their physical attentions,\na repetition of their usual conduct toward her. Fur-\nthermore, the storekeeper's attitude rankled deeper\nand deeper, until anger controlled her. Therefore,\nshe pushed her way through the gathering, ordered\nall back to their tables, a command they obeyed un-"}, {"page_pdf": 70, "page_imprimee": "68", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.70", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1289, "texte": "der protest, and returned to her duties with a deci-\ndedly willful air. If only Jimmy were here!\nWithin the next hour or so, Herr Landsmann,\nbacked by his wife's moral support, came into the\nkitchen four times to reprimand Erna. He had even\nhunted for other pretexts to scold her. By nine\no'clock, when Erna was almost alone in her small\nempire, her resentment had reached a state of revolt.\nWhy didn't he bounce her at once? It would be\nbetter. In fact, she would leave of her own free\nwill. That would be better still. She would be\nfree. She had a right to be happy. She had al-\nways been happy. So she would be free, Lands-\nmann, his wife and the rest of the world notwith-\nstanding. How she hated and despised them! Let\nany one else try to tie her hands!\nAnother half hour passed, and Erna's determina-\ntion grew. Her whole fighting instinct had been set\nastir. As a result, she had treated the few remaining\ncustomers with contemptuous neglect. They were\nall of one breed. And they left, one by one, passing\nremarks, laughing or trying to banter her. Soon\nshe was left to herself and surly reflection, as Lands-\nmann, luckily, had discontinued molesting her—for\nthe present, at least. However, a newcomer entered\nthe dining room. But he was the highly welcome\nJimmy Allen."}, {"page_pdf": 71, "page_imprimee": "69", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.71", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1237, "texte": "Erna greeted him with joy. She had forgotten\nher yesterday's resentment, in his sudden rise to honor\nand in her present need. And Jimmy greeted her\nwith joy. No other word passed between them.\nInstead, Jimmy embraced her with all of his brute\nstrength. He then tried kissing her, only to have\nErna slip from his grasp. Jimmy's blood was\naroused. He pursued Erna, cornered her and caught\nher with an even stronger embrace than before,\nbreathing hard with passion. They overturned a\nchair, and Jimmy tripped and lost his hold. They\nboth breathed rapidly, and stood apart, watching\neach other. Herr Landsmann looked into the din-\ning room, scowled and disappeared.\nJimmy again came closer, but Erna shook her\nhead in warning. She had seen the storekeeper.\nPresently, she gave her lover a short nervous ac-\ncount of her morning's trial. Jimmy swore a gener-\nous oath and begged her to drop her work at once.\nBut Erna hesitated.\n\"Ah, come out o' this!\" he pleaded.\nErna would not answer.\n\"Come out o' this, Erna!\" he repeated seriously.\n\"You' re sick o' this. I'm sick o' this. Let's go\naway. We're fixed now—or as good as fixed. The\nonly job's the minister's. Come on, Erna!\"\nStill, the girl refused to answer, but it was evident"}, {"page_pdf": 72, "page_imprimee": "70", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.72", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1168, "texte": "that she was weakening—as Jimmy was aware too.\nHurriedly, he recounted his victory of last night,\nemphasized the fact that he was stronger than ever,\nknew \"more about the game,\" and outlined the near\nfuture: that he was soon to meet Young Walcott,\nwhom he would dispose of, and some unknown from\nChicago. He would have quite a little money short-\nly, and he could support her \"as a decent woman\nshould be supported.\" She would be happy. They\nwould both be happy. \"Come on, Erna!\" he con-\ncluded. \"Be a sport!\"\nErna was in a groggy state. One last stinging\nargument would have finished her. She hesitated, as\ndid Jimmy, who, unfortunately, resorted to stalling.\nAt length, she said: \"Gimme until to-night!\"\nNow, Jimmy missed entirely: \"But I say, Erna.\nI got an important date then.\"\nHer resentment returned at once. She recalled\nhis neglect of yesterday. \"What?\" she demanded\njealously.\n\"I got to see Nolan an* Walcott an' his manager\nto-night. We got to talk over an* arrange things.\nBesides, Nolan's givin' a little spread in my honor\namong the boys. Can't you tell me now? Tell me\ni'*\nnow!\n\"I said to-night, didn't I?\" she retorted in danger-\nous tones."}, {"page_pdf": 73, "page_imprimee": "71", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.73", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1197, "texte": "\"I know, Erna, but I can't see you to-night.\nMake it to-morrow night, an' we'll talk it over, long's\nyou won't say now. Make it to-morrow night! An'\nI'll spend the whole evenin' with you.\"\nErna had turned her back on him. Jimmy came\ncloser, but she walked away, while he followed her,\nfoolishly continuing to apologize and to cajole her.\nUnhappily, Jimmy's suit was interrupted. Another\nman came into the dining room: Eric Nielsen.\nGlances passed between them. Nielsen went over\nto the farthermost corner, took off his hat and coat\nand sat down. Jimmy looked at Erna on the sly,\nbut she paid no attention to him. The young fighter\ndid not stay for breakfast. He left the room with-\nout another word. And Erna smiled secretly.\nNielsen, always a lover of other's secrets, had\ndigested most of the scene. But he was still a diplo-\nmat. Consequently, he said nothing and permitted\nErna to come over for his order. She looked nervous\nand uncertain.\n\"What's new?\" he asked pleasantly.\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"Still ham and eggs and the old program?\"\nShe smiled slightly. \"Yes!\"\nHe ordered some eggs, toast and a cup of black\ncoffee and explained: \"I need some energy for work\nthis morning. I feel dopy.\""}, {"page_pdf": 74, "page_imprimee": "72", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.74", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1147, "texte": "Erna smiled again and went away. She was feel-\ning a little better. There was always something\nsoothing in Nielsen and his banter. And she did\nnot wait in the kitchen for his order, but came back\nto his table. Erna rarely acted parts in Nielsen's\ncompany.\nHe looked up sympathetically. He wanted to\nask her what was wrong, but knowing her antipathy\nfor expressed sympathy or soft advances, remained\nsilent. Herr Landsmann looked in upon them. Erna\nflushed with her old resentment, and the storekeeper\nfrowned and disappeared. Nielsen remarked the ex-\nchange. \"That's it, is it?\" he observed gently.\n\"What?\"\n\"The boss?\"\nShe was thoughtful and then admitted: \"Yes.\"\n\"What's the Dutchman done?\"\nSlowly, and not without reluctance in the begin-\nning, she told him the details, he interrupting her\nonce or twice with encouragement. \"Shades of\nNorway!\" he exclaimed in admiration. \"You could\neasily play the Rat-wife in 'Little Eyolf'.\"\nShe looked at him in a puzzled way, but he\nlaughed and advised her: \"Don't mind me; I'm\ncracked. Go on!\"\nErna related the rest of the incident. He was\nquietly attentive to every detail, and at the conclu-"}, {"page_pdf": 75, "page_imprimee": "73", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.75", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1195, "texte": "sion of her recital, broke out cheerfully: \"The\ntrouble with the German is that he's too slow to catch\neven a cockroach. Therefore, he resents speed. So\nLandsmann calls you down. And the girls—well,\nthey're children, like most females. You're entirely\ntoo dramatic for their comfort.\"\nErna never quite understood Nielsen, but she mel-\nlowed down to some of her old good nature. Niel-\nsen continued his reassuring nonsense, and gradually,\nthe rest of her good nature was restored. The young\nwriter was not slow to notice the change, and he\nwas glad to have been of service to her. He had\nno desire to make any personal use of Erna's present\nmental condition, but nevertheless, he proceeded:\n\"Erna, you must be tired.\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"Certainly. You need a little rest—a little diver-\nsion. Let me help you out; there's a sensible girl.\nWill you come over and spend part of the evening\nwith me?\"\nHis request had not been a bold one; he had\nmade it seriously, and with no thought of himself.\nBut Erna gave him a sharp look. He met her glance\nwith an honest one and pursued: \"I don't want you\nto pose for the story, as I asked you yesterday—\nhonestly, I don't. I just want to amuse you a little,"}, {"page_pdf": 76, "page_imprimee": "74", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.76", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1057, "texte": "if I can. You need a bit of a change, even by hav-\ning me supply it.\"\nThis was approaching dangerously close to a soft\nadvance, but Erna did not heed it. She was still\nbusy trying to read Nielsen, but reading Nielsen was\nnot so easy as appearances would have led one to\nbelieve. However, she was able to read humanity\nbehind his lurking smile, and likewise his seriousness\nof purpose. \"I don't know,\" she said in doubt.\n\"You're not afraid?\"\n\"No,\" she admitted.\n\"Come ahead then. We'll have a quiet little\nevening together, or you can tell me some more about\nyour enemies, German and others. As for posing,\nI'll do the posing, such as standing on my head, for\nexample.\"\nErna had always felt that Nielsen was human. It\nnow come as a realization. She gave him a final\npenetrating glance. He smiled frankly, and she had\nto smile as well. \"All right,\" she resigned.\n\"You're a good sport, Erna,\" he complimented\nher. \"But you're too trusting, I'm afraid.\"\n\"Think so?\"\n\"Yes.\"\nShe looked somewhat doubtful, and then her face\ncleared. Nielsen understood."}, {"page_pdf": 77, "page_imprimee": "75", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.77", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 89, "texte": "\"Your order's ready, Erna,\" came Landsmann's\nvoice.\nAnd the girl hurried out."}, {"page_pdf": 78, "page_imprimee": "76", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.78", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1118, "texte": "VIII\nErna was in a splendid mood when she called on\nNielsen that evening. In the first place, the young\nNorwegian-American had earned her gratitude.\nSecondly, and what is perhaps more important,\nJimmy Allen had come into Landmann's both for the\nnoon and the evening meal and had paid her humble\ndevotion. She had agreed to spend to-morrow even-\ning with him, but principally that she might add\ncoal to the fire of his impatience by putting off her\nanswer, which she had not formed as yet but in the\nexistence of which she had succeeded in leading him\nto believe. Thirdly, she had had two more tilts with\nLandsmann and was victorious in both. Conse-\nquently, Erna was in high spirit. In addition, her\ngreedy nature was looking forward to the new sensa-\ntion that life might be on the point of offering her in\nNielsen.\nIt was evident at once that he was likewise in the\nbest of humor. His greeting of Erna was of the\nheartiest cordiality and cheer. And he required only\na minute or two to settle her comfortably on the\ncouch and to make her feel otherwise at home. She\nwas not surprised. On the contrary, she entered im-"}, {"page_pdf": 79, "page_imprimee": "77", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.79", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 962, "texte": "mediately into the mood of the young writer's hospi-\ntality.\n\"Well, Rat-wife, how've you been?\" he com-\nmenced. \"I haven't seen you since this morning.\"\n\"Why do you call me Rat-wife?\"\n\"Because you're a professional rat catcher.\"\n\"I've caught rats before,\" she confessed.\n\"Have you? Great! I always thought you must\nhave had another vocation in life.\"\n\"But I hate caterpillars, don't you?\" she declared\nnaively.\n\"By all means,\" he agreed. \"They give one the\nfuzzy-wuzzies, don't they?\"\nThey both laughed. He drew his chair closer to\nthe couch and watched her frankly. She watched\nhim with equal candor. There was honest admir-\nation in his next remark: \"You're strong, aren't\nyou, Erna?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"How'd you get that way?\" he pursued.\n\"I must 'a' been born that way. I guess my father\nan' mother were strong an' healthy. Any way, I\nexercise a great deal—\"\n\"In the store, you mean?\"\n\"No, at night, by the open window, in—\"\n\"Not in the nude?\" he ventured."}, {"page_pdf": 80, "page_imprimee": "78", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.80", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1042, "texte": "\"Not quite, but almost!\" she admitted, and they\nlaughed again.\n\"But Erna, what made you say you guess your\nfather and mother were strong? Don't you know\nwhether they were? Aren't they alive?\"\nShe looked at him suddenly, but his straightfor-\nward glance reassured her. She announced quietly:\n\"I never saw my parents.\"\n\"What?\" he broke out. \"Then how—but I beg\nyour pardon, child. I didn't mean to be inquisitive.\"\n\"You're not inquisitive,\" she returned with unac-\ncustomed seriousness. \"Only—\"\n\"I understand,\" he interrupted. \"Don't speak of\nit! It's too painful. Besides, we mustn't be grow-\ning gloomy.\"\nErna was meditative. She had never confided\nthat part of her life to any one. It might be nice to\nunburden some of it. And Mr. Nielsen—he was so\n—She glanced at him.\n\"Please don't!\" he requested. \"I'd much rather\nyou wouldn't.\"\nShe smiled and said: \"It isn't so sad; it's just\nkind o' funny.\"\n\"Well, if it's funny, out with it, but if it isn't—\"\n\"It's kind o' funny that I should be tellin' at all.\"\n\"To me, you mean?\"\n\"Yes!\""}, {"page_pdf": 81, "page_imprimee": "79", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.81", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1293, "texte": "'That' s easy. You trust me; that's the reason,\"\nhe explained jocularly.\n\"Do I? How do you know?\"\n\"Oh, I'm a wise old know-it-all. Which is cer-\ntainly a nice bunch of conceit, isn't it?\"\n\"No,\" she denied good-humoredly.\nWithout pretense of any sort, and completely at\nher ease sitting there on the couch only a yard or two\nfrom him, she gave Nielsen a few points in her\nknowledge of past years. Briefly, she laid claim to\nhaving lived nearly all her life with adopted parents,\nfrom whom, thanks to their continued selfishness and\nmaltreatment, she had run away about a year ago.\nThese people had once informed her that her father\nhad married some woman of position in Bohemia,\nwhere Erna was born, and that, having squandered\nher money, he had disappeared for good. Her\nmother had died in giving birth to her, and her\nadopted parents, related to him as cousins, had re-\nceived her indirectly through some friends of her\nfather's, as well as money, through various myster-\nious channels, up to her sixth year. The remittances\nstopped suddenly, and she was left a beggar on their\nhands, a fact of which they were often careful to re-\nmind her. At the age of twelve or thirteen, Erna\nhad hunted for and found a situation, and later\nothers, and had been able to pay some sort of board"}, {"page_pdf": 82, "page_imprimee": "80", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.82", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 889, "texte": "through the intervening years. But her \"parents,\"\nwho had five children of their own, despised her and\nmaltreated her accordingly, as did the children,\nguided by the elders' precepts. Only her strength\nof body and endowed pugnaciousness had saved her\nfrom greater maltreatment.\n\"And this you call a funny story?\" demanded\nNielsen, stopping her.\n\"There's nothing so very sad in it,\" she declared\nstubbornly.\n\"There isn't?\"\n\"No.\"\nHis admiration for her developed. Erna certain-\nly possessed sterling qualities.\n\"But I haven't finished,\" she interposed.\n\"Never mind, Erna. I've heard enough.\"\n\"You haven't heard why I quit my 'parentsY*\n\"I don't have to,\" he tried to stop her.\n\"There's only a little to it.\"\n\"Well?\"\n\"They tried to sell me.\"\n\"What?\"\n\"Just what I said.\"\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\"They tried to sell me to an old admirer o' mine\nin Paterson.\"\n\"You must be crazy, child.\""}, {"page_pdf": 83, "page_imprimee": "81", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.83", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 964, "texte": "\"No more'n you,\" she insisted. \"The man was\nall ready with his money an'—\"\n\"But this is impossible,\" he interrupted.\n\"No, it isn't. I ought to know. It made me\njump the track.\"\n\"That's how you ran away?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"A year ago?\"\n\"Yes. It was the last straw. They'd tried the\nsame game twice before. I was through.\"\nNielsen eyed her in sympathy. He had not cred-\nited the whole of her story, incoherent and almost\nimaginary as some of its details sounded, but the\nclimax had moved him deeply. He was not as\nsuperficial as his outward demeanor might indicate.\nBut he was still a diplomat, and knowing Erna's\nnature better than ever now, did not offer her open\nsympathy. Instead, he questioned: \"So you wan-\ndered around New York looking for jobs?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Till you landed at Landsmann's?\"\n\"Oh no, I had two other jobs before that.\"\n\"Where?\"\n\"At other bakeries, but I was fired.\"\n\"For—for sassing back?\" he asked, smiling.\n\"Yes, just as I sass old Landsmann.\""}, {"page_pdf": 84, "page_imprimee": "82", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.84", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 872, "texte": "He grew serious. \"Hadn't you better be care-\nful?\"\n\"How?\"\n\"About angering Landsmann?\"\n\"I can't help it. I hate him. I hate Germans.\nMy 'parents' were German an'—\"\n\"He may fire you too.\"\n\"I don't care.\"\n\"But you don't want to be forced to run about\nNew York again, do you?\"\nErna was about to break out, thinking of Jimmy,\n\"I won't have to,\" but substituted staring at Nielsen.\nHe was so fine, so human, so—\n\"Never mind, Erna! Let's talk of something\nmore cheerful.\" Suddenly, it was his turn to look\nthoughtful. Before he was aware of himself, he\ncommenced: \"Erna!\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"If you ever need anybody—\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"I mean in case you should ever lose your job—\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"Don't hesitate to come to me for help.\"\nHe had spoken in a more earnest tone than was\nhis custom. Erna looked quantities of gratitude.\n\"Do you mean—\"\n\"Yes,\" he forestalled her. \"I'm a man, Erna, or"}, {"page_pdf": 85, "page_imprimee": "83", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.85", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 921, "texte": "a part o' one. I know you're a good sport, I've seen\nso much evidence of it. In fact, you're as good and\nprobably a better sport than I am\"—all this with a\nreturn to banter—\"so it's up to me, if you ever need\nassistance.\"\nErna was unable to reply.\n\"Will you?\" he requested more quietly.\n\"Yes,\" she agreed, and was silent.\nPresently, he came back to the whimsical. \"We're\na funeral party, aren't we?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Well, we can start a partnership as funeral di-\nrectors to bury the past, can't we?\"\nUO |»»\noure!\nNielsen laughed, and she followed his example.\n\"Erna, I envy you,\" he started again.\n\"Why?\"\n\"Nothing downs you long. You're such a happy\nIndian that you're able to run your world.\"\n\"Am I?\"\n\"Yes. It takes happy people to run the world,\nyou know.\"\n\"Does it?\"\n\"Certainly. That's my humble belief anyhow.\nDost believe in philosophy?\"\n\"No time for it!\" she returned.\n\"You're right,\" he applauded. \"It's only a"}, {"page_pdf": 86, "page_imprimee": "84", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.86", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1162, "texte": "pastime for lemon natures. Stick to your joy,\nErna!\"\nErna was indulging in more abstract matters than\nshe had ever attempted, for she said: \"I can't help\nit, I suppose. I love joy and happy people. An'\nfresh air, strength, freedom.\" But it was Nielsen's\nfault, he used such a subtle method of probing her.\n\"That'll do, Erna,\" he interrupted. \"You have\nspoken. There is nothing to be added to fresh air,\nthe breeder of strength, the breeder of freedom.\nThis ought to be enough philosophy for one day, eh ?\nWe'll have headaches soon, won't we?\"\n\"Not me!\" she denied, and he laughed and\nadded: \"Then I'll close the sermon with a little\ntext, if I may.\"\n\"Go ahead.\"\n\"Whatever happens,\" he bantered her; \"stick to\nyour freedom with your last dying breath!\"\n\"Thanks!\"\nThe evening developed even further intimacy.\nAnd Erna soon came to realize that she had discov-\nered her new sensation. As for Nielsen, he was\nspending an unusual evening too. Several times, he\nthought of Jimmy Allen and his connection with\nErna. He was a splendid joyous animal like her.\nIt did not surprise him that he had been restored to\nher favor, they were so well mated. And he re-"}, {"page_pdf": 87, "page_imprimee": "85", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.87", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1304, "texte": "called the short but significant scene he had spoiled\nthat morning.\nErna, surely, was a rare nature,—hard, perhaps,\nselfish and cruel in many ways too, quite a little more\nso than others, but her strength of will, self reliance\nand her stubborn pursuit of pleasure and excitement\n—her life of joy—were irresistible. And she was\nonly a waitress. But she was far more than that,\nan individual, as Carstairs had vaunted that time;\nshe had lived a life harder to endure than that loaded\nupon his educated acquaintances, for example, and\nyet, she, lacking their knowledge and so called ex-\nperience and wisdom, controlled life; life did not\ncontrol her. And Nielsen, who seldom overlooked\ndissecting himself along with others, admitted readily\nthat Erna attracted him powerfully, and not in the\nname of the story, which he had forgotten—for the\npresent, anyhow.\nErna's mind was making more rapid calculations\nthan ever before. \"Stick to your freedom!\" he had\nadvised her. It was true. She must go on fighting\nfor that. But what of Jimmy—and marriage?\nMarriage, that word with a bad taste, marriage even\nwith Jimmy would steal a good portion of her free-\ndom. She must be careful. Besides, her power\nover Jimmy was so easy just the same. And Niel-\nsen, that puzzling human man, disconcerted her. He"}, {"page_pdf": 88, "page_imprimee": "86", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.88", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1123, "texte": "was different from Jimmy. He was strong physi-\ncally too, if not quite as handsome, and he possessed\na strong heart and mind, which Jimmy did not. But\nhis constant joking—was he really serious? She\nnever knew just where to find him, he eluded her so.\nIf she were to marry, she would never see him again,\na prospect her greediness did not like to consider, as\nshe sat there slyly watching him, clothed in that easy,\ncheerful, even tempered strength of his.\nErna and Nielsen did not leave the latter's work-\nshop until close upon midnight. The rest of the time\nhad passed swiftly and pleasantly. Their parting\nwas warm to a decided degree. And they made an\nappointment for the following Friday evening.\n•Til be a night owl soon,\" she complained.\n\"Oh no—you'll always be a Rat-wife,\" he cor-\nrected.\nShe pressed the book under her arm—Ibsen's\n\"Little Eyolf,\" which he had lent her and\nlaughed.\n\"Now, don't forget my text,\" he warned her\ngently, as they stood on the dark street corner near\nLandsmann's, their hands clasped in friendly em-\nbrace.\nC«T t H\n1 won t.\n\"And if there's any real trouble with Lands-\nmann?\""}, {"page_pdf": 89, "page_imprimee": "87", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.89", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 211, "texte": "\"Yes, I will,\" she agreed.\nFie pressed her hand.\n\"Good-night,\" she said.\n\"Good-night,\" he returned.\nAnd they separated. But they both looked back\ntwice and waved their hands—in the old fashioned\nway."}, {"page_pdf": 90, "page_imprimee": "88", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.90", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 881, "texte": "IX\n\"An order of mocha tart, Erna!\"\nIt was Bainbridge Breen who had spoken. The\ngirl left the dining room with a cheery: \"All right!\"\nThe young artist turned to his friends, Carstairs and\nNielsen, who were sitting with him at the rear table:\n\"Mocha tart is still the prince of Landsmann pas-\ntries.\"\n\"You' ve made up with Erna, I see,\" Nielsen\nventured quietly.\n\"Oh, of course! I'm too busy a man to spend\nany time harboring animosity. Besides, I guess I'm\nsufficiently broad-minded to forgive the girl her in-\ndiscretion.\"\n\"And on her side, she's too light-hearted to hold\nanimosity,\" the author supplied.\n\"I expect so,\" Breen agreed generously, and then\nchallenged: \"But how about you and Erna? And\nhow about your story?\"\n\"Haven't been able to finish it as yet,\" Nielsen\nreturned somewhat evasively.\n\"Haven't had enough opportunity for studying\nErna?\"\n\"No, r m not quite through.\""}, {"page_pdf": 91, "page_imprimee": "89", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.91", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1161, "texte": "Breen laughed significantly, and Carstairs flushed.\n\"Then you haven't reached your decision as re-\ngards Erna's morals?\" the painter continued.\n\"Not just yet!\" was Nielsen's response, keyed in\ndeeper evasiveness.\n\"You'll reach my conclusion absolutely,\" Breen\nclosed confidently. \"She's a moral little thing.\"\n\"Of course,\" Carstairs interposed indignantly.\n\"Whoop-la!\" cried Breen. \"So you've come to\nyour decision, Brother John? How did it happen,\nyou sly dog?\"\n\"I haven't come to any decision,\" Carstairs de-\nnied wearily. \"I told you in the beginning what I\nthought of Erna.\"\n\"That' s so,\" Breen gave in with a tone of fatherly\nwisdom. \"But when and where did you find oppor-\ntunity to strengthen your belief? You haven't been\ncoming here very often of late?\"\n\"That's my affair,\" Carstairs retorted.\nHe was in a melancholy mood. Erna had been\nneglecting him since their evening together. More-\nover, she had treated him with more or less indiffer-\nence as well, as though his visits bored her, and had\nallowed him no opening for inviting her again.\nNielsen wisely changed the subject: \"Been do-\ning much work lately, John?\"\n\"Yes, I've been busy.\""}, {"page_pdf": 92, "page_imprimee": "90", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.92", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1054, "texte": "\"What are you doing?\"\n\"I've been writing a little set of piano songs,\" he\nrejoined.\n\"Good for you!\" Breen applauded. \"There's\nnothing like work after all, and we all seem engaged\nto that lady at present. She's the best wife in the\nworld.\"\nNielsen smiled philosophically, but the tired ex-\npression had revisited Carstair's face. The trio con-\ntinued eating their supper, and the conversation\nstrayed to other and less personal topics.\nThat same evening, Erna was to meet Jimmy\nAllen. The hero of Landsmann's was well ahead\nof their appointment time, for he was strangely ex-\ncited. He had some news to impart to Erna.\nShe was ten minutes late. He did not call her\nattention to the fact, but greeted her boisterously\nand began: \"Gee, Erna! I got great news for you.\"\n\"Have you?\" she replied with well feigned in-\ndifference.\n\"What do you think? Nolan's offered to let us\nhave the rooms free for one month.\"\n\"Did he?\"\n\"Sure! What do you think o' that? Ain't he\nthe pippin? Ain't he the classy guy?\"\nShe did not answer. They were walking slowly."}, {"page_pdf": 93, "page_imprimee": "91", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.93", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 901, "texte": "He grabbed her arm. \"What's the matter now?\"\nhe demanded.\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"You said you'd made up your mind,\" he main-\ntained anxiously.\n\"I said: not quite,\" she corrected him.\n\"Oh, but you have, Erna,\" he pleaded. \"You'll\njoin hands with me? You're sick o' Landsmann's.\nYou —we're stuck on each other, an' the minister's\n—Well, wait'll you see the flat!\" he broke off.\n\"That'll settle it. Wait'll you see the flat!\"\n\"Why?\"\n\"I'm takin' you there,\" he informed her eagerly.\n\"Now?\"\n\"Of course!\" he cajoled her. \"You'll come,\nwon't you?\" and he squeezed her arm. \"There's no\nharm in it. You don't have to like the place? It\ndon't hurt to see it?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Then we'll go.\"\nErna was busy eyeing a millinery show window.\n\"How about it?\" he questioned.\n\"All right-\nHe sighed with relief and satisfaction.\nThere were two rooms and a bath. The furnish-\nings were fairly attractive—garish in some respects,"}, {"page_pdf": 94, "page_imprimee": "92", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.94", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1184, "texte": "but on the whole, adequate. Erna admitted to her-\nself that they surpassed her expectation, the garish\nqualities, no doubt, appealing to her love of life and\nviolent color. But she made no such admission to\nJimmy.\nHe was watching her with wide open eyes. Grad-\nually, his anxiety forsook him and his natural cheer-\nfulness appeared. \"Well?\" he asked quietly.\nErna continued reticent. Neither of the rooms\ncompared with Mr. Nielsen's, which was so won-\nderfully cosy, but she could easily improve them.\nHer woman's housekeeper instinct declared itself;\nit would be nice to occupy herself making changes\nhere and there. And it would be a nice place to\nspend a few lazy hours every day, it was such a fine\nlittle apartment. Best of all, it would be her first\nhome. . . . Erna studied the large couch for the\nfirst time and hesitated. \"Stick to your freedom!\"\nhe had advised her. Marriage? No, marriage\nwould not be so nice. Still, strong, broad shoul-\ndered, handsome, happy Jimmy was standing right\nnear her. She glanced his way.\n\"Well?\" he repeated.\nErna looked away.\n\"What's the matter?\" he asked, and approached\na little.\nShe did not answer. . . . That other time matters"}, {"page_pdf": 95, "page_imprimee": "93", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.95", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1285, "texte": "were different. She had not felt as drawn to him\nthen as she had since his return. His offer of money\nthat day—well, it had been an honest one: he\nhad cared for her, and he had been her best friend\nin those days. She must do him that much justice.\nAnd he was offering her much more now. She hated\nLandsmann's more and more. She could not endure\nthe place many days longer. And this would be her\nfirst home. But suppose she should want to change\n—as she had done so often before, due to her hatred\nof any steady existence? Her hands would be tied.\nMarriage meant loss of freedom. She cared for\nJimmy, yes, but not quite enough. If she were only\ngiven more time for a decision! Perhaps, Mr. Niel-\nsen would help her to decide. But she would not\nask him.\n\"What's the matter?\" Jimmy demanded once\nmore and with returning anxiety. He came closer.\nErna turned toward him. She cast aside the part\nshe usually played with him, and gave him the first\nhonest glance he had received from her in several\ndays. He quickly put his arm about her shoulders.\nErna turned her head away and tried to pull back,\nbut his other arm found its way about her. \"Erna!\"\nhe begged for the last time.\nShe commenced to struggle. His instincts of bat-\njle were aroused; and his exasperation of nearly two"}, {"page_pdf": 96, "page_imprimee": "94", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.96", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1248, "texte": "years' standing seized this opportunity. Heedless\nof her cries, he tightened his grip and pressed her\nbreast against his with brutal strength. There was a\nmoment of tugging and swaying. Suddenly, Erna\nraised her face, and he kissed her mouth with the\nsame undeniable brutality. The girl no longer strug-\ngled. But he would not let her go.\nAt length, she tried to break away, but his strength\nwas much greater than hers. He continued to\nweaken her, strong and stubborn though she was, by\nmore unmerciful kisses and embraces. Erna at-\ntempted to beat his breast with what freedom her\nhands were permitted and not succeeding, kicked his\nshins. But Jimmy, laughing with joy and suffering\nwith passion, hugged her with such finality that she\nwas left powerless.\nAs usual, that old but simple law of physics, con-\ncerning the continued contact of bodies, was vin-\ndicated. Soon after, it was satisfied. Erna and\nJimmy did not rise from the couch for nearly three\nhours.\nErna was tired, but happy. She looked at Jimmy.\nHe laughed. She laughed too. And then they\nlaughed together. Suddenly, she became serious.\n\"What's the trouble?\" he questioned.\nErna looked at him differently now, but her\nseriousness soon fled. After all, just as posing for"}, {"page_pdf": 97, "page_imprimee": "95", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.97", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 957, "texte": "Breen had not been quite new to her, so her present\nexperience was not quite new. Furthermore, Erna\npossessed unlimited gameness. Life had never been\nable to throw her for a long fall. Therefore, her\nboldness returned. Jimmy laughed as before, and\nshe joined him once more.\n\"All right?\" he requested.\n\"Yes!\"\nHe got up. She watched him dress. He was\nslow and careless in the performance. But her at-\ntention was absorbed by the muscular play of his\nsplendid body.\n\"Well?\" he asked smiling.\n\"Well what?\" she challenged.\n\"What makes you stare?\"\n\"Nothm !\"\n\"Am I nothin'?\"\n\"Yes!\"\nHe laughed with his usual readiness, and content,\nturned his back on her with lazy ease and walked\nover to the mirror. Erna frowned slightly. Some-\nhow, his \"I\" had put her on her old guard. It\nseemed to spell property, as did his care-free satis-\nfaction with himself. Erna watched him with\nglances sharpened by caution.\nBut it was necessary to dress. She was beginning"}, {"page_pdf": 98, "page_imprimee": "96", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.98", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1055, "texte": "to feel chilly. Without getting up, she slipped on\nher waist, that had been lying nearby on the floor.\nJimmy Allen's mood had reached a state of hope-\nless disregard. He committed a decided blunder.\nWith cheerful candor, he asked, without troubling\nhimself to turn around: \"Erna! When do we move\n• «v»»\nin?\nShe gave his back an indignant glance. \"What\ndid you say?\"\n\"I said: when do we move in?\"\nHer instinct was up in arms. Throwing coolness\ninto her reply, she returned deliberately: \"Not\nuntil doomsday.\"\nHe stopped fixing his tie. But he continued:\n\"You're gettin' crazy again.\"\n\"I'm not,\" she replied without changing her tone.\n\"I said: not until doomsday.\"\nHe turned toward her, smiling. But the smile left\nhis face. \"What's the matter now?\" he asked, com-\ning forward.\n\"Go on dressin'!\" she commanded, his smile hav-\ning started her petulance.\nHe, however, had come over to the couch and now\nstood over her, staring at her stupidly. She looked\nup at him, animosity in her glance. His vapid ex-\npression deepened.\n\"Well?\" she challenged."}, {"page_pdf": 99, "page_imprimee": "97", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.99", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 983, "texte": "\"Sore?*' he asked humbly.\n\"No!\"\nHe tried to study her. Gradually, light penetrated\nhis cloudy understanding: Erna was just like other\nwomen. Luckily, some stroke of intuition prompted\nhim not to turn away this time. Instead, he put his\nhands on her shoulders and said with unaccustomed\nseriousness: \"Erna! Don't be sore.\"\n\"I'm not sore,\" she resented.\n\"I know—but—\"\n\"You don't have to explain,\" she cried melo-\ndramatically. Strange to say, Erna seemed ready\nto cry.\nAt a loss, Jimmy tried philosophy: \" 'Cause life\nis Hell to some folks, Erna, we don't have to imitate\n'em, do we?\" He could not tell whether she was\nlistening. \"Gimme a chance!\" he added more cheer-\nfully. \"Quit the beanery an' gimme a chance! I\ndon't want life to be Hell for you. Gimme the\nchance, won't you?\" He waited, but she did not\nlook up. \"You listenin'?\"\n\"Yes,\" she said.\n\"Then quit the beanery, Erna! We can live nice\nan' cosy an' happy here, can't we? You like it\nhere?\"\n\"Yes,\" she admitted."}, {"page_pdf": 100, "page_imprimee": "98", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.100", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1046, "texte": "\"Let's get the minister then!\" he concluded quiet-\nly.\nShe removed his hands from her shoulders.\n\"Erna!\" he repeated.\n\"Wait a moment,\" she cut him short, although\nin a milder tone.\n\"Stick to your freedom!\" he had advised her. He\nwas so human that he understood everything. And\nyet, Jimmy—if she were not forced to decide so\nsoon!\nHer strength came back under the influence of this\ntonic. A little of her innate cheerfulness revived\nas well. She looked up at Jimmy. His puzzled ex-\npression disappeared, and he smiled in encourage-\nment. She smiled too.\n\"Got somethin' to say,\" he read. \"What is it?\"\n\"Marriage'd be Hell, Jimmy,\" she announced\nwithout emotion.\n\"Why?\" he demanded abruptly, but recollecting\nhimself, stopped. Dimly, he once more realized that\nErna was a woman. And the man's psychology\nassisted him: Nature and his long enduring exasper-\nation had been satisfied. Why worry his head trying\nto understand Erna? Let her take care of herself.\nShe would outgrow her present mood. He grew\nblase, and repeated quietly: \"Why?\""}, {"page_pdf": 101, "page_imprimee": "99", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.101", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1010, "texte": "\"I dunno,\" she explained doubtfully. \"Just be-\ncause, I suppose.\"\nHe sat down beside her, not so much to help her\nwrestle with the problem as to encourage her to\nspeak. She was thoughtful. \"I guess I don't want\nto,\" she continued, but with increasing doubt.\n\"You don't want to marry? Why?\"\n\"I wouldn't be free,\" she declared in an uncer-\ntain way.\n\"Why not?\" he demanded. \"You'd be free?\nYou could do what you want. I wouldn't stop\nv*\nyou ?\nShe shook her head.\nAn idea came to him. \"Maybe you'd rather—\"\nbut he stopped, remembering a former experience.\n\"Go ahead,\" she advised him.\n\"You'll get sore again,\" he protested.\n\"No, I won't,\" she disagreed, but anticipated him\nwith: \"I know what you were goin' to say.\"\n\"You do? Well?\"\nErna averted her glance. The old thoughts\npassed in quick review: Landsmann's Mr. Niel-\nsen's advice—scraps of the past—home. She could\nlive with him a little while and then marry him if all\nwent well. That seemed best for her.\n\"Wait'll to-morrow!\" he interrupted her."}, {"page_pdf": 102, "page_imprimee": "100", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.102", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 758, "texte": "You re kind o' up in the air now. You'll be surer\nto-morrow.\"\nShe nodded absent-mindedly.\n\"You'll let me know to-morrow?\".\n\"Yes.\"\nHp -v»»\noure ?\n\"Yes.\"\n\"All right! Forget it! We'll get it all settled\nto-morrow. An' if you'd still want to have the min-\nister—\"\nShe shook her head negatively. Jimmy appeared\njust as well satisfied. He did not understand, but\nwhat was the difference, and what the use of worry-\ning? \"You love me, don'tcher?\"\nAgain, she nodded absent-mindedly. He pushed\nher with rough good nature. Presently, he got up,\nreturned to the mirror and again busied himself\nwith his tie. Erna likewise continued dressing. She\nhad reached a decision. And she was cheerful once\nmore. But she would wait until to-morrow. It\nmight be better."}, {"page_pdf": 103, "page_imprimee": "101", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.103", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 916, "texte": "X\nMollie and Gretchen, the Landsmann waitresses,\nwere gossipping. It was about eight o'clock, the next\nmorning. Above the rattle of dishes in the kitchen,\nthis is what one might have overheard:\n\"Yes, I saw her with him.\"\n\"So did I a few nights ago.\"\n\"They must go out every night.\"\n\"Of course! She's out every night since he's\nback. Who else would she go with?\"\n\"It's just like her.\"\n\"Yes! I always said she'd go back to 'im.\"\n\"It was me said that.\"\n\"Maybe you did, but I said it first. She's a fine\ngirl to be workin' in an honest place like this to be\ngoin' out with a common prize-fighter.\"\n\"Not to have any more self-respect!\"\n\"Yes! 1 always said she 'd come to a bad end.\"\n\"Looks that way!\"\nTheir gossipping might have continued indefinitely\nhad not part of it been heard by an eavesdropper.\nShe came stealthily into the kitchen and of a sudden,\nthe waitresses received some resounding slaps. The\npair screamed."}, {"page_pdf": 104, "page_imprimee": "102", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.104", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1201, "texte": "Erna called them one or two unquotable names\nand tried to continue her attack. But she saw\nLandsmann coming into the kitchen and beat a re-\ntreat into the dining room, although not without this\nparting shot: \"So you're the kind I've been givin'\ndresses to!\"\nHerr Landsmann was a busy man. Both wait-\nresses were trying to explain at the same time. And\nMollie was weeping violently. At length, he suc-\nceeded in holding an excited consultation with the\ngirls, and with him at their head, they marched out\ninto the store in ragged single file. The trio hur-\nriedly argued the case before Mrs. Landsmann, who\nwas standing behind the counter, guarding the cash\nregister. Pretty soon, Mollie cried: \"Here he\ncomes now!\"\nJimmy Allen entered. He greeted the Lands-\nmanns and the waitresses and then some of his\nfriends, as he passed the store tables. \"How about\nYoung Walcott?\" called one. \"Next Wednes-\nday,\" Jimmy returned. \"Trainin' again?\" \"Yes,\nI start to-day.\" And the young hero penetrated the\nkitchen and stepped down into the dining room.\nErna was in a disordered state. Some of the cus-\ntomers were endeavoring to pacify her, but she re-\nfused their offers. She spied Jimmy and throwing"}, {"page_pdf": 105, "page_imprimee": "103", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.105", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1066, "texte": "down all caution, hurried over to him. He soon\nheard enough details.\nThe young man struck a melodramatic pose.\n\"We'll clear out o' this hole,\" he exclaimed. She\nput her hand on his arm, but he shook it off. \"Go\nup-stairs an' pack your things!\"\n\"But Jimmy—\"\n\"Never mind!\" he interrupted. \"You don't have\nto stay here. If you did, it'd be different. Go up-\nstairs an' pack up!\"\nShe looked at him with momentary dread, but\nJimmy waved his hand toward the doorway. Two\nof the customers got up to interfere, but he gave\nthem threatening glances. Erna moved away and\nthen stopped in uncertainty. \"Go ahead!\" he\nordered her. She tried to go, but Landsmann stood\nin the doorway. His face was struggling between\nanger and dignity.\n\"Erna!\" he commanded.\nShe stared at him.\n\"Go right up-stairs and—\"\nThe storekeeper noticed Jimmy's threatening at-\ntitude and hesitated. \"Go on!\" that individual en-\ncouraged him. \"Got any more to say ?\"\nEvidently, the German had not.\n\"Then get 'er money ready an' see there ain't a\ncent short, you lousy Dutchman! I'll see she gets"}, {"page_pdf": 106, "page_imprimee": "104", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.106", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1118, "texte": "her desserts. Hurry up, you fat slob, or I'll help\ni\"\nyou!\nHerr Landsmann disappeared and so did Erna.\nJimmy, master of the moment, gave the dining room\ndenizens a look of contemptuous pride and likewise\nwent out.\nConsternation prevailed. Each patron wanted to\nexpress an opinion, and argument rose high. Only\none of them held his peace: John Carstairs. He sat\naloof, a picture of gloom and stupor.\nIt was an early hour that evening. Carstairs was\nseated at the piano in his small cosy room. The gas\nwas turned fairly low. Except for intermittent\nsounds from the instrument, the room was quiet.\nThe young man was composing. Vague meas-\nures, desolate of all cheer, followed one another in\nfuneral tempo. The monotony, unbroken by even\none note of prophecying gladness, was maddening.\nBut the young man persisted in his lugubrious incan-\ntation. Presently, he got up, turned the gas a little\nhigher and sat down again. A sheet of music paper\nlay in front of him. Only a few measures and the\ntitle—Dirge—had been transcribed. He started\njotting down more notes.\nThere was a knock at the door. He did not hear"}, {"page_pdf": 107, "page_imprimee": "105", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.107", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1316, "texte": "it. The knock was repeated. Carstairs struck a\npetulant dissonance, arose wearily, went over to the\ndoor and opened it part way.\n\"Special delivery!\" a man announced.\nCarstairs signed the slip, the postman went away\nand the door was closed. The young composer ex-\namined the handwriting and quickly tore open the\nenvelope. The note was very short.\nHe gave way to eager joy. And he breathed a\nname twice over: \"Elsie!\" Nervous animation be-\ntrayed him further. He re-read the note five or six\ntimes, looked about in bewilderment and re-read the\nnote again. Of a sudden, he hurried over to the\nbureau and pulled open the bottom drawer. A litter\nof odds and ends was laid bare. With anxious\nhaste, he threw them all about on the floor. At last,\nhe came to a picture: the photograph of a pretty girl.\nHis joy deepened; he held the picture at arm's\nlength and gazed a fill of delight. He then arighted\nhimself, went over to the piano, moved the photo-\ngraph of an older woman to one side and placed this\npicture near the centre. He was soon occupied\nstudying the effect, and ultimate satisfaction was his.\nHe again sat down at the piano, but was unable\nto take his glance from the picture. Eventually, he\nsmiled, gave the picture an au revoir look and again\nturned his attention to the keyboard and manuscript."}, {"page_pdf": 108, "page_imprimee": "106", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.108", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1215, "texte": "He had decided to finish his composition just the\nsame. The dirge continued intoning its gloomy\nmeasures, but a note of prophecying gladness ap-\npeared. From time to time, too, the composer stole\nshy glances at the photograph.\nIn a cosy room in a building not far away, a\ndifferent scene was taking place. Eric Nielsen and\nErna Vitek were sitting close together on a couch,\nchatting confidentially and bantering each other.\nErna had not broken off her appointment with the\nyoung writer even though a sudden change had\ncome into her life. Luckily, Jimmy was away all\nafternoon, training up in Fordham, and, thanks to\nhis continued absence, she was able to leave their flat\nshortly after six o'clock. She would only stay out\nan hour or so and, should he return before her,\nwould tell him that she had to visit Landsmann's for\nsome small articles she had left behind. On the way\nto Nielsen's, she bought two or three trifles. Fortu-\nnately, she had found him at home, although she was\ntwo hours beforehand.\nHe had heard of the morning's event and was\nheartily sorry. But Erna quickly reassured him. Of\ncourse, he did not believe the hazy part of her story,\n—that she was \"stayin' with some friends\"—but his"}, {"page_pdf": 109, "page_imprimee": "107", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.109", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1268, "texte": "philosophy was equal to the occasion: what Erna hid\nfrom him was no concern of his. In all, they had\nbeen spending a delightful evening. As a conse-\nquence, Erna was staying much longer than she had\nplanned.\nNielsen enjoyed her company. She was a splen-\ndid stimulant to his stimulant-craving mental system.\nAfter his recent intercourse with the every-day\nwoman and the every-day man,—a monotonous gal-\nlery of drab souls—she was a touch of brilliant color.\nHer joy, animal spirit and fighting instinct en-\nthralled him. She stimulated his imagination par-\nticularly and consequently brought him back to his\nold interest in his life and work. So he was trebly in-\ndebted to her.\nErna's greed had developed rapidly, and she had\ngrown reckless in short order. Nielsen inspired her\ncomplete confidence. He did not take her too seri-\nously, neither did he take her too lightly. This was\njust what she had craved so long. As a result, at\nthe height of her confidence and his bantering com-\nment, she allowed him to sit next to her, and they\ndeveloped their further intimacy. For the present,\nshe had forgotten Jimmy. He was physical and did\nnot inspire her as Nielsen's human temperament did\nso easily and so quietly. Moreover, her Vitek blood\nhad been excited."}, {"page_pdf": 110, "page_imprimee": "108", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.110", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 594, "texte": "Therefore, it was inside a natural sequence of hap-\npenings that Nielsen's arm stole about Erna's waist\nand that she submitted to the liberty. To tell the\ntruth, Nielsen was decidedly under the influence of\nthe wine in her nature and she under that in his.\n\"Isn't this wicked?\" he questioned pleasantly.\n\"No,\" she denied.\n\"But it's growing darker,\" he protested.\n\"So much the better!\" she retorted.\nAnd they both laughed.\n\"This is rat time,\" he warned her. *\n\"I don't care,\" she vaunted.\nAnd they laughed again.\nErna did not leave the Nielsen workshop until\nwell after nine o'clock."}, {"page_pdf": 111, "page_imprimee": "109", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.111", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 880, "texte": "XI\nIt was the following Monday noon. Breen and\nNielsen were seated at the last table in Landsmann's\nrear dining room, eating and gossipping.\n\"Gretchen!\" called the former.\nErna's successor came forward.\n\"Bring me a mocha tart, please.\"\n\"Yes, sir\"—and the girl walked away.\n\"So you think you'll be able to finish your story?\"\nBreen questioned.\n\"I think so,\" was Nielsen's thoughtful response.\n\"I've found the missing link.\"\n\"But is any story ever finished?\" Breen pro-\ntested. \"Can't you always find room for additional\ninstallments?\"\nNot being in an argumentative mood, Nielsen\nquietly accepted his friend's criticism. Soon, they\nwere both meditative. Gretchen brought the mocha\ntart and went away. Hers was a peace-loving tem-\nperament, in distinct contrast to Erna's, an opin-\nion Breen expressed. Nielsen again accepted his\ncriticism.\n\"After all,\" the artist added comfortably:"}, {"page_pdf": 112, "page_imprimee": "110", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.112", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 966, "texte": "\"Erna was quite a study. I confess, she fooled\nme.\n\"How so?\"\n\"By running off with that young gladiator.\"\n\"Then you think she's living with him?\"\n\"Of course. What other conclusion should I\ncome to?\"\nNielsen did not answer. At length he said:\n\"Then you're ready to alter your decision of the\nother day?\"\n\"That she's a moral little thing?\" Breen replied.\n\"Yes, to some extent,\" he declared generously.\n\"Her last act does change my first consideration a\nbit. But I still refuse to credit her with being un-\nmoral.\"\n\"Which means that you believe her unmoral?\"\nNielsen ventured in a droll tone.\n\"I suppose so.\"\n\"Explain yourself!\"\n\"She's accepted a life contrary to Society's code\nor her own code—if she was ever unconventional\nenough to have one, which I doubt.\"\nNielsen smiled. \"If what you say is true, we're\nall of us more or less immoral.\"\n\"Why so?\"\n\"Because every one barters his soul some time dur-\ning his existence, and some of us are doing so all the"}, {"page_pdf": 113, "page_imprimee": "111", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.113", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1107, "texte": "time. At heart, you know, we re most of us, un-\nmoral, in appearance, moral, but in action, immoral.'*\nBreen laughed in amiable derision. \"What\nscrambled egg philosophy!\" he cried. \"Where did\nyou learn it, noble scholar?\"\n\"Nowhere,\" Nielsen answered and frowned.\nBut his ready good nature intervened and he ob-\nserved gently: \"At any rate, Breen, I disagree with\nyou regarding Erna.\"\n\"That she's neither moral nor immoral?\"\n\"She has a little bit of each—like all of us,\" the\nyoung author agreed; \"but fundamentally she's un-\nmoral.\"\n\"Bravo! So that will be the end of your story?\"\n\"I don't know,\" Nielsen silenced him and smiled\na second time.\nBreen shook his head with a knowing air. After\nan interval, he requested: \"Will you see her\n• v\nagain ?\n\"I'm not certain,\" Nielsen said without emotion.\n\"I imagine I will some time. But it won't be neces-\nsary.\"\nThe young men finished their meal.\nA little later, Nielsen was alone in his studio. He\nwas sitting at his small writing desk, looking over\nsome material that lay in front of him. Presently,\nhe seemed worried, but only for a moment. No, the"}, {"page_pdf": 114, "page_imprimee": "112", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.114", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1298, "texte": "point was absolutely clear. Erna had settled it for\nhim the other evening. At heart, she was unmoral.\nThe young author commenced writing.\nThrough some insidious channel, a thought man-\naged to come between his mind and the manuscript:\nwould he see her again ? Quickly, he beat it down:\nit would be unnecessary to see her again; there was\nnothing more for him to learn. Still, he had enjoyed\nhimself the other evening. The physical, so glorious,\nso great, had once more penetrated his life. Would\nhe drive it away? Nielsen stopped writing.\nAlmost resentfully, he mused: What had he and\nthe physical to do with each other? The physical\ngave him new experience, yes, but it was almost al-\nways experience that he courted and utilized for his\nwork. He must not expect more; he must continue\nto sacrifice everything—thought, emotion, volition—\nto work. Nothing else existed; in no other way\ncould he hope to reach the realm of artist. He must\ndrive Erna and the other evening's sensations from\nhis memory. She had served as his model, no more;\nso he must not permit her personality or his own to\ninterfere again. Furthermore, he must be cautious\non her behalf as well. She was a joyous, healthy\nanimal. Jimmy Allen was a joyous, healthy animal.\nThey were mated, and were living together, un-"}, {"page_pdf": 115, "page_imprimee": "113", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.115", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 988, "texte": "doubtedly. The chapter was closed. He must not\ndesire more.\nNielsen tightened his resolve. In another mo-\nment, he was again busy, writing.\nThere was a knock at the door. He did not\nhear it. The knock was repeated more loudly. He\nlooked around petulantly, got up, went over to the\ndoor and opened it. \"Oh, it's you,\" he said, but not\nwith cordiality.\nErna came in.\n\"I was down in the neighborhood,\" she apolo-\ngized.\n\"You were right to come up,\" he reassured her,\nsorry to have treated her discourteously. \"Take off\nyour things!\"\n\"But you're busy,\" she protested.\n\"Not at all. Only a little touch or two I was\nworking on. They can wait.\"\nReluctantly, Erna permitted him to help her re-\nmove her coat. She did not take off her hat. \"Sit\ndown,\" he advised her, his regret for his momentary\nshow of self-interest developing.\nShe sat down on a chair. He seated himself at\nhis desk, but faced her. \"What's new?\" he asked\npleasantly.\n\"Nothin' much,\" she returned and glanced at\nhim."}, {"page_pdf": 116, "page_imprimee": "114", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.116", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1212, "texte": "His glance met hers, and he quickly looked else-\nwhere. He felt a sharp pain: he had gone too far\nthe other evening. Erna likewise looked away.\nShe had seen enough; her instinct knew. There was\nan awkward pause.\nNielsen gave her a sidelong glance. What could\nhe do? This was dreadful. He should not have\ngone so far. Erna was staring at the floor. He\ncould see her pugnacious nose and her determined\nmouth and chin, and felt somewhat relieved. Her\ncase might not be as serious as he feared. She had\ntenacious strength of character. But the situation\nwas very uncomfortable notwithstanding. He should\nnot have gone so far. It was selfish—whether a\nman's selfishness or an artist's. Nielsen turned\naway.\nAgain, he glanced in her direction, but she was\nstill staring at the floor. Luckily, she had Jimmy;\nthey were living together—at least, he had taken that\nmuch for granted by putting her story and the bakery\nscandal side by side. They were suited to each\nother. What could or should she have to do with\nsuch a thing as an artist? Perhaps, the novelty in\ntheir short affair had appealed to her. She was a\ngreedy nature. She craved everything: sun, moon,\nstars and all. He himself had only been one of"}, {"page_pdf": 117, "page_imprimee": "115", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.117", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 980, "texte": "them. This conjecture satisfied him considerably.\nAnd he breathed with returning freedom.\nShe looked up. He smiled. She smiled too.\nAnd he breathed still more freely.\n\"What have you been doing lately?\" he ques-\ntioned cheerfully.\n\"I've been busy siraightenin' out,\" she replied, and\nlooked at him.\nHe moved restlessly. There was a second pause,\nbut only a short one.\n\"You' ve been busy too,\" she said.\n\"Oh yes, I—l've been working on a story.\"\n\"What kind of a story?\"\n\"Merely a foolish little affair about a foolish little\naffair,\" he hastened to condemn.\nHer glance dropped. His work and her own\nlived apart. \"I brought back * Little Eyolf'.\"\n\"So I saw. Did you like it?\"\n\"Not very much.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"It's too sad,\" she explained. \"An* I don't like\ncripples.\"\n\"Of course!\" he broke out. \"I forgot that you\nlove only joy and happy people.\"\n\"An' freedom,\" she concluded unconsciously.\n\"Certainly, and freedom,\" he agreed.\nHe caught a glimpse of her eyes—eyes that could"}, {"page_pdf": 118, "page_imprimee": "116", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.118", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1155, "texte": "love you to-day and hate you to-morrow—and felt\nstill more reconciled with circumstances. Erna\ncraved freedom, and was free. She could take care\nof herself. She possessed that rare thing, the life-\ncontrolling temperament. Perhaps, she would not\nneed even Jimmy Allen. How splendid she was!\nWould she hate him to-morrow? It would be a\nshame. He had only to raise his hand—and they\ncould continue. But he must not, it would be so\nmuch better for her. She would be miserable with\nhim: an artist and not a physical man. She belonged\nto Jimmy—and still more, to herself. He must not\ninterfere, but leave her destiny to destiny. Nielsen\nfelt almost completely relieved.\n\"You love your work, don't you?\" Erna an-\nnounced with unexpected candor.\nNielsen looked at her with sharpened eyes. She\nwas glorious. She had emphasized \"love\" and not\n\"work.\" He could scarcely reply.\n\"Don't you?\" she repeated.\nShe was more than glorious. Her own gameness\nhad fought the problem for her. She required as-\nsistance from no one.\n\"Yes,\" was all he was able to say, his emotions\ncrowding him.\n\"Do you write a whole lot?\"\n\"Yes, lots and lots, but it's all trivial.\""}, {"page_pdf": 119, "page_imprimee": "117", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.119", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 977, "texte": "\"Oh no!\" she contradicted him.\n\"Oh yes!\" he mimicked her, and laughed, al-\nthough he did not know why. \"My writings are as\nmuch like life—\" as you are like art, he would have\nfinished, but hesitated.\n\"As what?\" she assisted him.\n\"As the catching of butterflies is like the catching\nof rats,\" he closed with a return to himself.\n\"Oh, the Rat-wife!\" she interpreted.\n\"Yes.\"\n\"You're not a rat-wife writer then?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"You're not a butterfly writer either?\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\" 'Cause butterflies come from caterpillars, don't\nthey?\"\n\"Yes,\" Nielsen admitted and laughed again, al-\nthough his emotions were threatening him, as before.\n\"I forgot about the caterpillars.\"\n\"Yes, I hate 'em,\" she reminded him. \"They're\ntoo—too—\"\n\"Fuzzy wuzzy!\" he helped her.\n\"Yes,\" she accepted and laughed for the first time,\nif not very heartily.\nNielsen studied her with frank admiration. Her\nnature was that of a lioness. She looked capable of\npushing over or slipping from under any circum-"}, {"page_pdf": 120, "page_imprimee": "118", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.120", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1079, "texte": "stance. She did not even require one's sympathy.\nAnd still?— But he resisted the temptation. For\nher sake, it would be better not to continue.\n\"I must be goin',\" she said suddenly.\n\"Oh no, not yet!\" he begged.\n\"Yes, I must be goin*,\" she insisted and got up.\n\"I got shoppin' to do.\"\n\"Haven't you finished decorating?\" he inquired,\nand got up against his will.\n\"No,\" she returned and smiled.\nNielsen helped her with her coat. He was tempted\nto put his arms about her, but resisted. It would\nmake her departure more difficult. She turned\naround. \"Is my hat on straight?\"\n\"Oh yes,\" he assured her and added, byway of\ncontrolling himself: \"Vanitas vanitatum/\"\n\"What's that?\"\n\"More triviality!\" he declared.\nErna started toward the door, but he stopped her\nwith: \"Don't you want another book to read?\"\nThe temptation was a strong one, but she dodged\nit: \"No, I'll be too busy now. Maybe, later on,\"\nshe concluded with a lingering tone.\nNielsen looked away. Erna continued toward the\ndoor, but he hurried after her and opened and held\nit open for her.\n\"Good-bye,\" she said."}, {"page_pdf": 121, "page_imprimee": "119", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.121", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 265, "texte": "''Oh no, not good-bye, but /\" he quoted\ngently.\n\"That's a hard word to pronounce.\"\n\"Try it anyhow,\" he encouraged her.\n\"Orrevore!\"\n\"Fine!\" he congratulated her, repeated the~\nphrase, and added: \"Come in again soon.\"\n\"Yes,\" she agreed.\nBut she never did."}, {"page_pdf": 122, "page_imprimee": "120", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.122", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1115, "texte": "XII\nTwo months passed.\nErna Vitek was still living with Jimmy Allen.\nThere was, however, less and less likelihood that\nthey would ever marry. In fact, the most probable\nissue to their affair was that they would separate\nagain, in the near future and this time for good.\nErna was tired of Jimmy. For some weeks past,\nher restless nature had been craving some one else,\nor better still, some other mode of living, her present\none having reached a state of unbearable monotony.\nShe recovered from her experience with Eric Nielsen\nonly after several weeks of struggle. Even such a\nfine tonic as that supplied her so freely by her re-\nsource of blood found the healing of her wound no\nordinary matter, but she had recovered, except for an\noccasional memory. Her battle with her craving for\nNielsen did not assist her attachment for Jimmy; on\nthe contrary, the latter degenerated by contrast.\nAnd Jimmy, himself, was very much to blame as\nwell. He had changed toward her.\nIt is no doubt true that possession often breeds\nboredom, and boredom, carelessness. Erna, before\npossession and after • possession, was not the same"}, {"page_pdf": 123, "page_imprimee": "121", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.123", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1313, "texte": "individual, and Jimmy treated her accordingly. He\nwas no longer an anxious desire-maddened suitor.\nFurthermore, he was softening physically. He\ncontinued training for his schedule of fistic contests\nand carried out that schedule; he defeated Young\nWalcott, the man from Chicago and another, but\nlately, had fought two very poor draws, in the latter\nof which he, himself, was on the point of being\nknocked out. His manager, the astute Jerry Nolan,\nwas losing patience with him. He bluntly attributed\nhis protege's decline to the fact that he was \"livin\nwith a woman. A man's got to cut out drink if he\nwants to succeed as a athlete, but he's got to be\nto cut out women. They sucks his blood an*\nstrength.\"\nJimmy did not agree with this sentiment. He\ncontinued to live with Erna. What is more, he had\nthreatened to move out of the Nolan apartment and\n\"to throw up the sponge\"—quit the prize-ring—if\nhis manager persisted in arguing along these lines.\nAlthough Nolan submitted, he found other grounds\nupon which to pick quarrels with Jimmy. The truth\nis, the young manager was ambitious, and Jimmy's\nability to climb the pugilistic ladder reflected credit\nupon him. He had always felt and expressed his\nfaith in his protege and prophesied that he would\nbe \"mixin' it with the top notchers\" not far hence,"}, {"page_pdf": 124, "page_imprimee": "122", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.124", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1258, "texte": "a prophecy Jimmy substantiated by defeating \"the\nKid,\" Young Walcott and the westerner so de-\ncisively. But he was in danger now, as his recent\nbattles and his late mutiny testified. Should Jimmy\nfall from grace a second time, it would be irrevo-\ncably. Therefore, Nolan was using eloquence, per-\nsuasion, threats, anything, to save him.\nMany of their quarrels took place in Erna's\npresence. After a while, Jimmy, much to her grow-\ning distaste, formed the habit of bringing Nolan and\n\"some o' the boys\" to the flat. Custom gradually\ntrained them to believe that she was nothing more\nthan part of the furniture, and they accepted her\nattentions, due them as Jimmy's guests, just so.\nThey stayed well on into the night, amused them-\nselves, played pranks, broke dishes, quarrelled, made\nup—and came again. And more and more, they\nlooked upon Erna with contempt. On her side, she\nhated and despised them.\nDuring the day, Jimmy was usually absent, train-\ning at the Nolan headquarters in Fordham. Erna\nsaw him for a moment in the morning, when she\nprepared his breakfast, and at evening, when she\nprepared his supper, not to see him again, as a rule,\nuntil fairly late at night, except when he brought\n\"the boys.\" To be sure, she slept with him and—"}, {"page_pdf": 125, "page_imprimee": "123", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.125", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1270, "texte": "well, she hated that too. It made her feel herself\nsome dirty, inferior animal.\nErna's days were still more monotonous. She\nsewed quite a little, attended to details of house\nwork, which were few, and otherwise, took long\nwalks or went to an afternoon vaudeville or moving\npicture show. As she was accustomed to a day of\nconstant labor and occupation, she had never known\nmuch idleness; her evenings were spent in resting or\nin the search of a little excitement. Moreover,\nErna's was purely an emotional nature; she did not\npossess the intellect or imagination so requisite to-\nward making idleness useful. Unfortunately, she\nhad no friends to visit.\nAt first, Jimmy gave her money in regular install-\nments. Their house expenses paid, she would have\na sufficient balance with which to indulge herself—\nwith a new hat, a new dress, a few odds and ends,\nor her afternoon amusements. The installments,\nhowever, were more and more irregular and smaller\nin amount; last week, none had materialized. The\nreason was this: Jimmy had returned to drinking.\nAnd the climax was impending. One night, he\ncame home late, pretty well drunk.\nErna opened the door. He swayed and then\nstaggered into the room, a broad leer on his face.\n\"Howsh—the—girl?\" he demanded stupidly."}, {"page_pdf": 126, "page_imprimee": "124", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.126", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 990, "texte": "He tried to embrace her, but Erna stepped back,\nand he nearly fell. With an effort, he straightened\nhimself and laughed. \"Wha—whash—a—mat-\nter?\"\n«\nErna's resentment poured over. \"You beast!\"\nshe said in low tones.\n\"You—what?\" He leaned forward to hear\nbetter.\n\"Beast, I said,\" and she pelted him with epithets\nand reproaches.\nJimmy made several ludicrous attempts to apolo-\ngize, and protested: \"I—l'm not—d-drunk; I\nI'm just—ossified.\" And he laughed more stupidly\nand tried to approach.\n\"Keep away!''\n4 4 Wha—whash—a—matter ?''\n\"Keep away!\"\n\"Wheresh—No—Nolan?\"\n\"Nolan's in hell, where he belongs,\" she cried\nangrily, and a second tirade followed, directed this\ntime at the manager and Jimmy's friends.\n\"Be c-c-careful!\" he interrupted, but she added\nfurther condemnation. \"Be c-c-careful!\" he re-\npeated. \"No—Nolan's a frien' o' mine an' so's\nP-p-piggy Wallace. Be c-c-careful!\"\nHis defence only succeeded in infuriating her.\nShe concluded with two or three judgments that in-"}, {"page_pdf": 127, "page_imprimee": "125", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.127", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1222, "texte": "eluded the families of those gentlemen. Jimmy's\ngood nature stopped. \"You !\" he called her\nand stumbled toward her.\nErna retreated, her face aflame. Once more, he\ncalled her and fell toward her. She tried to\nward him off, for he had driven her against the\ncouch. But Jimmy pushed himself forward and\nraising his fist, brought it down clumsily upon her\nface. Erna slipped and fell upon the couch, her\nmouth bleeding.\nFurious, she jumped up and attacked Jimmy.\nHe was in a defenceless condition, and blows rained\nupon his shoulders, body and head. He tried to\nraise his guard, but it was useless. At length,\nswearing incoherently, she struck him full in the\nface, and he swayed, mumbled stupidly and toppled\nover on the couch, unconscious or asleep—more\nlikely the latter. Handsome Jimmy was a disgust-\ning sight.\nErna, still struggling with herself, looked down\nat him. He started snoring, a part painful, part\nbeatific smile wrinkling his face. His legs were\ndangling over the side of the couch. She gave them\na kick, lifted them and shoved them onto the couch.\nShe then turned away and wiped her mouth with her\nsleeve. Erna had come to a simple determination.\nWithout hesitation, she went over to a closet and"}, {"page_pdf": 128, "page_imprimee": "126", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.128", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1093, "texte": "opened the door. She likewise pulled open the\ndrawer of a commode. And somewhere, she found\nan old suit case and dragged that forth. Her pack-\ning did not last more than twenty minutes. She left\na hat, a dress and some odds and ends behind her.\n»•••••••\nOne pleasant late afternoon about two weeks\nlater, Eric Nielsen was occupied in writing at his\ndesk. He was engaged on an essay he had planned\nand started some time ago. His pencil was moving\nmore rapidly than usual.\nThe door was opened gently and Bainbridge\nBreen came in. \"Busy?\" he inquired.\n\"Come in! I'll be through in a second,\" Nielsen\nreturned without looking up.\nThe painter came forward. The author's pencil\nscribbled a little faster, a period was jotted down,\nand he laid aside the pencil, at the same time eyeing\nhis work and sighing with satisfaction.\n\"Finished?\"\n\"Oh no, not for some time. I've got several\nthousand words more,\" Nielsen explained.\n\"How's it coming on?\"\n\"Splendidly!\" was the optimistic rejoinder. \"If\nI can keep sufficient enthusiasm in my body, I ought\nto be able to carry it through perfectly.\""}, {"page_pdf": 129, "page_imprimee": "127", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.129", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 996, "texte": "\"It'll be your chef-d'oeuvre, I suppose,\" Breen\nobserved with his customary pleasantry.\n\"I hope so,\" Nielsen admitted seriously. \"It's\nstronger than anything I've done, I feel. It shows\nmaturity, I think, not only maturity of judgment, but\nmaturity of execution as well.\"\n\"In other words, Art,\" Breen interrupted slyly.\n\"What more do you ask?\"\n\"Nothing,\" confessed Nielsen, and his warm\nsmile appeared.\n\"But what's the matter with the story?\" the\npainter demanded.\n\"How do you mean?\" the author retorted.\n\"I thought that had fulfilled your ambition.\"\n\"Not quite, not quite,\" Nielsen hastened to deny,\nand was thoughtful. \"I don't know just what it\nwas, but there was something missing in it,\" he said\ngently, and changing the subject, concluded ab-\nruptly : \"I'm sure I have that something in this es-\n»»\nsay.\nBreen explained himself: \"You know what\nmade me ask about the story?\"\n\"No. What?\"\n\"I had lunch in a small bakery on Sixth Avenue\nthis noon.\"\n\"Well?\"\n\"Guess whom I saw there?\""}, {"page_pdf": 130, "page_imprimee": "128", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.130", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 796, "texte": "\"Well?\"\nCan t you guess ?\n\"Out with it!\"\n\"Our old friend: Erna Vitek!\"\nNielsen turned and stared at his friend. He was\nunable to speak.\n\"What do you think o' that?\" Breen pursued,\nunruffled.\n\"She must have left Allen.\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"And is working again?\"\n\"Yes!\"\nNielsen stared at the floor now. He seemed una-\nble to formulate, much less express, an opinion.\n\"How is she? Changed?\" he requested at last.\n\"Somewhat! She's quite a little harder and a\nbit more quiet—that is the way matters appeared to\nme. But her eyes have lost none of their boldness.\nAnd besides, she seems to like it there.\"\n\"She does?\"\n\"Yes, and she' s very popular too.\"\n\"How so?\"\n\"The men are very attentive, it looked to me,\"\nBreen volunteered significantly.\n\"And she?\"\n\"She's still got an eye open. Not as wide open,"}, {"page_pdf": 131, "page_imprimee": "129", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.131", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 900, "texte": "perhaps, as in the old days, but it isn't closed, that's\ncertain.\"\nNielsen was silent, reflecting.\nAt length, Breen asked: \"What do you imagine\nwill become of her?\"\n\"How?\"\n\"I mean, of her life—what life do you suppose\nshe'll lead eventually: this young lady so moral,\nunmoral or—\"\n\"I can't say exactly,\" Nielsen, who disliked the\ntopic, interrupted.\n\"Think she'll take to the streets?\"\n\"No, no, not that!\" was the vehement denial.\n\"Why not?\"\nAgain, Nielsen seemed unable to answer, but\nhe boasted unexpectedly: \"She's too strong. She\nhas fight in her—and love of freedom.\"\n\"But so have street ladies.\"\n\"Yes, but they don't carry it through.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"I don't know,\" was the stubborn reply. \"They\ndon't, that's all.\"\n\"Well, do you? Does Tom, Dick or Harry?\nDoes Erna?\"\n\"I don't know. Let's drop the subject.\"\n\"/ wouldn't be so certain that she does,\" Breen\ninsinuated, still persisting."}, {"page_pdf": 132, "page_imprimee": "130", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.132", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 908, "texte": "\"Of course, you wouldn't,\" Nielsen condemned,\nunable longer to hold back his emotion. \"You're\nwisdom itself.\"\nThe young artist decided to shift the topic:\n\"Heard from Carstairs lately?\"\nAnimation returned to Nielsen. \"Yes, I heard\nfrom John last night.\"\n\"Is he still in Indianapolis?\"\n\"Yes, he has a fine position there and seems con-\ntented now.\"\n\"And Elsie Pearson?\"\n\"Oh, that'll come off, as you said the other day.\"\n\"Marriage?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Good for John! I'm glad he won. He was a\nlong time waiting.\"\nNelsen nodded. He was thoughtful once more.\nBut he shook off the mood and asked: \"What are\nyou doing, Breen?\"\n\"Getting ready for spring.\"\n\"That's so—spring'll be here in a week or two.\nGoing out to the country as usual?\"\n\"Yes, I've gathered a bunch of canvases and\nplenty of tubes, etcetera, and off I'll go.\"\n\"Going to Connecticut again?\"\n\"Yes, that's the only country for a landscape\npainter.\""}, {"page_pdf": 133, "page_imprimee": "131", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.133", "debut_caractere": 12, "fin_caractere_exclue": 742, "texte": "\"I suppose so,\" Nielsen agreed.\n\"How about supper?\" Breen interposed.\n\"Why, what time is it?\"\n\"After five o'clock.\"\n\"By Jove—that late? I must be getting dressed\nsoon.\"\n\"Got an engagement?\"\n\"Yes, I' m going to feed with the Plymptons.\"\n\"Too bad! That means, I'll have to eat alone.\nSee you in the morning! So long!\" and Breen\nmoved away.\n\"Going over to Landsmann's?\"\n\"Yes. But it's hopelessly dull there these days.\nIt'll give me the incurables to-night.\"\n\"Or a tummy-ache, at least,\" Nielsen added\ngood-humoredly.\n\"Yes, so long!\"\n\"So long!\"\nBreen went out quietly and closed the door.\nNielsen studied the door with a blank expression.\nBut he shook himself and returned to his manuscript.\nIn a moment, he was absorbed, re-reading."}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c005", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c005", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "135", "page_fin": "135", "image_debut": 137, "image_fin": 137, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.5", "titre_corps": "The April issue of THE", "titre_sommaire": "The April issue of THE", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 137, "page_imprimee": "135", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.137", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 86, "texte": "The April issue of THE\nGLEBE will present Collects\nand prose-pieces by Horace\nTraubel."}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c006", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c006", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "133", "page_fin": "133", "image_debut": 135, "image_fin": 135, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.6", "titre_corps": "[Publicité]", "titre_sommaire": "[Publicité]", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 135, "page_imprimee": "133", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.135", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 80, "texte": "POETRY\nA MAGAZINE OF VERSE\nEdited by Harriet Monroe, 543 Cass St., Chicago, 111."}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c007", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c007", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "133", "page_fin": "133", "image_debut": 135, "image_fin": 135, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.7", "titre_corps": "[Publicité]", "titre_sommaire": "[Publicité]", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 135, "page_imprimee": "133", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.135", "debut_caractere": 82, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1325, "texte": "POETRY, at the end of its first year, is no longer an experi-\nment but an assured artistic success, a publication whose\nimportance is authoritatively recognized, not only in this\ncountry, but in Great Britain and France as well. The\nfield it has opened up is full of brilliant possibilities, en-\ncouraging the editors to hope for the enthusiastic sup-\nport of a discriminating public.\nPOETRY endeavors to present the best verse now being\nwritten in English, quality alone being the test of ac-\nceptance.\nPOETRY is an effort to create an organ for the art. While\nthe ordinary magazines must minister to a large public\nlittle interested in poetry, this magazine appeals to and\nwill develop a public primarily interested in poetry as\nan art, potentially the highest, most complete human ex-\npression of truth and beauty. Thus it offers to poets a\nchance to be heard by their own audience, in their own\nplace, without the limitations imposed by the popular\nmagazines. And to lovers of poetry it offers each month\na sheaf of new verse in delicate form uninterrupted by\nprose articles demanding a different mood.\nIf You Love Good Poetry, Subscribe—\nPOETRY\n543 Cass Street, Chicago.\nSend POETRY for one year ($1.50 enclosed) beginning\nto\nName\nAddress"}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c008", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c008", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "134", "page_fin": "134", "image_debut": 136, "image_fin": 136, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.8", "titre_corps": "[Publicité]", "titre_sommaire": "[Publicité]", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 136, "page_imprimee": "134", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.136", "debut_caractere": 0, "fin_caractere_exclue": 117, "texte": "THE INTERCOLLEGIATE SOCIALIST\nThought-Compelling, Admirably Written Quarterly\nof Socialism and the Socialist Movement"}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c009", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c009", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "134", "page_fin": "134", "image_debut": 136, "image_fin": 136, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.9", "titre_corps": "[Publicité]", "titre_sommaire": "[Publicité]", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 136, "page_imprimee": "134", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.136", "debut_caractere": 119, "fin_caractere_exclue": 588, "texte": "Among the year's contributors are:\nKarl Kautsky, Jean Longuet, Keir Hardie, Morris Hillquit,\nAlexander Irvine, Helen L. Sumner, Sidney and Beatrice\nWebb, Prof. Vida D. Scudder, Upton Sinclair, William Eng-\nlish Walling, Charles Zueblin, Ernest Poole, Howard Bru-\nbaker, Albert Edwards, Jessie W. Hughan, Caro Lloyd.\nREAD ITS REVIEW OF BOOKS!\nSUBSCRIPTION, 25c. SINGLE COPY, 10c.\n15 COPIES, $l.OO.\nINTERCOLLEGIATE SOCIALIST SOCIETY\n105 WEST 40TH STREET - - NEW YORK CITY"}]}, {"article_id": "bm-bmtnaat-1914-03-01-c010", "article_bluemountain": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01#c010", "volume": "bmtnaat_1914-03_01", "ocr_source": "OCR Blue Mountain (ALTO), transcription TEI : lignes lb/@facs", "texte_sans_correction": true, "page_debut": "134", "page_fin": "134", "image_debut": 136, "image_fin": 136, "pages_selon": "pagination imprimée relevée dans le METS Blue Mountain (ORDERLABEL) ; [n] = page sans folio restituée", "url_article": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.2.10", "titre_corps": "[Publicité]", "titre_sommaire": "[Publicité]", "signature_source": "", "controle": "bornes données par la structure logique METS/ALTO de Blue Mountain (blocs ALTO de chaque constituant)", "pages": [{"page_pdf": 136, "page_imprimee": "134", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.136", "debut_caractere": 590, "fin_caractere_exclue": 1251, "texte": "THE INTERNATIONAL\nA magazine for matured minds.\nA magazine for those who dare to think.\nA magazine for all true cosmopolites.\nA magazine with a courage so fearless that it publishes\nthe best.\nBrieux, Schnitzler, Strindberg are only a few of the ad-\nvanced thinkers who have appeared in the pages of THE\nINTERNATIONAL.\nWe have been in the vanguard of intellectual freedom.\nWe shall always be far ahead of our times.\nYou may glimpse the future by reading THE INTER-\nNATIONAL.\nGeorge Sylvester Viereck, Editor.\nLeonard D. Abbott, Richard Le Gallienne, Associate Editors.\n15 CENTS A COPY. $1.50 A YEAR.\nMOODS PUBLISHING COMPANY\n29 WEST 42ND STREET - - NEW YORK CITY"}]}], "pages_ocr_originales": [{"page_pdf": 1, "page_imprimee": "couv. 1", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.1", "texte": "THE GLEBE\nERNA VITEK\nBy Alfred Kreymborg\n\nnΣΣ\nΣBΣ\nVOLUME 1\nNUMBER 6\nMARCH\n1914\nSUBSCRIPTION\nThree Dollars Yearly\nTHIS ISSUE 50 CENTS"}, {"page_pdf": 3, "page_imprimee": "n. p.", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.3", "texte": "ERNA VITEK"}, {"page_pdf": 5, "page_imprimee": "[3]", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.5", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\nBY\nAlfred Kreymborg\n\nnΣΣ\nΣBΣ\nNEW YORK\nALBERT AND CHARLES BONI\n96 Fifth Avenue\n1914"}, {"page_pdf": 6, "page_imprimee": "[4]", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.6", "texte": "Copyright, 1914\nby\nAlbert and Charles Boni"}, {"page_pdf": 7, "page_imprimee": "5", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.7", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\nI\nThree young men, the best of friends, a painter,\nBainbridge Breen, a writer, Eric Nielsen, and a\ncomposer, John Carstairs, were arguing that three-\nfaced conundrum, morals. Quite an accident had\nprovoked them to it: a waitress, Erna Vitek. From\npicking at her they had launched into axiomizing,\nonly to come back to her. Her morals were the vital\ntopic of the evening. Carstairs* studio provided the\nmise en scene.\n\"Well, we've hit a conclusion at last,\" said Breen\nwith an air of comfortable finality. \"Carstairs calls\nher moral, I say she's unmoral, and Nielsen that she\nmay be moral, unmoral or even both.\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Now, we've all conceded that Erna's not im-\nmoral—at least she doesn't lead a life inconsistent\nwith morality?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Very well then,\" Breen concluded contentedly.\n\"Now let me make a proposition.\"\n\"What kind of a proposition?\" Nielson quizzed"}, {"page_pdf": 8, "page_imprimee": "6", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.8", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nin droll tones and looked at Carstairs, who was\nfrowning.\n\"There's very little to it. I can dish it out in a\nfew words. It's simply this: that we put Erna to\nthe test.\"\n\"What do you mean?\" was Carstairs' immediate\nchallenge.\n\"Don't worry!\" Breen responded blandly. \"I'm\nnot going to injure the girl.\"\n\"Well, what did you mean—\"\n\"Merely this,\" the painter interrupted quietly. \"I\ndon't believe that any of us know her very well.\nShe's only been working at Landsmann's a few\nmonths. Of course, Carstairs, you've taken her out\non one or two occasions, so you've had an oppor-\ntunity of studying her at closer range.\"\n\"Not of studying her!\"\n\"You don't study her, certainly. You—er—\nwhat would you call it, Nielsen?\"\n\"Why, John has been burned a little by the di-\nvine flame.\"\nCarstairs blushed angrily. \"If you fellows in-\ntend to be personal-—\"\n\"Never mind, John,\" Nielsen cut in. \"You\nmust allow us the occasional escape of some of our\nsurplus wind. Now, let's drop these bravado poses\nand get down to business. I want the rest of the"}, {"page_pdf": 9, "page_imprimee": "7", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.9", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nproposition. We know that we're to put Erna to\nthe test. Now, Breen, tell us how.\"\n\"There's nothing to explain. I said, put her to\nthe test. Let each one, in his own way and for him-\nself, perhaps, pay her attentions—I don't mean,\nmake love to her—but simply, well, let him take her\nto the theatre or to supper some evening—she's free\nnights—and find out how close he can get to her—l\ndon't mean seduction—but that he penetrate her\ncharacter. Let each, in his own way, learn for\nhimself, and later we'll compare notes and decide\nwhether the respected lady has the moral or the un-\nmoral tendency or even whether she might develop\nan—er—\"\n\"See here, Breen!\" Carstairs exploded.\n\"Oh, I'd forgotten that we agreed to throw that\nout,\" the painter apologized. \"You see, I couldn't\nhelp thinking of that little affair with the young\nprize ring gladiator. What was his name? Allen!\"\n\"But that was only a temptation,\" Carstairs\nfought back.\n\"Of course, only a temptation. But we have\nonly her word that it never proved more.\"\nThe composer was ready with a hot retaliation\nwhen Nielsen interposed: \"Now don't let's revert\nto that topic again, Breen. We can never know the\nwhole story, and it only annoys John to refer to it."}, {"page_pdf": 10, "page_imprimee": "8", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.10", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nWe know that Erna was down and out at the time—\nshe'd just come to Landsmann's, was unsettled and\nthat sort of thing—that much we know and that\nyoung Allen followed her there with an offer of\ncash. At least, she intimated something like that to\nJohn and said it was a case of being good or bad\nthen and there. She chose being good. Even if she\nhad chosen the other, the transaction might have\nbeen an unmoral and not an immoral one, for she\nwas fond of Allen.\"\n\"But—\"\n\"Now never mind, Breen! We've threshed that\nout often enough. Erna didn't flop—in fact, she\nshowed Mr. Allen the door, hasn't seen him since\n1 )) *\nand—\n\"But we have only her word for all that stuff.\"\n\"All right. There's no other to contradict.\"\nBreen, although silenced, was busy reflecting;\nCarstairs' ire was appeased. Nielsen concluded:\n\"Let's take up Breen's proposition, John, each in\nhis own way, whatever that may be, and then we'll\ncompare notes some day and settle the business.\nAfter all, Erna's only a waitress; we needn't spend\nmore than an ordinary amount of excitement over\nher.\"\n\"But she isn't a waitress. I tell you, she's a\nwoman.\""}, {"page_pdf": 11, "page_imprimee": "9", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.11", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"All right, woman let her be,\" Nielsen conceded\ngracefully. \"Now, we don't want to sit here throw-\ning words and phrases around all evening. We've\nbeen at it too long as it is. Why not put the matter\nto a vote and then drop it?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Breen, of course, votes that we put her to the\ntest. Will you vote that way too?\"\nCarstairs gave in with an effort.\n\"Fine!\" Nielsen applauded. \"I'll vote 4yes'\ntoo.\" .\n\"Motion proposed and carried that one Erna\nVitek, employed as waitress at the Cafe Lands-\nmann—\"\n\"That'll do, Breen. We' ve had enough of your\neloquence for one evening. You've given me a\nheadache. Besides, I'm sick of this subject. Let's\nstart something else.\"\nBreen laughed his ever-ready, self-satisfied laugh,\nand Nielsen, and even Carstairs, joined him. Pres-\nently, the studio slept the sleep of the unperturbed.\nCarefully, Breen filled his pipe and began a deliber-\nate puffing, while Nielsen introduced some new\nanecdote in his droll, even-tempered way. Carstairs,\non the other hand, was meditating gloomily: in an\nhour or so he would be due at that damnable hole,\nthe Phoenix Music Hall—where he earned his"}, {"page_pdf": 12, "page_imprimee": "10", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.12", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nbread playing accompaniments. A second thought\ncheered him not a little. He would still have time\nto eat his supper at Landsmann's."}, {"page_pdf": 13, "page_imprimee": "11", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.13", "texte": "II\n\"Erna! What is the matter with you? Another\ncup of coffee for Mr. Nolan!\"\n\"I know it. I ordered it an hour ago.\"\nThe stocky, middle-aged, stolid-faced German\nstared at the handsome sensual girl of twenty, mut-\ntered something, as she returned his critical stare\nwith a defiant one, and passed out of the kitchen into\nthe store.\n\"What is the matter with Erna to-day?\" he de-\nmanded of his stocky, middle-aged, stolid-faced\nwife, who stood behind the counter waiting on\ncustomers.\n\"Why?\"\n\"This is the third time she has been schnautzing\n99\nme.\n\"Oh, she has something on her mind,\" was the\nwoman's unconcerned reply.\nThe storekeeper was not satisfied. \"That fellow\nmust be to blame,\" he said.\n\"Who?\"\n\"That Allen! He's been coming here again.\"\n\"Has he?\" the woman returned with the same\nunconcern. \"Let him come. What do you care?\""}, {"page_pdf": 14, "page_imprimee": "12", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.14", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nErna Vitek was in a morose humor. Her pugna-\ncious nose seemed more pugnacious than ever, and\neven her mouth, usually so soft and yielding, ap-\npeared hard this morning. And her brown eyes,\nwhich could give you gentle glances one day and\nrepelling ones the next, were filled with ominous\nsigns. There was a good reason. She had just\noverheard the other waitresses exchanging remarks\nabout her. This would not have been so bad if their\ntalk had been without foundation. But it was true:\nshe had been glad to see Jimmy Allen yesterday\nnoon and evening, when he came in—after an ab-\nsence of three months. He had stopped drinking.\nHe had been living and training in the country, so\nthat the old color had returned to his face and the\nold light to his eyes. He looked stronger than ever,\nmore energetic and happier. Yes, he was to begin\nfighting again—next week—but that had never been\nhis worst fault. The girls said that she still \"liked\nhim\" or that she would \"like him again.\" This\nwould not have been so bad if—\nGretchen and Mollie were small, mean, dirty.\nThey were always gossipping about her. And she\nhad given them her old dresses, old hats, encourage-\nment, advice. What a lot of gratitude women felt\n/\ntoward you!\nHer face cleared. A laughing, splendidly built"}, {"page_pdf": 15, "page_imprimee": "13", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.15", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nyoung fellow was making his way through the store,\nreturning salutations. He stopped in the kitchen\nlong enough to barter laughing glances with Erna\nand passed down the two steps into the dining-room:\na small low one containing six tables—Erna's em-\npire. There, he received more greetings and one or\ntwo short tributes on his return to the public eye.\nThe young athlete pulled off his coat and cap and\nhung them on the wall. He flung himself into a\nchair at an empty table and was soon at his ease.\nErna was a shrewd girl. She did not come to\ntake his order at once. First, she served another\npatron. Then, she cleared away some dishes.\nFinally, she came to Jimmy's table, but with a care-\nless air.\nHe gave her a frank look. \"How's the girl?\"\nwas his familiar greeting.\n\"Pretty fair!\" she responded in cool tones. \"How\nare you?\"\n\"Bully!\"\n\"What do you want?\" she went on indifferently.\n\"Gimme time to breathe!\" he protested, and tried\nto stare into her face and to take her hand.\n\"Stop!\" she warned him and drew back.\n\"Why, what the deuce—\"\n\"Customers are waitin'—\" she cut him short.\nHe gave the bill of fare a contemptuous glance."}, {"page_pdf": 16, "page_imprimee": "14", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.16", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Bring me a soft boiled egg, toast an* a glass o'\nmilk.*'\nShe looked at him with sudden irritation, but\nsmiled, turned her back and left the room with\naggravating slowness.\nJimmy appeared angry, but one of the patrons\ndisturbed his mood with an admiring: \"On a diet,\nJimmy?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"What night does it come off?\"\n\"Next Tuesday.\"\n\"How do you feel?\"\nJimmy expanded his chest, gave himself a solid\npunch and answered: \"Great! Harder than a\nrock!\"\n\"Feel sorry for 'the Kid.' How long are you\ngoin' to let him stay?\"\n\"Oh, part o' the second,\" was Jimmy's laughing\nassurance.\nA sigh of pleasure and envy escaped the patrons.\nAnd they quickly announced their intention to be\npresent at the joyous butchery.\nErna came back. She pretended to wipe off the\nneighboring table. Pretty soon, however, she was\nat Jimmy's side.\n\"What's the grouch?\" he asked confidentially.\n\"Nothin'.\""}, {"page_pdf": 17, "page_imprimee": "15", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.17", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Still sore at me?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Sore at somebody else?\"\n\"No.\"\nHe looked up at her anxiously, but Erna smiled;\nher eyes softened and winked slyly. Jimmy,\nwho was always willing to laugh, laughed again.\n\"You' re still the kiddo,\" he whispered.\nErna blushed and moved away.\n\"Erna!\" he called.\n\"Wait a moment!\"\nShe stayed away about two minutes and then re-\nturned with Jimmy's order, which was overdue.\nThree of the patrons, exchanging \"so longs!\" with\nthe prize-fighter, went out. Two remained, milk-\nmen, but they were fast asleep.\nErna set Jimmy's order before him. He tried to\ncatch her hand, but she was too quick. An irritable\ngrunt escaped him.\n\"What's the matter?\" she taunted him.\n\"What's the matter with pouP\"\n\"Nothin'.\"\nBut she dropped her glance coquettishly. He\ngave her face and figure an admiring look.\n\"Erna,\" he said gently.\nShe looked at him for a shy instant.\n\"I say, Erna,\" he repeated."}, {"page_pdf": 18, "page_imprimee": "16", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.18", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Well?\"\n\"You're not sore?\"\n\"No.\"\nno -v*f\nSure?\n\"Yes.\"\n\"You know what I mean?\"\n\"Sure!\"\nHe studied her. \"Then why do you treat me\nthis way—now?\"\nShe tried bold and bashful glances, turned her\nhead a little and said enigmatically \"Just because.\"\n\"Just because what?\"\n\"Just because.\"\nHe shook his head, but his ever-ready laugh came\nto his assistance. \"Then you're not sore?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Sure?\"\n\"Of course.\"\n\"Even though—\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Then you like to treat me this way just—\"\n««o »»\nSure.\n\"Why?\"\n\"Just because!\" she echoed and started to laugh.\nHe gave her an adoring glance and this time\ncaught her hand. She tried to pull it away, but his\ngrip was too powerful. He squeezed her hand."}, {"page_pdf": 19, "page_imprimee": "17", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.19", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Don't, don't!\" she begged in pain.\nHe let go and smiled. She was not angry. In-\nstead, she placed her hand on his biceps. He raised\nhis forearm and imprisoned her hand. \"00-oo!\"\nshe sighed in happy homage, and her eyes shone.\nOnce more, he freed her hand. \"Well?\"\n\"Terrible!\" she whispered. \"What'll happen to\nthe poor 'Kid'?\"\n\"Death!\" was his jovial rejoinder.\nHe caught her hand once more. \"Don't, don't!\"\nshe warned him. He let go as before, but she did\nnot withdraw it immediately.\nHis glance grew bolder and bolder, but he hesi-\ntated. He busied himself with his breakfast for a\nmoment, shaking salt into his egg and stirring it with\na spoon. He looked up and hesitated again. Final-\nly, he began: \"Then it'll be all right to-night?\"\n\"To-night?\"\n\"Yes. You said you'd tell me to-day.\"\n«(T 1 »»\n1 know.\n\"It'll be all right?\" he pleaded.\nShe eyed him a moment, softened a little and\nthen gave in: \"But where can we go?\"\n\"We can take in a show,\" he suggested.\n\"A show?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Where?\""}, {"page_pdf": 20, "page_imprimee": "18", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.20", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Oh, Miner's, the Gran' or a movie.\"\nShe meditated.\n\"Hurry up! Here come some customers.\"\nShe turned her head quickly, and then looked\nback at him. \"All right,\" she whispered.\n\"Where'll I meet you?\" he demanded eagerly.\n\"At the old corner—eight o'clock!\"\nHe pressed her hand in hurried understanding, as\nthree young men entered the dining-room. They\nwere Breen, Carstairs and Nielsen. Erna passed\nthem on her way out with a nervous \"good-morn-\n• 9»\ning.\nShe stayed out some time. Jimmy ate and drank\nrapidly, got up, took his check, put on his cap and\ncoat, and ignoring the newcomers, left the room.\nBreen and Nielsen had recognized him with amaze-\nment. They watched him curiously, but not so Car-\nstairs. He sat there, staring gloomily at the table."}, {"page_pdf": 21, "page_imprimee": "19", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.21", "texte": "III\n\"Moral or unmoral, but not—\" Breen started\nand waited for Nielsen to supply the last word.\nNielsen, who understood, shook his head and cor-\nrected: \"Moral or unmoral—no more,\" and smiled\nconfidently.\nCarstairs looked from Nielsen to Breen and con-\ntinued staring at the table.\n\"How do you account then for the recrudescence\nof our young gladiator?\" Breen went on.\n\"And what has that to do with Erna's life,\npresent or future?\" Nelsen argued amiably.\n\"If he's calling again?\"\n\"Let him call! Dtoes that necessarily affect\nErna's conduct?\"\n\"But hasn't it affected her conduct? Didn't you\nnotice it as we came in?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Well?\"\nNielsen wore a thoughtful frown, but smiled mis-\nchievously and declared: \"There was nothing im-\nmoral, as far as I could make out.\"\nBreen was gracious enough to agree: \"Perhaps\nnot.\""}, {"page_pdf": 22, "page_imprimee": "20", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.22", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nThey were silent. Carstairs watched them\ngloomily and then returned to his occupation. Erna\ncame in, affecting a matter-of-fact air.\nBreen and Nielsen pressed her with playful greet-\nings and compliments. She accepted them as part\nof the tribute due her each day, but her stereotyped\nexpression disappeared, and she was ready to take\nup her duties as gracious empress. Even her pugna-\ncious nose appeared less pugnacious. Having rec-\nognized the young men's tribute by a favor or two,\nshe criticized genially: \"You're late this morning.\"\n\"Nielsen overslept himself,\" Breen explained.\n\"Don't you believe him—he overslept himself,\"\nNilsen retorted.\nErna was leaning against their table, her arms\nakimbo. The pair received a glance each, as was\ntheir due, and then she studied Carstairs. \"Maybe\nit was you, Mr. Carstairs?\"\nHe looked up. \"Me?\"\n\"Yes- -maybe it was you that overslept your-\nself.\"\nCarstairs blushed, his friends laughed, and he\ndenied with a return of good nature: \"No. They\nwere the ones.\"\n\"He's not awake yet, Erna,\" Breen fought back.\n\"He doesn't look it,\" she seconded.\nThe young composer blushed again, but did not"}, {"page_pdf": 23, "page_imprimee": "21", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.23", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ndefend himself this time. Nielsen eyed him with\nfriendly concern.\n\"Your orders, gentlemen.\"\n\"What' s your hurry?\" Breen complained.\n\"You don't suppose I can stand here all day,\"\nshe reminded him.\n\"But I want to admire you a little,\" he protested.\n\"Who wants to eat in the presence of a—of a—\nWhy, look at the beautiful red ribbon! Is it a new\none, Erna?\"\n\"Yes,\" and instantly, Erna, always susceptible\nto praise or flattery, raised her hands to arrange the\nribbon.\n\"It matches your hair to perfection,\" Breen pur-\nsued. \"You love color, don't you?\"\n«4O 9 9\nSure.\n\"Red the most?\"\n(lf> »»\nsure.\n\"Blood, blood red?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"My favorite color, too!\"\n\"That'll do,\" Nielsen interposed. \"Don't steal\nall the crumbs, Breen.\"\nErna laughed.\n\"But they belong to me,\" Breen defended him-\nself. \"Color is my line. Red is my color too.\""}, {"page_pdf": 24, "page_imprimee": "22", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.24", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"These grasping conceited painters!\" Nielsen\ngrumbled.\n\"No,\" Erna interceded. \"If he likes red, he\nlikes red.\"\n\"* A second Daniel*,\" quoted Breen. \"I thank\nthee, gracious Lady. Thou and I are of one mind\nand desire. By the way, Erna! Did you ever wear\nall red?**\n\"No—oh, yes, two or three years ago.'*\n44You did? Have you still got the dress?\"\n\"Oh, rve outgrown it. I'm—I'm stouter now,\"\nand she expanded her chest and laughed again.\n\"But you must find it,\" he continued with growing\ninterest. 44You could easily alter it to fit, couldn't\nyou ? I want you to pose for me. You know you've\npromised me several times. Wouldn't you like to?\nAll in red: red ribbon, red waist, and skirt and even\nred slippers, but best of all, red cheeks and red lips!\"\nErna's pleasure-loving scent was aroused.\n\"Will you, Erna?\"\n\"Sure!\"\n\"When?\"\n\"Oh, not to-day.\"\n44When then?\"\n\"Not to-morrow.\"\n\"Oh, pshaw—when then?\"\n\"My first afternoon off?\""}, {"page_pdf": 25, "page_imprimee": "23", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.25", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Fine! When will that be?\"\n\"Next Monday.\"\n\"Good! And you'll be ready?\"\n\"Yes, if you really want me to. But I won't be\nable—\"\n\"That's all right,\" he interrupted. \"Come any-\nhow! You'll be immense just the same. You will\ncreate—\"\n\"Pooh, pooh, and likewise tut, tut!\" Nielsen\nbroke in. \"When are we to hear an end to this?\"\n\"He's jealous,\" said Erna.\n\"Of course,\" Nielsen admitted. \"To the painter\ngo all the spoils. No one ever poses for a writer.\nIt wouldn't be proper.\"\n\"Why?\" she challenged.\nNielsen got up in a hurry. \"What?\" he de-\nmanded in mock seriousness.\n\"Order, order!\" she said roguishly and looked\naway.\n\"But—\"\n\"Order, order!\" Breen echoed. \"The lady is\nright. We must have order. Besides, we haven't\nordered.\"\nNielsen fell back with a philosophic sigh. \"All\nis unfair when bad puns make their appearance.\"\nIt did not take the young men long to make their\nchoice of breakfast. Erna went away."}, {"page_pdf": 26, "page_imprimee": "24", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.26", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Come back soon!\" pleaded Breen.\n\"In a wink,\" she called back.\nBreen started drumming on the table; Nielsen\nlooked across at him and hummed a pleasant tune.\n\"You' re a clever individual,\" he observed.\n\"Why?\"\n\"You're not going to have her pose, old Sly Fox.\"\n\"Certainly not, thou reader of souls.\"\n\"I thought not.\"\n\"But I'm only carrying out our program of last\nnight. You seem to have forgotten it.\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Then why criticize me for being the first one on\nthe job? It'll be up to you and Carstairs too.\"\n\"I know,\" Nielsen agreed jovially.\n\"Count me out!\" Carstairs interrupted suddenly.\n\"The sleeper's awake,\" Breen applauded. \"He's\nback from the land of dreams. What news from\nArcadia, Colonel?\"\n\"You can count me out,\" Carstairs repeated\nstubbornly, and would not look at his friends.\n\"Why, what's the matter?\" Nielsen interposed\nsympathetically, and raised his hand to forewarn\nBreen. *\n\"Nothing.\"\n\"Breen's only been fooling all along!\"\n\"I know.\""}, {"page_pdf": 27, "page_imprimee": "25", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.27", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Then you're not angry with him, or me?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Then what's the trouble?\"\n\"I don't like it—I hate it,\" the young composer\nwent on with difficulty.\n\"What don't you like?\"\n\"This business!\"\n\"What, this business of testing Erna?\" Nielsen\nasked gently, and studied him. \"John!\" The latter\nrefused to look at him. \"It's all in fun. I thought\nyou were satisfied with our arrangement? We are\neach to study Erna in our own way, then to com-\npare notes to learn whether— You don't have to\nuse Breen's method. 1 don't intend to. You don't\nhave to either.\"\n\"I know.\"\n\"Then there ought to be no complaint.\"\n\"Count me out anyhow.\"\n\"Why?\"\nBreen wanted to poke into the argument, but\nNielsen raised his hand again.\n\"She's not a waitress or a—or a working woman\n—or a table or a chair,\" Carstairs said with obvious\ndifficulty.\nNielsen understood. He squeezed his neighbor's\narm and declared with his most soothing tone: \"She's\na woman, of course—as we concluded last night."}, {"page_pdf": 28, "page_imprimee": "26", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.28", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nBreen and I know that. You feel that we do, don't\nv*\nyou?\nCarstairs, who was in his most sentimental mood,\nseemed on the verge of tears. \"Yes,\" he managed\nto agree.\nNielsen broke off the subject at once. \"Well,\nwe'll talk over the whole business some other time.\nYou're not feeling well this morning. It must be\nyour work at that confounded moving picture hole.\"\n\"Yes,\" Carstairs said doubtfully.\n\"Cheer up!\" Breen succeeded in interpolating.\n\"Forget your troubles in the music world and listen\nto that concert over there. That duet recital, I\nshould say.\"\nCarstairs smiled.\n\"Tristan and Isolde are being undone,\" Nielsen\nadded, catching Breen's cue. \"Or Salome and\nJokannan, eh? Away with Wagner and Strauss:\nRichard the First and Second—what do you say,\nJohn?\"\n\"Yes.\"\nThe two milkmen, who were sleeping more\nsoundly than ever, appreciated their listeners' ap-\nplause. They were indulging in a crescendo.\n\"Silence and listen!\" Breen warned so solemnly\nthat Nielsen, and even Carstairs, laughed.\nBreen and Nielsen exchanged nods. They had"}, {"page_pdf": 29, "page_imprimee": "27", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.29", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\naccomplished their object. Erna came back with\ntheir orders.\n\"What music have we here?\" Breen hailed her.\nShe set their orders on the table, and arranged\ntheir plates, knives, forks and spoons. \"What did\nyou say?\"\n\"What music is this emanating from yon Orpheus\nand his Eurydice?\"\n\"Must be some ragtime,\" she suggested.\nBreen feigned disappointment.\n\"It all depends upon one's taste, you see,\" Niel-\nsen interpreted for him.\nAnd Carstairs laughed again.\nErna eyed him. \"Why, he's awake,\" she said.\n\"Yes,\" B reen and Nielsen assured her.\nCarstairs raised his head and met her glance for\nan instant, and the sudden warmth he felt brought\ncolor to his face. He looked elsewhere, but it was\nplainly evident that he was feeling better.\n\"You're sure you're awake now?\" she questioned\nwantonlv.\n\"Yes, thanks,\" he responded gratefully.\nThe young men started eating. Erna attended\nto her remaining duties with them and then went\nover to another table and sat down. Presently, she\nwas occupied folding paper napkins. Breen, with\nNielsen's assistance, opened a discussion on the new-"}, {"page_pdf": 30, "page_imprimee": "28", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.30", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nest fad of French painting, examples of which were\nbeing exhibited at a Fifth Avenue gallery.\nCarstairs stole cautious glances at Erna. Once\nor twice, she raised her eyes and caught his glance\nin hers. Both looked away in embarrassment. This\nperformance was repeated several times. There\nseemed to be some shy understanding between them.\nAbout a half hour later, the young men arose and\nput on their hats and coats. Erna came over and\ngave them their checks. \"So long, Erna,\" Niel-\nsen parted cordially. \"Au midi,\" Breen seconded.\nAnd the pair made their way up the steps and out\nof the dining room.\nCarstairs had delayed his departure a moment.\nHe approached Erna nervously and in a hurried\nvoice, began: \"Is it all right for to-night? You\nknow, you were going to let me know.\"\nShe frowned a little and then returned: \"Yes—\noh no, I can't go out with you to-night.\"\nHis face became tragic. She, possessed by one\nof her soft moods, played the sympathetic: \"Will\nyou be off again this week?\"\n\"Yes—Sunday night—from seven to nine,\" he\nexplained in an eager whisper.\n\"Well?\" She waited, smiling.\n\"Will it be all right then?\" he asked, his courage\nrising."}, {"page_pdf": 31, "page_imprimee": "29", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.31", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\"All right—-Sunday—seven o'clock,\" he whis-\npered, hurried out—and forgot his check.\nShe came after him and caught him at the counter,\nwhere he had joined his friends.\n\"You' ve forgotten your check,\" she told him,\nwith a bright glance.\n\"Oh, yes, thanks,\" he stammered.\nBreen and Nielsen stared at him. The trio\npassed out into the street.\n\"Where shall we go?\" Breen questioned.\n\"Let's bum a while in my room,\" Nielsen pro-\nposed.\n\"I can't,\" Carstairs declined.\n\"Why not, John?\"\n\"I want to work a little,\" Carstairs explained.\nBreen and Nielsen stared at him again.\nSomewhat later, the painter and the writer were\ncomfortably seated in the latter's comfortable work-\nshop.\n\"I guess so, but I hope it isn't true,\" Nielsen was\nsaying.\n\"Oh, he'll get over it. These attachments of his\nare never serious nor of long duration. And at best,\nshe's only a hardened little thing, a fact he'll realize\nin good season.\""}, {"page_pdf": 32, "page_imprimee": "30", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.32", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"John was always much slower to learn matters\nthan the rest of us,\" Nielsen said dreamily.\n\"Yes.\"\n\"He's foolishly sensitive too.\"\n\"And foolishly sentimental,\" Breen concluded.\nThere was a pause.\n\"And how about your story?\" the painter con-\ntinued.\n\"By the way, I'm thinking of using Erna as a\nmodel for—\"\n\"Want her to pose for you too, old Sly Fox?\"\nBreen demanded in revenge.\n\"Of course, and incidentally to find out—\"\n\"I know,\" Breen interrupted, and the pair\nlaughed in mutual admiration.\nIn the meanwhile, John Carstairs was busy—\nworking. He was seated at the small upright piano,\nwhich monopolized a good part of the space in his\nsmall studio. About an hour later, he had finished\nimprovising and selecting and arranging his material\nand now placed a large sheet of music paper against\nthe piano rack. The staves were blank at present,\nbut it was certain that the young composer intended\ncovering them as rapidly as possible. First of all,\nhowever, he wrote the title of the composition at the\nhead of the page: To Thee."}, {"page_pdf": 33, "page_imprimee": "31", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.33", "texte": "IV\nAn evening performance was in full swing at the\nPhoenix Music Hall, a small but well attended five\nand ten cent moving picture and vaudeville estab-\nlishment on Eighth Avenue, not far from Lands-\nmann's. At present, the moving pictures were do-\ning a turn, and the auditorium was dark. Music\nfrom a piano, placed close to the stage, was the only\naccompaniment, but it was an adequate one. A\nyoung, slender, anaemic individual was seated at\nthe piano.\nAt the moment, he was playing a dainty popular\nwaltz as a descriptive background for a French\ncomedy scene. Many a laugh rolled toward him.\nThen he commenced a two-step, as the screen an-\nnounced a change of pictures. The audience\nlaughed more frequently and with heartier approval,\nas an American farce romped by. Again, the\nscreen announced a change.\nAn Irish romance was under way. For this class\nof sketch, Carstairs was expected to interpolate or\nto improvise something \"sweet and dreamy.\" There-\nfore, he took advantage of the opportunity. He\nleaned closer to the keyboard, lowered his head and"}, {"page_pdf": 34, "page_imprimee": "32", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.34", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nwas soon engulfed in what he was rendering—so\nmuch so, that he did not turn to keep in touch with\nthe pictures, as was his habit. The yearning senti-\nmental composition had made him captive.\nLet others talk against Erna, he would still hold\nfast to his faith in her. Breen was a cynic, and\nNielsen too. They flattered themselves that they\nknew human nature, but they did not, for they were\nlacking in sympathy. He had been foolish to listen\nto their prattle concerning Erna. He would not do\nso in the future. In fact, he ought to drop their ac-\nquaintance or to avoid their company, at least. He\nwould do that. Now, he could keep his thought\nof her, so pure, to himself—his thought of her, who,\nin spite of her fun-loving and prank-playing nature,\nwas as pure as the purest and whitest of— Yes, he\nwould keep her pure. And Jimmy Allen, well, he\nhad come back, but his influence over her was dead,\ndead since the day she had shown him the door, as\nshe had confided to him that time. He could trust\nher. She was strong enough and pure enough to\ntake care of herself.\nThis was Friday; to-morrow would be Saturday,\nand then Sunday, a long, long Sunday, would come\nand have to pass before she would be with him. Of\ncourse, he would see her tomorrow morning at break-\nfast, but he must be careful to avoid the cynics."}, {"page_pdf": 35, "page_imprimee": "33", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.35", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nEven so, how could he tell her that he had composed\nthis for her, this, the best of his compositions, thanks\nto the circumstance that she had been its inspiration.\nPerhaps, it would be better not to tell her; it would\nbe a bigger surprise if he were to play it for her and\nthen offer it to her, as one would a flower or some\nother symbol.\nWould he have the courage to ask her to come to\nhis studio, so that he might play for her? And if\nhe had, suppose she should refuse? But she had\naccepted an invitation from Breen, and only to pose\nfor him. Surely, she would not refuse him? And\nif she did not, could he actually amuse and hold her\nattention by merely playing for her? Why not?\nShe sang a great deal in the store,—it is true, pop-\nular music, which he hated—but she had not been\neducated to anything higher. That did not make\nher any the less musical; moreover, she would learn\nin time, at his guidance perhaps, since she possessed\nso much temperament along with that lovely voice.\nTherefore, she would not object should he offer to\nplay for her. And he would play as he never had\nfor any one, eventually to lead up to this composi-\ntion, that belonged so naturally to her. What\nwould she say when he would offer it to her as her\nown? He must push his courage far enough to ask\nher to come to his studio."}, {"page_pdf": 36, "page_imprimee": "34", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.36", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nCarstairs continued playing and dreaming.\nThe audience was very still now. At one end\nof the front row, a young couple were sitting, hold-\ning hands. When the lights were up a while ago,\none might have recognized them as Erna Vitek and\nJimmy Allen. Both were living in the proverbial\nseventh heaven.\n\"Ain't it lovely?\" she was whispering.\n\"The two boobs in the love story?\"\n\"Not them so much—but the music!\"\n\"Pretty good.\"\n\"Nice an' dreamy, ain't it?\"\n\"Yes sounds as though the guy was playing\nfor us.\"\nErna gave him a reproving nudge, and he\nlaughed. They listened and watched in silence.\nBut he grew impatient. \"Don't care for the story,\ndo you?\"\n\"Sure! What's the matter with it?\"\n\"Them two boobs gimme a pain.\"\n\"Why?\"\n\"I dunno.\"\n\"They're true to life?\"\n\"So's my dead gran'mother.\"\nShe laughed. \"What's wrong with 'em?\"\nHe squeezed her hand as gently as he was able.\n\"Where do we come in?\""}, {"page_pdf": 37, "page_imprimee": "35", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.37", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"What?\"\n\"Ain't we true to life?\"\nShe pulled her hand away.\n\"What's the matter?\" he demanded.\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"Gimme your—my hand again!\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"Just because.\"\n««0 -v»»\n.bore?\n\"No.\"\nHe was silent.\nPresently, she commanded: \"Jimmy!\"\nNo answer.\n««r* t»»\nJimmy!\nAgain, no answer.\nHer hand slid across his arm and sought his.\n\"Mad?\"\n\"Mm—no.\"\n««0 -v»*\noure ?\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Then why wouldn't you answer?\"\n\"Just because!\" he mimicked her.\nShe slapped his hand gently, his hand opened and\nthey clasped again. There was a pause.\n\"Erna,\" he said in bolder tones.\n\"Not so loud!\" she warned him."}, {"page_pdf": 38, "page_imprimee": "36", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.38", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Well then Erna,\" he repeated in very low\ntones.\n\"That's better.\"\n\"How about it?\"\n\"About what?\"\n\"What I asked you 'fore we came here?\"\n\"I asked you not to repeat that,\" was her re-\nproach.\n\"I know, but I can't help it. Don't you like it\nhere?\"\n««o *»\nDure.\n\"I mean here, side o' me—in the dark?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Well—\" He hesitated.\n\"Well?\" she mocked him.\n\"Think o' how swell it'd be—\"\n\"Be careful, Jimmy!\"\n\"I can't help it,\" he persisted. \"Think o' how\nswell it'd be—\"\n\"Jimmy!\" she warned him once more.\n\"Oh shucks!\" he returned aloud, and was silent.\nThere was a longer pause.\n««T« «»»\nJimmy!\nNo answer.\n««*• •»»\nJimmy!\nAgain, no answer.\n««*• .»»\nJimmy!"}, {"page_pdf": 39, "page_imprimee": "37", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.39", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nA third time, no answer.\nShe pressed his hand and pushed against his\nshoulder, but he would not respond. Erna gave in.\n\"I'm sorry—forgive me?\"\n\"Mm—\"\n\"Do you forgive me?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"You don't say it very loud.\"\n\"Well, you jumped on me before for talkin'\nloud.\"\n\"You'd wake the audience,\" she apologized.\n\"Well?\" he challenged.\n\"Well what?\" she retorted.\n\"What did you want to say?\"\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"All right!\"—and he was silent.\n* \"Ah yes, jimmy,\" she resigned.\n\"Well?\"\n\"You can go on with—with your story, but—but\ndon't go too far.\"\n\"All right.\"\n\"Promise?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Then go ahead.\"\nHe revolved matters in his blunt mind, and re-\ncommenced: \"You remember, I told you 'bout the"}, {"page_pdf": 40, "page_imprimee": "38", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.40", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n—the little furnished flat my manager, Nolan, asked\nme to move in?\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"Well, why couldn't we—just you an* me—\"\nJimmy!\n\"I know, but I can't help it, Erna. Things is\ndifferent now. When I asked you that time—well,\nthat's all over now. You an' I's forgotten that. So\nwhat's buried's buried. An' times is different now.\nYou've got a job, though it's a punk one. I've got\na little money an' more to come, an' I've cut drinkin'.\nMy health's fine an' prospects great. After I finish\n'the Kid' there'll be Young Walcott—an' after\nWalcott, a bunch o' others—\"\n\"But Jimmy—\"\n\"Don't butt in!\" he begged seriously. \"Now,\nI know you hate that job o' yours—\"\n\"It ain't all cheese an' honey,\" she confessed.\n\"No, an' it never will be. Now, why can't you\npull up stakes—\"\n««?• .»»\nJimmy!\n\"Don't butt in!\" he begged more seriously. \"This\nis different than last time. I'm a—a respectable\nman now an' you're a respectable woman.\"\n\"Always have been,\" she cautioned him.\n\"I know,\" he hastened to admit. \"What I've\nbeen tryin' to say is: Keep your job a little longer"}, {"page_pdf": 41, "page_imprimee": "39", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.41", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nif you want to, till I go on with mine an* get lots o'\ndough. In the meanwhile—\" He stopped.\n\"Well?\" she ventured, but with an ominous in-\nflection.\n\"I'll rent the little flat off Nolan, an' you an' I\n99\ncan—\nli T* iff\nJimmy!\n\"But I'm askin' you to me this time,\" he\nprotested.\n\"I know.\"\n\"Ain't that different?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"Because it ain't.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"Because it ain't.\"\n\"But Erna—\"\n\"Now listen, Jimmy! You promised not to go\ntoo far.\"\n\"Oh shucks!\" he broke out.\nThey were silent. He let go her hand and drew\naway a short distance. She removed her hand\nrather reluctantly. Once or twice, she pushed\nagainst his shoulder. But he would not respond.\nThe romantic pictures disappeared, and the music\nceased. The lights were turned on. There was a\nsigh throughout the audience. Erna and Jimmy"}, {"page_pdf": 42, "page_imprimee": "40", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.42", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nseemed glad of the change as well. A little sooner,\nthey would have been sorry.\nShe glanced his way. He was not looking in her\ndirection. She nudged him. He still refused to\nturn his head. \"Jimmy,\" she whispered tenderly.\nHe stole a half glance at her. She was smiling\nin invitation. He could not help smiling too.\n44You all right now?\" she ventured.\nHe turned toward her, and instantly, his ever-\nready laugh dispelled their gloom.\n44You all right?\" she repeated.\n44Yes,\" he admitted, and declared: 44Some scrap\nthat!\"\n44N0, it wasn't,\" she reassured him and smiled\nwith revived mischief.\nTheir hands fell back to their natural occupation.\n\"Turn out the lights!\" Jimmy commanded in so\nloud a tone that most of their neighbors, as well as\nErna, giggled.\nA German comedian made his appearance and\noffered the usual monologue. No musical accom-\npaniment was required for this act; therefore, Car-\nstairs had disappeared under the stage. He had not\nseen Erna and Jimmy, nor they him."}, {"page_pdf": 43, "page_imprimee": "41", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.43", "texte": "V\nCarstairs was waiting at the street corner rendez-\nvous early the following Sunday evening. Im-\npatience had kept him company all day, a long day,\nbut the impatience he felt now was even keener. He\nhad been ahead of their appointment by about\ntwenty minutes, for he was afraid that Erna might be\nthere first. His vigil was that much the longer and\nmore trying. What hours it took for minutes to\npass! Suppose she did not come?\nThe fates, however, were good-humored. He\ncould see an athletic figure coming along at a\nfamiliar leisurely pace. It was Erna. His joy and\nexcitement were such that he could scarcely wait\nfor her to reach him. What made her walk so\nslowly ?\n\"Hello/' was her soft cheery greeting.\nHe had avoided the bakery restaurant all day.\nHe could hardly return her salutation, the last of\nhis courage having fled.\n\"Where—where shall we go?\" he questioned.\n\"Anywhere,\" she agreed genially.\nNow was his opportunity. He must ask her. Of\ncourse, they could not walk the streets the whole of"}, {"page_pdf": 44, "page_imprimee": "42", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.44", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nhis two hours' freedom. Nor could they go to the\ntheatre so early. Would she sense these arguments?\nMoreover, they had been to a restaurant for a little\nrefreshment and conversation on their two former\noutings. She had not enjoyed those visits particular-\nly, reminding her, as they must have, of her daily\nlife at Landsmann's.\n\"It's a little bit too cold,\" he ventured.\n\"Not so very,\" she returned mischievously, as\nthey started walking.\nHe was frightened. \"But—\"\nShe was enjoying his embarrassment, but came to\nhis assistance with: \"Well, where shall we go? It's\nup to you. You did the invitin'.\"\n\"I've got nearly two hours,\" he explained. \"Can\nyou stay out that long?\"\n\"I'm off for the rest o' the night,\" she assured him;\n\"but I ought to be back under the quilt by ten. I'm\na bit tired.\"\n\"Of course, you are,\" he agreed hurriedly—this\nwas another opportunity—\"so we mustn't do any\nwalking. Do you—would you like to come—\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"How would you like to come over to my place?\"\nIt was out. What would she say?\n\"Will anybody else be there?\"\n\"Oh no!\""}, {"page_pdf": 45, "page_imprimee": "43", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.45", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"It's over there on Fourteenth Street somewhere,\nain't it?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"I don't mind,\" she said.\nJoy and excitement overwhelmed him. He could\nnot speak. And he had imagined all along that it\nwould be so difficult to induce her to come. He did\nnot know what to say.\n\"Do we cross here?\" she suggested.\n\"Yes,\" he said in a low tone.\nThe need of politeness forced itself upon him.\nTimidly, he took her arm and led her across the\nstreet. As a matter of fact, it was she, who was so\nmuch stronger and more daring than he, who had\ndone the leading. They reached the opposite side,\nand walked along in silence. After a minute or so,\nthey approached an old building.\n\"Here it is,\" he declared nervously and let go her\narm.\nThey climbed three smelly flights of stairs, fol-\nlowed a dark hallway and came to a halt. He took\nout his keys and opened a door. \"Step in,\" he\nrequested.\n\"You've got the light lit,\" she announced.\n\"Yes, I thought it'd be—\"\n\"It's awful nice here.\"\n\"Do you think so?\" he questioned eagerly, greatly"}, {"page_pdf": 46, "page_imprimee": "44", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.46", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nencouraged. \"But it's such a small, dingy place.\"\n\"Oh no,\" she maintained. \"It's nice an' cosy.\"\nErna walked about, examining articles with her\ninquisitive eyes. \"So this is your piano?\"\n\"Yes, it's an old box.\"\n\"No, it's nice lookin'. An' whose picture is\nthat?\"\n\"My mother's.\"\n\"An' that one?\"\n\"Oh that—that's only—\"\n\"An old friend?\" she assisted him.\n\"Yes,\" he agreed, and his blushes appeared.\nFortunately, Erna's back was turned. But she\nknew he was blushing, and her face lighted with\npleasure. She examined other articles.\nCarstairs asked quickly: \"Won't you take off\nyour things?\"\nSlowly, she removed her coat and hat, and fixed\nher hair at a small looking glass. \"Men use these\nthings too,\" she observed.\n\"Yes, we do,\" he echoed, and put her things on\nthe couch, where he likewise laid his own.\n\"Sit down,\" he advised.\n\"Over here?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Oh, this is a nice soft chair.\"\nCarstairs walked about a while. He was so"}, {"page_pdf": 47, "page_imprimee": "45", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.47", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nnervous that he did not know what to do. Never-\ntheless, he realized that he must offer to entertain\nher. At least, he must say something.\nBut Erna spoke first. \"What makes you walk\naround?\"\n\"Oh nothing,\" he returned abruptly, looked about\nin confusion and finally selected the piano stool,\nwhich, however, was so close to Erna's chair that his\nconfusion grew. The girl, herself, had betrayed a\nlittle embarrassment once or twice, but she had con-\nquered its last sign. This was perhaps possible be-\ncause of her enjoyment of Carstairs' rather pathetic\ncondition. Erna loved and craved praise or flattery,\nand the young composer's substitute for them was\ncertainly a decided tribute.\n\"It's awful nice here,\" she repeated.\n\"I'm glad you think so,\" he responded gratefully,\nand glanced toward her, only to look away.\n\"It's kind o' restful too.\"\nThis was an excellent opening.\n\"You must be very tired,\" he declared.\n\"A little bit.\"\n\"You' ve been working all day?\"\n\"Since six-thirty this morning.\"\n\"Lord, then you must be tired.\"\n\"Not so very much,\" she denied with pride. \"I\ncan stand work.\""}, {"page_pdf": 48, "page_imprimee": "46", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.48", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nHe dared a glance at her strong body and her bold\neyes. How splendid she was!\n\"But \\)ou must be tired,\" she continued.\n\"Yes,- -no, only a very little.\"\n\"You ve been workin' all day too.\"\n\"At the afternoon performance. I didn't get\naway until six o'clock.\n\"An' you go on to-night?\"\n\"From nine to eleven, yes,\" he explained, and\nfelt ashamed that he was so weary. And she had\nbeen working in that stuffy, unhealthy dining room\nand kitchen since half-past six and was as cheerful\nas ever.\n\"You'll be needin' a rest now,\" she went on.\n\"Oh no!\" he hastily assured her.\n\"Then will you play for me? I never heard you\nplay, an' I've heard Mr. Breen an' Mr. Nielsen talk\nso much about you.\"\n\"They are flatterers,\" he said, with a self-con-\nscious laugh. \"But if you'd like—if you—would\nyou really like to have me?\"\n\"Of course.\"\nThis was his next opportunity, but again, his\ncourage would not assist him. What should he play?\n\"Do you really feel like listening?\" he began once\nmore.\n\"Of course—I like music,' ' she argued."}, {"page_pdf": 49, "page_imprimee": "47", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.49", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nThere was nothing else to do. He had better start\nplaying. And Carstairs turned on the stool. \"What\nshall I play for you?\"\n\"Anything at all.\"\n\"But wouldn't you rather—\"\n\"Play somethin' you like yourself,\" she inter-\nrupted.\nCarstairs hesitated. He had not had the faintest\nidea how difficult it would be. Moreover, he could\nfeel her soft brown eyes resting on him. And he had\nbeen vowing such wonderful deeds of late: that he\nwould play for her as he never had for any one—\nthat he would play her composition, which belonged\nso naturally to her. Instead, he could scarcely touch\na key.\nA spirit of self-condemnation took possession of\nhim. He must forget himself. She would think him\na fool. Besides, she might learn how much he—No,\nshe must not learn that. He commenced improvising.\nThe young composer blundered considerably at\nfirst, but his self-resentment helped him, and his ef-\nforts soon displayed more coherence and warmth.\nShould he open his program with \"To Thee\"? Why\nnot? Why wait until later? But she might under-\nstand. She might catch its significance and then—\nBut how could she know that he had written the"}, {"page_pdf": 50, "page_imprimee": "48", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.50", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ncomposition? It might just as easily belong to some\nother composer. Yes, he would play it.\n\"Are you ready?\" he asked with attempted\nlevity.\n\"Of course, don't stop!\" she encouraged him.\nCarstairs played \"To Thee\", at first, with timidity\nand uncertainty, but by and by with more resolution\nand consequent expressiveness as his faith in the com-\nposition, as an expression of himself, returned.\nGradually, too, he realized how appropriate was\nthe mood that flowed through its measures.\nErna watched him. A greedy little smile played\nabout the corners of her mouth and her nose twitched\nslightly. But the corners straightened and her nose\nstopped twitching.\nNo, he was too soft. His shoulders were so weak\nand his hands so small and his face so pale—just\nlike his nature. He belonged to his mother up there\nand to that soft pretty face over there. But he was\na nice, decent fellow. And he was lots of fun, he\nwas so different from other men. But he was sad.\nShe loved joy and freedom. He seemed like a mean\nlittle prisoner, and he made her feel soft too. But he\nhad always been decent toward her. Yes, he be-\nlonged to such as his mother and the pretty face.\nAnyhow, he knew how to play the piano .. . What\na different time she had had last night! Jimmy was"}, {"page_pdf": 51, "page_imprimee": "49", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.51", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nsuch a big, strong, happy fellow. But even he did\nnot quite satisfy her. Erna sighed just a little.\nShe regained immediate control of herself and\nstopped studying Carstairs. Instead, she followed\nthe patterns in the small rug at her feet. Presently,\nshe gave herself up to the music. It was very pretty.\nIt sounded familiar too.\nCarstairs finished playing.\n\"I like that,\" she said instantly.\n\"Do you?\" he demanded, wheeling toward her.\n\"Yes, it's awful nice,\" she complimented him.\nHe brightened perceptibly. \"Do you really\nthink so? Do you really like it?\"\n\"Of course!\"\nHe could not repress his emotion. \"Do you—l—\nwhat do you think?\" he asked with enthusiasm.\n\"What?\"\n\"Do you know who wrote that?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"I wrote that,\" he broke out, and leaned forward.\n\"You did?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"It's awful nice,\" she repeated.\nThis was not very strong applause, but it was\nmore than sufficient for Carstairs, and he grew reck-\nless. In one moment, he had confessed himself the"}, {"page_pdf": 52, "page_imprimee": "50", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.52", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nauthor of the work, and in the next, such was his\npresent rashness, he was about to go much farther.\n\"How would you like—\" but he stopped, and\nsmiled in a happy way.\n\"What?\" she urged him.\n\"You're sure you like it?\" he repeated.\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Would you like to have it?\" he asked with sud-\nden boldness.\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\"Don't you understand?\" he rambled on, and\nexplained: \"Composers, you know, write songs and\npiano pieces and orchestral works, and afterward\nthey often dedicate them to somebody—to one of\ntheir friends or—or one of their relatives. Do you\nunderstand?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"That's what I want to do,\" he continued ex-\ncitedly. \"I wrote the piece—it's nothing wonderful,\nbut I—l put myself into it and—and you like it—\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"So I'd like to give it to you.\"\n\"But I don't play,\" she protested.\n\"That isn't the point,\" he declared. \"I'm dedi-\ncating it to you—that is, your name appears on it:\nfirst, the name of the composition, then my name, as"}, {"page_pdf": 53, "page_imprimee": "51", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.53", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ncomposer, and then 'to Miss Erna Vitek.' Do you\nsee?\"\n\"Oh yes!\"\n\"Do you like the idea?\"\n\"Yes, that's fine.\"\n\"Great!\" he cried.\n\"But what's the name o' the piece?\" she requested\nquietly.\n\"Why, I—l gave it a name—but suppose I call\nit simply: 'A Song'?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Sure! That'd be a nice title, wouldn't it?\"\n\"Yes.\"\nHis emotions threatened to run over. He wanted\nto tell her the rest: that, as a matter of fact, she had\nbeen the one to inspire the composition—his inspira-\ntion—but, well, that would be going too far. She\nwould be learning too much. But this was the hap-\npiest day of his life. He had made a long stride,\neven over the evening when, for a few confidential\nminutes, she had confided to him those details of her\npast relation with Allen. He must compose many\ncompositions for her.\nCarstairs played other music, composition after\ncomposition, many of them his own, but all the while\nhe waited to hear Erna ask him to repeat her com-\nposition. She did not do so at once, but eventually,"}, {"page_pdf": 54, "page_imprimee": "52", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.54", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nbored—to tell the truth—by the incessant flow of\nmusic, she made the request. Overjoyed, he re-\npeated the work, and every measure lingered,\nbreathed and swayed with the mood of its creator.\nNear the close, Erna succeeded in stifling a yawn.\nIt was after nine o'clock when Carstairs conducted\nher down the three flights. He would receive a\nreprimand and fine when he reported at the music\nhall. But what did he care?\nThe young composer did not return to his sanctum\nuntil eleven thirty. He»quickly lit the gas. At the\ntheatre, a thought had come to torment him, as he\nhad rehearsed the evening's doings and joys many\ntimes over. He went to the piano and took down\nthe picture of the girl. Presently, he buried it under\na heap of odds and ends that littered the drawer of\na bureau, and said to himself for at least the fiftieth\ntime: \"What a careless damned fool I am!\""}, {"page_pdf": 55, "page_imprimee": "53", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.55", "texte": "VI\nIt was early the next afternoon. Breen and Niel-\nsen were arguing in the former's studio: a large un-\nusually well furnished and attractively decorated\nWest Fourteenth Street skylight room.\n\"Now, you clear out of here!\" Breen was com-\nmanding. \"She'll be here right away.\"\n\"Sure she won't disappoint thee?\" Nielsen\nmocked pleasantly. *\n\"No, I saw her this morning and this noon for a\nmoment, and she intends keeping her royal promise.\"\n\"How about the rouge garment?\"\n\"She hasn't had time to alter it.\"\n\"That won't make any difference, of course,\"\nNielsen ventured in provoking tones.\n\"Go on! Clear out of here!\" Breen repeated.\n\"You painters!\" sang Nielsen, as he backed to-\nward the door.\n\"We're no worse than you fellows are,\" Breen\nretorted. \"Besides, this afternoon is no more and\nno less than an experiment in line with the contract\nof our triumvirate. Your inning will come, espe-\ncially as you are writing a story, for which pur-\npose—\""}, {"page_pdf": 56, "page_imprimee": "54", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.56", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"I know,\" Nielsen admitted with cheerful sly-\nness. \"And I really need Erna to help me with it.\"\n\"And Carstairs will have to contribute his share\nof the contract, unless he persists in that 'count me\nout* air of his.\"\n\"Oh, he'll come around, in his own way,\" was\nNielsen's confident assurance. \"I saw him this\nmorning, by the way—the first time I've seen him at\nLandsmann's in several days.\"\n\"How is he?\"\n\"Unusually cheery and affable.\"\n\"He'll recover from that foolishness.\"\n\"I think so too, but—\"\n\"Now, get out!\" Breen commanded a third time.\n\"You'll be gossipping here forever.\"\nNielsen took hold of the door knob, smiled in an\naggravating manner, opened the door, bowed low\nand said in a droll tone: \"Moral or unmoral,\nbut—?\"\nBreen followed him, but Nielsen escaped, and the\npainter slammed the door. His mood changed in-\nstantly. He bustled around the studio, fixing this\nand rearranging that object and eventually looked\nabout with satisfaction. He then approached a look-\ning glass, readjusted his tie, smoothed his hair with\nhis hand and otherwise subjected himself to a critical\nbut self-satisfied examination, which, however, was"}, {"page_pdf": 57, "page_imprimee": "55", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.57", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ncut short by a knock at the door. He hurried over\nto the door and opened it. \"Come in!\" he said\ncordially and stepped aside for Erna.\nShe was wearing her best clothes, which were\nvery attractive on her. Unfortunately, the only red\nin the picture was a profusion of ribbons on her black\nhat and a neat tie-—but fortunately, her red cheeks\nand lips were not missing. Altogether, Erna was a\nseductive apparition.\nCertainly, this was Breen's opinion too. \"How\ncharming you look, your Ladyship!\" he exclaimed.\n\"Do I?\" she retorted, smiling.\n\"Oh decidedly, decidedly,\" and Breen bowed in\nanticipation of a pleasant afternoon. Bringing all of\nhis courtesy to the surface, he helped Erna to re-\nmove her coat. She went over to the looking glass,\nlaughed, cried: \"You've got a glass too,\" and took\noff her hat with careless ease.\n\"What do you mean?\" demanded Breen, stand-\ning behind her and surveying her reflection with open\nadmiration.\n\"Nothin',\" she returned rather impudently.\n\"A lovely girl that!\" he added significantly.\n\"Think so?\" she challenged.\n\"Decidedly,\" he repeated.\nShe shrugged her shoulders a little and smiled at\nhim in the glass. Breen's interest grew. He tried"}, {"page_pdf": 58, "page_imprimee": "56", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.58", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nto put his hands on her shoulders, byway of con-\nfidence, but Erna turned toward him with a quick\nsupple movement. Like the accomplished artist she\nwas, she said nothing, not even byway of reproach,\nbut laughed again. He eyed her with still franker\nadmiration.\n\"Well?\" she questioned.\n\"Oh, I know,\" he said, recollecting his role, and\nwent on evasively: \"But you're not wearing your\nred dress or very much red?\"\n\"What difference does that make? Maybe you'd\nrather have me come some other time?\"\n\"No, no! You stay right here, now that you've\ncome. You'll do just as well in that costume. The\nsame Erna Vitek is inside it. But—er—\"\n\"But what?\"\n\"I won't attempt a color sketch of you in that\ndress. There, there, forgive me—it's very charm-\ning, my dear, but— Perhaps, I'll just make a pencil\nsketch of you to-day. Artists ought to commence\nwith pencil sketches anyhow, until the characters of\ntheir subjects have had time to properly enter their\nblood, so to speak. Which, of course, is all Greek\nto you. Do you object, madame?\"\n\"No, do me any way you like,\" she consented.\n\"Oh, if you feel that way about it,\" he hinted\naudaciously."}, {"page_pdf": 59, "page_imprimee": "57", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.59", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Take care!\" she warned.\nBreen went over to the model throne and pre-\ntended to place the chair for her. He was sorry\nthat he had had to suggest even a pencil sketch of\nher, but he was forced to attempt some part of their\noriginal agreement. What is more, he had prac-\ntically cast away all thought of \"studying\" Erna,\nlater to make his report before the triumvirate. She\nwas too interesting and magnetic an individual to be\nused for such a childish purpose. \"Come over here\nand sit down,\" he requested calmly.\nGiving herself an unexpected air of modesty, she\ncomplied, at the same time adding a prudish touch\nby fixing her skirt carefully as she sat down. Breen\nwas puzzled, but drew up a chair, took a pencil and\nsketch book and seated himself. \"I'm going ta draw\nyou at close range,\" he apologized. She smiled in\nencouragement.\nBreen commenced drawing, very carelessly, it is\ntrue. Erna watched him with innocent eyes. \"Do\nI pose right?\" she asked at length.\n\"Yes,\" he assured her.\nShe was silent.\nA little later, she asked: \"Do your models have\nto keep quiet?\"\n\"Not at all! Chatter away!\"\nBut she preferred to remain silent. To tell the"}, {"page_pdf": 60, "page_imprimee": "58", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.60", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ntruth, this was not Erna's first experience as a sitter.\nShe had posed for two or three other artists in the\npast: once as Carmen, another time as a madonna,\nand a third time for some allegorical effort concern-\ning Spring. Breen continued to study her for the\ndrawing. His mind, however, or that region wherein\nits desires lay, was more busy than his pencil. Ten\nminutes or so later, he stopped drawing and held the\npad off, squinted one eye at Erna, then at the draw-\ning and again at Erna.\n\"Do you like being winked at?\" he asked.\n\"Depends upon who's doin' it,\" she commented.\n\"Don't you like me to do it?\"\n\"I don't know,\" she replied enigmatically.\nHe got up from his chair and approached her.\n\"Bring the picture with you!\" she requested.\nBreen, however, once more tried to put his hands\non her. She pushed back her chair, and in outraged\ntones commanded: \"Mr. Breen!\"\n\"I beg your pardon,\" he said with well assumed\ncandor, but he was irritated to a considerable degree.\n\"I merely wanted to change your pose a bit.\"\n\"Well, why didn't you ask me to do it?\" she\ncomplained, her innocent self again.\nHe returned to his chair without explaining.\n\"Am I all right now?\" she asked.\n\"Pull your chair forward again.\""}, {"page_pdf": 61, "page_imprimee": "59", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.61", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"So?\"\n\"That'll do.\"\nErna watched him as before, and Breen went on\ndrawing. But his usually well balanced mind was\nruffled. He tried to construct some other scheme.\nErna had always been quite prone (after all, she\nwas only a waitress) to permit occasional familiarity\non his part at Landsmann's. What made her play\nthe prude away from home? Perhaps she was, at\nheart, like the rest of her class, nothing more than a\nnarrow moralistic thing, and not the unmoral soul\nhe had constantly given her credit for being. His\ndisgust was supreme. On the contrary, he mused,\nshe might only be playing a part. Admitting that\nErna, in society, only held the position of waitress,\nstill, she was a very shrewd girl. He must try some\nother attack, allowing her the credit she deserved.\nHe had attempted flattery, pleasantry and not a little\nboldness. What should be his next step?\nEventually, the young artist tried bribery. Hav-\ning finished his work, he presented it to Erna accom-\npanied by a short but eloquently complimentary\nspeech. The girl did not neglect to admire the\ndrawing and to thank him for the present. His act,\napparently, made no stronger impression on her.\nLater, he suggested and, with her consent, prepared\nand served some tea and biscuits. They were sitting"}, {"page_pdf": 62, "page_imprimee": "60", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.62", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nat a small cosy table. About them, the atmosphere\nhad spread a halo of warmth and intimacy. And\nBreen played host and admirer to the best of his\naccomplished ability. But Erna refused to respond\nany more than she had done earlier. She appeared\ngrateful; she talked a good deal; and she seemed\ncompletely at ease with Breen and her surroundings.\nBut she would not respond more than she had done.\nBreen's disgust threatened to reach a climax.\nThere was a reason for Erna's conduct. She, in\nher greed of heart, playing with Breen, as she had\nwith Carstairs, the part of a watchful cat, had come\nto several conclusions. She disliked the artist's long,\nangular figure, his sharp, shrewd face, and most of\nall, his cold, self-sympathetic eyes. And she dis-\nliked him personally even more. Without claiming\nany undue powers of discernment for Erna, one\nwould surely have had to credit her with the posses-\nsion of a strong feminine instinct. Her instinct had\nresented his attentions, for, behind them all, she had\nfelt that he, as a gentleman, was shoving her down\nwhere she belonged. She was a waitress, but she\nwas good looking enough and lots of fun for him—\nand much more in prospect. In a word, Breen had\nbrought out the hard calculating side of her nature,\nand she had raised her guard against him.\nFurthermore, Erna was in a bad humor when she"}, {"page_pdf": 63, "page_imprimee": "61", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.63", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ncame to Breen's studio, her genial conduct notwith-\nstanding. She had seen Jimmy that noon in the din-\ning room, but he had spent all of his time talking\nfight with the customers. As though the fact that\nhe was to turn to the ring to-morrow night would\nbring the world to an end! She would pay him for\nneglecting her. Besides, Mr. Nielsen had been ap-\nproaching her. He had been asking her to \"pose'*\nfor him too. Did he also want to take advantage\nof her? Still, there was something human inside of\nhim. He had always acted a little differently from\nthe others. As for Jimmy—\nBreen interrupted her reflection. He reached\nacross the table and tried to touch her hand. Erna's\nface flushed with anger, and her hand came down\nupon his with a loud slap. Just as quickly, she re-\ncollected herself. \"Excuse me!\" she asked sullenly.\nBreen, however, was through. He arose from his\nchair. This had been impudence beyond all im-\npudence. And the man of success turned his back\nupon the waitress.\nErna likewise got up, leaving the sketch on the\ntable. She did not offer a second apology. Instead,\nshe drew on her coat, picked up her hat and walked\nover to the glass. Her face was crimson.\nBreen was quite sorry. He came behind Erna\nand made several attempts to clear some momentary"}, {"page_pdf": 64, "page_imprimee": "62", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.64", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\npangs of conscience. But Erna would not listen.\nHe moved away, pride clouding his face.\nErna hurried toward the door. Breen followed\nher, offering one or two final excuses. But she\nrefused to answer, and went out. Breen slammed\nthe door behind her. Presently, he was busy pacing\nthe studio in a vain endeavor to regain some of his\ncomposure.\nSteps were to be heard coming along the hallway.\nThe door was opened cautiously, and Nielsen's head\nand shoulders appeared. And his caressing voice\nquestioned: \"Well, your Highness, what is your\ndecision? Moral, unmoral or—?\"\nBreen faced about, swore a strong oath and com-\nmanded: \"Get out of here!\"\n\"But, dear Bainbridge—\"\n\"Get out, you spy!\" Breen continued angrily, and\nwent toward the door.\n\"But I want to know your decision.\"\n\"Moral, moral, a million times moral—she has\ndegenerated—in fact, she hasn't even degenerated.\nI wouldn't do her the honor of saying so. She's al-\nways been a narrow, conventional, contemptible little\nthing. Is that enough, you ass? She's a—\"\n\"Enough, noble Sire!\" Nielsen interrupted with a\nmysterious air. \"Thou hast spoken. Enough!\""}, {"page_pdf": 65, "page_imprimee": "63", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.65", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nLuckily, his head and shoulders disappeared just in\ntime.\nBreen slammed the door."}, {"page_pdf": 66, "page_imprimee": "64", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.66", "texte": "VII\nWednesday morning was a particularly noisy\nmorning in the rear dining room of Landsmann's.\nJimmy Allen was the hero. On the night before, he\nhad knocked out his opponent toward the close of\nthe first round. Some of his admirers had met at\nLandsmann's to discuss and celebrate the event, and\none who had been present was supplying the others\nwith the details.\n\"An' toward the end o' the round,\" he was de-\nscribing, \"Jimmy ducked under the poor 'Kid's'\nflabby guard an' caught 'im an awful soak in the\nguts, an' as 'the Kid' doubled up, Jimmy swung the\nfinisher —it was a terror! right on the point o'\nthe jaw. 'The Kid' hit the mat deader than a door\nnail. An' they carried 'im away, a smashed hope\ninside o' three minutes.\"\nThe listeners clamored for more, and one of them\nqueried: \"But I thought 'the Kid' was such a clever\nsidestepper?\"\n\"He is, but he couldn't sidestep Jimmy. Jimmy's\na terror in the ring. He's a good-natured feller out-\nside, but the sight of another feller in front of 'im\nkind o' riles 'is Blood. He can't rest till he's bat-"}, {"page_pdf": 67, "page_imprimee": "65", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.67", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ntered the guy away, an' let *im see a little blood,\nlike 'the Kid's* mouth bleedin', an' it's all off 'cept\nthe count, for Jimmy goes wild. He got to 'the Kid*\nby constant borein' in. Half a dozen fierce body\ntaps weakened the poor guy, then a couple o' face\nsmashers, an then the finish. Oh, it was awful.\"\nThe listeners sighed with awe. \"An' Jimmy?\"\nrequested the interlocutor.\n\"Oh, he got a scratch or two. But he was 'is\nsmilin' self soon's it was over.\"\nStanding near the doorway, listening to every\nword with feverish interest, was Erna. Her eyes\nshone, and her heart beat with joyous pride.\nLandsmann suddenly called to her from the\nkitchen: \"Erna, your order is here.\" She did not\nheed him, but waited for more details. Again, the\nstorekeeper called to her, but once more, she refused\nto heed him. The man appeared in the doorway,\nhis face red with vexation. \"Erna! Do you hear\nv»\nme?\n\"Yes, yes,\" she retorted petulantly, and hurried\npast him. He followed close behind her, and as she\nturned, gave her a stupid but indignant stare. Erna\nreturned his stare with interest, and Landsmann,\nbeaten as he had been so often, retreated to the store,\nthere to seek muttered consultation with his wife.\nErna was about to take up her order, when she"}, {"page_pdf": 68, "page_imprimee": "66", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.68", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ncame upon a remarkable sight. She stopped, stared\nand, stimulated by a desire to emulate, tiptoed for-\nward, her strong white teeth showing in the joy of\nanticipation. On the bottom of the kitchen sink, a\ngoodly sized rat was drinking.\nThe girl continued to sneak forward without mak-\ning a sound. Suddenly, her hand darted out and\nseized the rat by the neck; at the same time, she\nturned on the water from the large faucet. With a\nstrong grip, she held the squirming, squeaking animal\nunder the stream.\nGretchen screamed and ran out into the store.\n\"Was ist los?\" demanded the storekeeper. Gret-\nchen told her story in a frightened whisper. Mrs.\nLandsmann and Molly screamed; several customers\narose and, led by Landsmann, who waddled for-\nward, came into the kitchen. Landsmann stopped\nshort at a respectful distance from Erna, eyed her\nfuriously and shouted imprecations. She paid no\nattention to him, but continued her pleasant task, her\nface alight with animal joy and brutality. The rat's\nlife was soon extinguished, due, perhaps, more to\nErna's fingers than the water. Proudly holding it\nout by the tail for display, she dropped the body\ninto a pail under the sink.\nThe storekeeper approached her, followed by the\ncustomers. The latter profferred congratulations,"}, {"page_pdf": 69, "page_imprimee": "67", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.69", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nbut not so Herr Landsmann. He grabbed some\ntable refuse and dumping it into the pail, piled some\nold newspapers on top, all the while averting his\nface as much as possible. He then turned upon\nErna, but she stood her ground, defying him, and the\nstorekeeper was forced to resort 'o still stronger im-\nprecation. Erna grew impudent m the knowledge of\nher righteousness, and Landsmann had to retreat\nonce more, but this time with threatening gestures\nand for an even angrier consultation with his wife.\nThe other waitresses refused to return to the kitchen,\nbut went over to assist Landsmann.\nThe customers, who had been joined by others\nfrom the rear dining room, refused to leave the\nkitchen, each one wishing to pay Erna homage by\ncompliment or by taking her arm. Jimmy Allen\nwas forgotten. At first, the girl, conscious of the\nsensation she had created so accidentally,—killing\nrats was not entirely new to her—faced her worship-\npers with an exultant smile. Soon, she tired of their\npraise, and more so of their physical attentions,\na repetition of their usual conduct toward her. Fur-\nthermore, the storekeeper's attitude rankled deeper\nand deeper, until anger controlled her. Therefore,\nshe pushed her way through the gathering, ordered\nall back to their tables, a command they obeyed un-"}, {"page_pdf": 70, "page_imprimee": "68", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.70", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nder protest, and returned to her duties with a deci-\ndedly willful air. If only Jimmy were here!\nWithin the next hour or so, Herr Landsmann,\nbacked by his wife's moral support, came into the\nkitchen four times to reprimand Erna. He had even\nhunted for other pretexts to scold her. By nine\no'clock, when Erna was almost alone in her small\nempire, her resentment had reached a state of revolt.\nWhy didn't he bounce her at once? It would be\nbetter. In fact, she would leave of her own free\nwill. That would be better still. She would be\nfree. She had a right to be happy. She had al-\nways been happy. So she would be free, Lands-\nmann, his wife and the rest of the world notwith-\nstanding. How she hated and despised them! Let\nany one else try to tie her hands!\nAnother half hour passed, and Erna's determina-\ntion grew. Her whole fighting instinct had been set\nastir. As a result, she had treated the few remaining\ncustomers with contemptuous neglect. They were\nall of one breed. And they left, one by one, passing\nremarks, laughing or trying to banter her. Soon\nshe was left to herself and surly reflection, as Lands-\nmann, luckily, had discontinued molesting her—for\nthe present, at least. However, a newcomer entered\nthe dining room. But he was the highly welcome\nJimmy Allen."}, {"page_pdf": 71, "page_imprimee": "69", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.71", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nErna greeted him with joy. She had forgotten\nher yesterday's resentment, in his sudden rise to honor\nand in her present need. And Jimmy greeted her\nwith joy. No other word passed between them.\nInstead, Jimmy embraced her with all of his brute\nstrength. He then tried kissing her, only to have\nErna slip from his grasp. Jimmy's blood was\naroused. He pursued Erna, cornered her and caught\nher with an even stronger embrace than before,\nbreathing hard with passion. They overturned a\nchair, and Jimmy tripped and lost his hold. They\nboth breathed rapidly, and stood apart, watching\neach other. Herr Landsmann looked into the din-\ning room, scowled and disappeared.\nJimmy again came closer, but Erna shook her\nhead in warning. She had seen the storekeeper.\nPresently, she gave her lover a short nervous ac-\ncount of her morning's trial. Jimmy swore a gener-\nous oath and begged her to drop her work at once.\nBut Erna hesitated.\n\"Ah, come out o' this!\" he pleaded.\nErna would not answer.\n\"Come out o' this, Erna!\" he repeated seriously.\n\"You' re sick o' this. I'm sick o' this. Let's go\naway. We're fixed now—or as good as fixed. The\nonly job's the minister's. Come on, Erna!\"\nStill, the girl refused to answer, but it was evident"}, {"page_pdf": 72, "page_imprimee": "70", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.72", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nthat she was weakening—as Jimmy was aware too.\nHurriedly, he recounted his victory of last night,\nemphasized the fact that he was stronger than ever,\nknew \"more about the game,\" and outlined the near\nfuture: that he was soon to meet Young Walcott,\nwhom he would dispose of, and some unknown from\nChicago. He would have quite a little money short-\nly, and he could support her \"as a decent woman\nshould be supported.\" She would be happy. They\nwould both be happy. \"Come on, Erna!\" he con-\ncluded. \"Be a sport!\"\nErna was in a groggy state. One last stinging\nargument would have finished her. She hesitated, as\ndid Jimmy, who, unfortunately, resorted to stalling.\nAt length, she said: \"Gimme until to-night!\"\nNow, Jimmy missed entirely: \"But I say, Erna.\nI got an important date then.\"\nHer resentment returned at once. She recalled\nhis neglect of yesterday. \"What?\" she demanded\njealously.\n\"I got to see Nolan an* Walcott an' his manager\nto-night. We got to talk over an* arrange things.\nBesides, Nolan's givin' a little spread in my honor\namong the boys. Can't you tell me now? Tell me\ni'*\nnow!\n\"I said to-night, didn't I?\" she retorted in danger-\nous tones."}, {"page_pdf": 73, "page_imprimee": "71", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.73", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"I know, Erna, but I can't see you to-night.\nMake it to-morrow night, an' we'll talk it over, long's\nyou won't say now. Make it to-morrow night! An'\nI'll spend the whole evenin' with you.\"\nErna had turned her back on him. Jimmy came\ncloser, but she walked away, while he followed her,\nfoolishly continuing to apologize and to cajole her.\nUnhappily, Jimmy's suit was interrupted. Another\nman came into the dining room: Eric Nielsen.\nGlances passed between them. Nielsen went over\nto the farthermost corner, took off his hat and coat\nand sat down. Jimmy looked at Erna on the sly,\nbut she paid no attention to him. The young fighter\ndid not stay for breakfast. He left the room with-\nout another word. And Erna smiled secretly.\nNielsen, always a lover of other's secrets, had\ndigested most of the scene. But he was still a diplo-\nmat. Consequently, he said nothing and permitted\nErna to come over for his order. She looked nervous\nand uncertain.\n\"What's new?\" he asked pleasantly.\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"Still ham and eggs and the old program?\"\nShe smiled slightly. \"Yes!\"\nHe ordered some eggs, toast and a cup of black\ncoffee and explained: \"I need some energy for work\nthis morning. I feel dopy.\""}, {"page_pdf": 74, "page_imprimee": "72", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.74", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nErna smiled again and went away. She was feel-\ning a little better. There was always something\nsoothing in Nielsen and his banter. And she did\nnot wait in the kitchen for his order, but came back\nto his table. Erna rarely acted parts in Nielsen's\ncompany.\nHe looked up sympathetically. He wanted to\nask her what was wrong, but knowing her antipathy\nfor expressed sympathy or soft advances, remained\nsilent. Herr Landsmann looked in upon them. Erna\nflushed with her old resentment, and the storekeeper\nfrowned and disappeared. Nielsen remarked the ex-\nchange. \"That's it, is it?\" he observed gently.\n\"What?\"\n\"The boss?\"\nShe was thoughtful and then admitted: \"Yes.\"\n\"What's the Dutchman done?\"\nSlowly, and not without reluctance in the begin-\nning, she told him the details, he interrupting her\nonce or twice with encouragement. \"Shades of\nNorway!\" he exclaimed in admiration. \"You could\neasily play the Rat-wife in 'Little Eyolf'.\"\nShe looked at him in a puzzled way, but he\nlaughed and advised her: \"Don't mind me; I'm\ncracked. Go on!\"\nErna related the rest of the incident. He was\nquietly attentive to every detail, and at the conclu-"}, {"page_pdf": 75, "page_imprimee": "73", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.75", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nsion of her recital, broke out cheerfully: \"The\ntrouble with the German is that he's too slow to catch\neven a cockroach. Therefore, he resents speed. So\nLandsmann calls you down. And the girls—well,\nthey're children, like most females. You're entirely\ntoo dramatic for their comfort.\"\nErna never quite understood Nielsen, but she mel-\nlowed down to some of her old good nature. Niel-\nsen continued his reassuring nonsense, and gradually,\nthe rest of her good nature was restored. The young\nwriter was not slow to notice the change, and he\nwas glad to have been of service to her. He had\nno desire to make any personal use of Erna's present\nmental condition, but nevertheless, he proceeded:\n\"Erna, you must be tired.\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"Certainly. You need a little rest—a little diver-\nsion. Let me help you out; there's a sensible girl.\nWill you come over and spend part of the evening\nwith me?\"\nHis request had not been a bold one; he had\nmade it seriously, and with no thought of himself.\nBut Erna gave him a sharp look. He met her glance\nwith an honest one and pursued: \"I don't want you\nto pose for the story, as I asked you yesterday—\nhonestly, I don't. I just want to amuse you a little,"}, {"page_pdf": 76, "page_imprimee": "74", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.76", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nif I can. You need a bit of a change, even by hav-\ning me supply it.\"\nThis was approaching dangerously close to a soft\nadvance, but Erna did not heed it. She was still\nbusy trying to read Nielsen, but reading Nielsen was\nnot so easy as appearances would have led one to\nbelieve. However, she was able to read humanity\nbehind his lurking smile, and likewise his seriousness\nof purpose. \"I don't know,\" she said in doubt.\n\"You're not afraid?\"\n\"No,\" she admitted.\n\"Come ahead then. We'll have a quiet little\nevening together, or you can tell me some more about\nyour enemies, German and others. As for posing,\nI'll do the posing, such as standing on my head, for\nexample.\"\nErna had always felt that Nielsen was human. It\nnow come as a realization. She gave him a final\npenetrating glance. He smiled frankly, and she had\nto smile as well. \"All right,\" she resigned.\n\"You're a good sport, Erna,\" he complimented\nher. \"But you're too trusting, I'm afraid.\"\n\"Think so?\"\n\"Yes.\"\nShe looked somewhat doubtful, and then her face\ncleared. Nielsen understood."}, {"page_pdf": 77, "page_imprimee": "75", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.77", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Your order's ready, Erna,\" came Landsmann's\nvoice.\nAnd the girl hurried out."}, {"page_pdf": 78, "page_imprimee": "76", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.78", "texte": "VIII\nErna was in a splendid mood when she called on\nNielsen that evening. In the first place, the young\nNorwegian-American had earned her gratitude.\nSecondly, and what is perhaps more important,\nJimmy Allen had come into Landmann's both for the\nnoon and the evening meal and had paid her humble\ndevotion. She had agreed to spend to-morrow even-\ning with him, but principally that she might add\ncoal to the fire of his impatience by putting off her\nanswer, which she had not formed as yet but in the\nexistence of which she had succeeded in leading him\nto believe. Thirdly, she had had two more tilts with\nLandsmann and was victorious in both. Conse-\nquently, Erna was in high spirit. In addition, her\ngreedy nature was looking forward to the new sensa-\ntion that life might be on the point of offering her in\nNielsen.\nIt was evident at once that he was likewise in the\nbest of humor. His greeting of Erna was of the\nheartiest cordiality and cheer. And he required only\na minute or two to settle her comfortably on the\ncouch and to make her feel otherwise at home. She\nwas not surprised. On the contrary, she entered im-"}, {"page_pdf": 79, "page_imprimee": "77", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.79", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nmediately into the mood of the young writer's hospi-\ntality.\n\"Well, Rat-wife, how've you been?\" he com-\nmenced. \"I haven't seen you since this morning.\"\n\"Why do you call me Rat-wife?\"\n\"Because you're a professional rat catcher.\"\n\"I've caught rats before,\" she confessed.\n\"Have you? Great! I always thought you must\nhave had another vocation in life.\"\n\"But I hate caterpillars, don't you?\" she declared\nnaively.\n\"By all means,\" he agreed. \"They give one the\nfuzzy-wuzzies, don't they?\"\nThey both laughed. He drew his chair closer to\nthe couch and watched her frankly. She watched\nhim with equal candor. There was honest admir-\nation in his next remark: \"You're strong, aren't\nyou, Erna?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"How'd you get that way?\" he pursued.\n\"I must 'a' been born that way. I guess my father\nan' mother were strong an' healthy. Any way, I\nexercise a great deal—\"\n\"In the store, you mean?\"\n\"No, at night, by the open window, in—\"\n\"Not in the nude?\" he ventured."}, {"page_pdf": 80, "page_imprimee": "78", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.80", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Not quite, but almost!\" she admitted, and they\nlaughed again.\n\"But Erna, what made you say you guess your\nfather and mother were strong? Don't you know\nwhether they were? Aren't they alive?\"\nShe looked at him suddenly, but his straightfor-\nward glance reassured her. She announced quietly:\n\"I never saw my parents.\"\n\"What?\" he broke out. \"Then how—but I beg\nyour pardon, child. I didn't mean to be inquisitive.\"\n\"You're not inquisitive,\" she returned with unac-\ncustomed seriousness. \"Only—\"\n\"I understand,\" he interrupted. \"Don't speak of\nit! It's too painful. Besides, we mustn't be grow-\ning gloomy.\"\nErna was meditative. She had never confided\nthat part of her life to any one. It might be nice to\nunburden some of it. And Mr. Nielsen—he was so\n—She glanced at him.\n\"Please don't!\" he requested. \"I'd much rather\nyou wouldn't.\"\nShe smiled and said: \"It isn't so sad; it's just\nkind o' funny.\"\n\"Well, if it's funny, out with it, but if it isn't—\"\n\"It's kind o' funny that I should be tellin' at all.\"\n\"To me, you mean?\"\n\"Yes!\""}, {"page_pdf": 81, "page_imprimee": "79", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.81", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n'That' s easy. You trust me; that's the reason,\"\nhe explained jocularly.\n\"Do I? How do you know?\"\n\"Oh, I'm a wise old know-it-all. Which is cer-\ntainly a nice bunch of conceit, isn't it?\"\n\"No,\" she denied good-humoredly.\nWithout pretense of any sort, and completely at\nher ease sitting there on the couch only a yard or two\nfrom him, she gave Nielsen a few points in her\nknowledge of past years. Briefly, she laid claim to\nhaving lived nearly all her life with adopted parents,\nfrom whom, thanks to their continued selfishness and\nmaltreatment, she had run away about a year ago.\nThese people had once informed her that her father\nhad married some woman of position in Bohemia,\nwhere Erna was born, and that, having squandered\nher money, he had disappeared for good. Her\nmother had died in giving birth to her, and her\nadopted parents, related to him as cousins, had re-\nceived her indirectly through some friends of her\nfather's, as well as money, through various myster-\nious channels, up to her sixth year. The remittances\nstopped suddenly, and she was left a beggar on their\nhands, a fact of which they were often careful to re-\nmind her. At the age of twelve or thirteen, Erna\nhad hunted for and found a situation, and later\nothers, and had been able to pay some sort of board"}, {"page_pdf": 82, "page_imprimee": "80", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.82", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nthrough the intervening years. But her \"parents,\"\nwho had five children of their own, despised her and\nmaltreated her accordingly, as did the children,\nguided by the elders' precepts. Only her strength\nof body and endowed pugnaciousness had saved her\nfrom greater maltreatment.\n\"And this you call a funny story?\" demanded\nNielsen, stopping her.\n\"There's nothing so very sad in it,\" she declared\nstubbornly.\n\"There isn't?\"\n\"No.\"\nHis admiration for her developed. Erna certain-\nly possessed sterling qualities.\n\"But I haven't finished,\" she interposed.\n\"Never mind, Erna. I've heard enough.\"\n\"You haven't heard why I quit my 'parentsY*\n\"I don't have to,\" he tried to stop her.\n\"There's only a little to it.\"\n\"Well?\"\n\"They tried to sell me.\"\n\"What?\"\n\"Just what I said.\"\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\"They tried to sell me to an old admirer o' mine\nin Paterson.\"\n\"You must be crazy, child.\""}, {"page_pdf": 83, "page_imprimee": "81", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.83", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"No more'n you,\" she insisted. \"The man was\nall ready with his money an'—\"\n\"But this is impossible,\" he interrupted.\n\"No, it isn't. I ought to know. It made me\njump the track.\"\n\"That's how you ran away?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"A year ago?\"\n\"Yes. It was the last straw. They'd tried the\nsame game twice before. I was through.\"\nNielsen eyed her in sympathy. He had not cred-\nited the whole of her story, incoherent and almost\nimaginary as some of its details sounded, but the\nclimax had moved him deeply. He was not as\nsuperficial as his outward demeanor might indicate.\nBut he was still a diplomat, and knowing Erna's\nnature better than ever now, did not offer her open\nsympathy. Instead, he questioned: \"So you wan-\ndered around New York looking for jobs?\"\n\"Yes.\"\n\"Till you landed at Landsmann's?\"\n\"Oh no, I had two other jobs before that.\"\n\"Where?\"\n\"At other bakeries, but I was fired.\"\n\"For—for sassing back?\" he asked, smiling.\n\"Yes, just as I sass old Landsmann.\""}, {"page_pdf": 84, "page_imprimee": "82", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.84", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nHe grew serious. \"Hadn't you better be care-\nful?\"\n\"How?\"\n\"About angering Landsmann?\"\n\"I can't help it. I hate him. I hate Germans.\nMy 'parents' were German an'—\"\n\"He may fire you too.\"\n\"I don't care.\"\n\"But you don't want to be forced to run about\nNew York again, do you?\"\nErna was about to break out, thinking of Jimmy,\n\"I won't have to,\" but substituted staring at Nielsen.\nHe was so fine, so human, so—\n\"Never mind, Erna! Let's talk of something\nmore cheerful.\" Suddenly, it was his turn to look\nthoughtful. Before he was aware of himself, he\ncommenced: \"Erna!\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"If you ever need anybody—\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"I mean in case you should ever lose your job—\"\n\"Yes?\"\n\"Don't hesitate to come to me for help.\"\nHe had spoken in a more earnest tone than was\nhis custom. Erna looked quantities of gratitude.\n\"Do you mean—\"\n\"Yes,\" he forestalled her. \"I'm a man, Erna, or"}, {"page_pdf": 85, "page_imprimee": "83", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.85", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\na part o' one. I know you're a good sport, I've seen\nso much evidence of it. In fact, you're as good and\nprobably a better sport than I am\"—all this with a\nreturn to banter—\"so it's up to me, if you ever need\nassistance.\"\nErna was unable to reply.\n\"Will you?\" he requested more quietly.\n\"Yes,\" she agreed, and was silent.\nPresently, he came back to the whimsical. \"We're\na funeral party, aren't we?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Well, we can start a partnership as funeral di-\nrectors to bury the past, can't we?\"\nUO |»»\noure!\nNielsen laughed, and she followed his example.\n\"Erna, I envy you,\" he started again.\n\"Why?\"\n\"Nothing downs you long. You're such a happy\nIndian that you're able to run your world.\"\n\"Am I?\"\n\"Yes. It takes happy people to run the world,\nyou know.\"\n\"Does it?\"\n\"Certainly. That's my humble belief anyhow.\nDost believe in philosophy?\"\n\"No time for it!\" she returned.\n\"You're right,\" he applauded. \"It's only a"}, {"page_pdf": 86, "page_imprimee": "84", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.86", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\npastime for lemon natures. Stick to your joy,\nErna!\"\nErna was indulging in more abstract matters than\nshe had ever attempted, for she said: \"I can't help\nit, I suppose. I love joy and happy people. An'\nfresh air, strength, freedom.\" But it was Nielsen's\nfault, he used such a subtle method of probing her.\n\"That'll do, Erna,\" he interrupted. \"You have\nspoken. There is nothing to be added to fresh air,\nthe breeder of strength, the breeder of freedom.\nThis ought to be enough philosophy for one day, eh ?\nWe'll have headaches soon, won't we?\"\n\"Not me!\" she denied, and he laughed and\nadded: \"Then I'll close the sermon with a little\ntext, if I may.\"\n\"Go ahead.\"\n\"Whatever happens,\" he bantered her; \"stick to\nyour freedom with your last dying breath!\"\n\"Thanks!\"\nThe evening developed even further intimacy.\nAnd Erna soon came to realize that she had discov-\nered her new sensation. As for Nielsen, he was\nspending an unusual evening too. Several times, he\nthought of Jimmy Allen and his connection with\nErna. He was a splendid joyous animal like her.\nIt did not surprise him that he had been restored to\nher favor, they were so well mated. And he re-"}, {"page_pdf": 87, "page_imprimee": "85", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.87", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ncalled the short but significant scene he had spoiled\nthat morning.\nErna, surely, was a rare nature,—hard, perhaps,\nselfish and cruel in many ways too, quite a little more\nso than others, but her strength of will, self reliance\nand her stubborn pursuit of pleasure and excitement\n—her life of joy—were irresistible. And she was\nonly a waitress. But she was far more than that,\nan individual, as Carstairs had vaunted that time;\nshe had lived a life harder to endure than that loaded\nupon his educated acquaintances, for example, and\nyet, she, lacking their knowledge and so called ex-\nperience and wisdom, controlled life; life did not\ncontrol her. And Nielsen, who seldom overlooked\ndissecting himself along with others, admitted readily\nthat Erna attracted him powerfully, and not in the\nname of the story, which he had forgotten—for the\npresent, anyhow.\nErna's mind was making more rapid calculations\nthan ever before. \"Stick to your freedom!\" he had\nadvised her. It was true. She must go on fighting\nfor that. But what of Jimmy—and marriage?\nMarriage, that word with a bad taste, marriage even\nwith Jimmy would steal a good portion of her free-\ndom. She must be careful. Besides, her power\nover Jimmy was so easy just the same. And Niel-\nsen, that puzzling human man, disconcerted her. He"}, {"page_pdf": 88, "page_imprimee": "86", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.88", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nwas different from Jimmy. He was strong physi-\ncally too, if not quite as handsome, and he possessed\na strong heart and mind, which Jimmy did not. But\nhis constant joking—was he really serious? She\nnever knew just where to find him, he eluded her so.\nIf she were to marry, she would never see him again,\na prospect her greediness did not like to consider, as\nshe sat there slyly watching him, clothed in that easy,\ncheerful, even tempered strength of his.\nErna and Nielsen did not leave the latter's work-\nshop until close upon midnight. The rest of the time\nhad passed swiftly and pleasantly. Their parting\nwas warm to a decided degree. And they made an\nappointment for the following Friday evening.\n•Til be a night owl soon,\" she complained.\n\"Oh no—you'll always be a Rat-wife,\" he cor-\nrected.\nShe pressed the book under her arm—Ibsen's\n\"Little Eyolf,\" which he had lent her and\nlaughed.\n\"Now, don't forget my text,\" he warned her\ngently, as they stood on the dark street corner near\nLandsmann's, their hands clasped in friendly em-\nbrace.\nC«T t H\n1 won t.\n\"And if there's any real trouble with Lands-\nmann?\""}, {"page_pdf": 89, "page_imprimee": "87", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.89", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Yes, I will,\" she agreed.\nFie pressed her hand.\n\"Good-night,\" she said.\n\"Good-night,\" he returned.\nAnd they separated. But they both looked back\ntwice and waved their hands—in the old fashioned\nway."}, {"page_pdf": 90, "page_imprimee": "88", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.90", "texte": "IX\n\"An order of mocha tart, Erna!\"\nIt was Bainbridge Breen who had spoken. The\ngirl left the dining room with a cheery: \"All right!\"\nThe young artist turned to his friends, Carstairs and\nNielsen, who were sitting with him at the rear table:\n\"Mocha tart is still the prince of Landsmann pas-\ntries.\"\n\"You' ve made up with Erna, I see,\" Nielsen\nventured quietly.\n\"Oh, of course! I'm too busy a man to spend\nany time harboring animosity. Besides, I guess I'm\nsufficiently broad-minded to forgive the girl her in-\ndiscretion.\"\n\"And on her side, she's too light-hearted to hold\nanimosity,\" the author supplied.\n\"I expect so,\" Breen agreed generously, and then\nchallenged: \"But how about you and Erna? And\nhow about your story?\"\n\"Haven't been able to finish it as yet,\" Nielsen\nreturned somewhat evasively.\n\"Haven't had enough opportunity for studying\nErna?\"\n\"No, r m not quite through.\""}, {"page_pdf": 91, "page_imprimee": "89", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.91", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nBreen laughed significantly, and Carstairs flushed.\n\"Then you haven't reached your decision as re-\ngards Erna's morals?\" the painter continued.\n\"Not just yet!\" was Nielsen's response, keyed in\ndeeper evasiveness.\n\"You'll reach my conclusion absolutely,\" Breen\nclosed confidently. \"She's a moral little thing.\"\n\"Of course,\" Carstairs interposed indignantly.\n\"Whoop-la!\" cried Breen. \"So you've come to\nyour decision, Brother John? How did it happen,\nyou sly dog?\"\n\"I haven't come to any decision,\" Carstairs de-\nnied wearily. \"I told you in the beginning what I\nthought of Erna.\"\n\"That' s so,\" Breen gave in with a tone of fatherly\nwisdom. \"But when and where did you find oppor-\ntunity to strengthen your belief? You haven't been\ncoming here very often of late?\"\n\"That's my affair,\" Carstairs retorted.\nHe was in a melancholy mood. Erna had been\nneglecting him since their evening together. More-\nover, she had treated him with more or less indiffer-\nence as well, as though his visits bored her, and had\nallowed him no opening for inviting her again.\nNielsen wisely changed the subject: \"Been do-\ning much work lately, John?\"\n\"Yes, I've been busy.\""}, {"page_pdf": 92, "page_imprimee": "90", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.92", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"What are you doing?\"\n\"I've been writing a little set of piano songs,\" he\nrejoined.\n\"Good for you!\" Breen applauded. \"There's\nnothing like work after all, and we all seem engaged\nto that lady at present. She's the best wife in the\nworld.\"\nNielsen smiled philosophically, but the tired ex-\npression had revisited Carstair's face. The trio con-\ntinued eating their supper, and the conversation\nstrayed to other and less personal topics.\nThat same evening, Erna was to meet Jimmy\nAllen. The hero of Landsmann's was well ahead\nof their appointment time, for he was strangely ex-\ncited. He had some news to impart to Erna.\nShe was ten minutes late. He did not call her\nattention to the fact, but greeted her boisterously\nand began: \"Gee, Erna! I got great news for you.\"\n\"Have you?\" she replied with well feigned in-\ndifference.\n\"What do you think? Nolan's offered to let us\nhave the rooms free for one month.\"\n\"Did he?\"\n\"Sure! What do you think o' that? Ain't he\nthe pippin? Ain't he the classy guy?\"\nShe did not answer. They were walking slowly."}, {"page_pdf": 93, "page_imprimee": "91", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.93", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nHe grabbed her arm. \"What's the matter now?\"\nhe demanded.\n\"Nothin'.\"\n\"You said you'd made up your mind,\" he main-\ntained anxiously.\n\"I said: not quite,\" she corrected him.\n\"Oh, but you have, Erna,\" he pleaded. \"You'll\njoin hands with me? You're sick o' Landsmann's.\nYou —we're stuck on each other, an' the minister's\n—Well, wait'll you see the flat!\" he broke off.\n\"That'll settle it. Wait'll you see the flat!\"\n\"Why?\"\n\"I'm takin' you there,\" he informed her eagerly.\n\"Now?\"\n\"Of course!\" he cajoled her. \"You'll come,\nwon't you?\" and he squeezed her arm. \"There's no\nharm in it. You don't have to like the place? It\ndon't hurt to see it?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"Then we'll go.\"\nErna was busy eyeing a millinery show window.\n\"How about it?\" he questioned.\n\"All right-\nHe sighed with relief and satisfaction.\nThere were two rooms and a bath. The furnish-\nings were fairly attractive—garish in some respects,"}, {"page_pdf": 94, "page_imprimee": "92", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.94", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nbut on the whole, adequate. Erna admitted to her-\nself that they surpassed her expectation, the garish\nqualities, no doubt, appealing to her love of life and\nviolent color. But she made no such admission to\nJimmy.\nHe was watching her with wide open eyes. Grad-\nually, his anxiety forsook him and his natural cheer-\nfulness appeared. \"Well?\" he asked quietly.\nErna continued reticent. Neither of the rooms\ncompared with Mr. Nielsen's, which was so won-\nderfully cosy, but she could easily improve them.\nHer woman's housekeeper instinct declared itself;\nit would be nice to occupy herself making changes\nhere and there. And it would be a nice place to\nspend a few lazy hours every day, it was such a fine\nlittle apartment. Best of all, it would be her first\nhome. . . . Erna studied the large couch for the\nfirst time and hesitated. \"Stick to your freedom!\"\nhe had advised her. Marriage? No, marriage\nwould not be so nice. Still, strong, broad shoul-\ndered, handsome, happy Jimmy was standing right\nnear her. She glanced his way.\n\"Well?\" he repeated.\nErna looked away.\n\"What's the matter?\" he asked, and approached\na little.\nShe did not answer. . . . That other time matters"}, {"page_pdf": 95, "page_imprimee": "93", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.95", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nwere different. She had not felt as drawn to him\nthen as she had since his return. His offer of money\nthat day—well, it had been an honest one: he\nhad cared for her, and he had been her best friend\nin those days. She must do him that much justice.\nAnd he was offering her much more now. She hated\nLandsmann's more and more. She could not endure\nthe place many days longer. And this would be her\nfirst home. But suppose she should want to change\n—as she had done so often before, due to her hatred\nof any steady existence? Her hands would be tied.\nMarriage meant loss of freedom. She cared for\nJimmy, yes, but not quite enough. If she were only\ngiven more time for a decision! Perhaps, Mr. Niel-\nsen would help her to decide. But she would not\nask him.\n\"What's the matter?\" Jimmy demanded once\nmore and with returning anxiety. He came closer.\nErna turned toward him. She cast aside the part\nshe usually played with him, and gave him the first\nhonest glance he had received from her in several\ndays. He quickly put his arm about her shoulders.\nErna turned her head away and tried to pull back,\nbut his other arm found its way about her. \"Erna!\"\nhe begged for the last time.\nShe commenced to struggle. His instincts of bat-\njle were aroused; and his exasperation of nearly two"}, {"page_pdf": 96, "page_imprimee": "94", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.96", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nyears' standing seized this opportunity. Heedless\nof her cries, he tightened his grip and pressed her\nbreast against his with brutal strength. There was a\nmoment of tugging and swaying. Suddenly, Erna\nraised her face, and he kissed her mouth with the\nsame undeniable brutality. The girl no longer strug-\ngled. But he would not let her go.\nAt length, she tried to break away, but his strength\nwas much greater than hers. He continued to\nweaken her, strong and stubborn though she was, by\nmore unmerciful kisses and embraces. Erna at-\ntempted to beat his breast with what freedom her\nhands were permitted and not succeeding, kicked his\nshins. But Jimmy, laughing with joy and suffering\nwith passion, hugged her with such finality that she\nwas left powerless.\nAs usual, that old but simple law of physics, con-\ncerning the continued contact of bodies, was vin-\ndicated. Soon after, it was satisfied. Erna and\nJimmy did not rise from the couch for nearly three\nhours.\nErna was tired, but happy. She looked at Jimmy.\nHe laughed. She laughed too. And then they\nlaughed together. Suddenly, she became serious.\n\"What's the trouble?\" he questioned.\nErna looked at him differently now, but her\nseriousness soon fled. After all, just as posing for"}, {"page_pdf": 97, "page_imprimee": "95", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.97", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nBreen had not been quite new to her, so her present\nexperience was not quite new. Furthermore, Erna\npossessed unlimited gameness. Life had never been\nable to throw her for a long fall. Therefore, her\nboldness returned. Jimmy laughed as before, and\nshe joined him once more.\n\"All right?\" he requested.\n\"Yes!\"\nHe got up. She watched him dress. He was\nslow and careless in the performance. But her at-\ntention was absorbed by the muscular play of his\nsplendid body.\n\"Well?\" he asked smiling.\n\"Well what?\" she challenged.\n\"What makes you stare?\"\n\"Nothm !\"\n\"Am I nothin'?\"\n\"Yes!\"\nHe laughed with his usual readiness, and content,\nturned his back on her with lazy ease and walked\nover to the mirror. Erna frowned slightly. Some-\nhow, his \"I\" had put her on her old guard. It\nseemed to spell property, as did his care-free satis-\nfaction with himself. Erna watched him with\nglances sharpened by caution.\nBut it was necessary to dress. She was beginning"}, {"page_pdf": 98, "page_imprimee": "96", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.98", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nto feel chilly. Without getting up, she slipped on\nher waist, that had been lying nearby on the floor.\nJimmy Allen's mood had reached a state of hope-\nless disregard. He committed a decided blunder.\nWith cheerful candor, he asked, without troubling\nhimself to turn around: \"Erna! When do we move\n• «v»»\nin?\nShe gave his back an indignant glance. \"What\ndid you say?\"\n\"I said: when do we move in?\"\nHer instinct was up in arms. Throwing coolness\ninto her reply, she returned deliberately: \"Not\nuntil doomsday.\"\nHe stopped fixing his tie. But he continued:\n\"You're gettin' crazy again.\"\n\"I'm not,\" she replied without changing her tone.\n\"I said: not until doomsday.\"\nHe turned toward her, smiling. But the smile left\nhis face. \"What's the matter now?\" he asked, com-\ning forward.\n\"Go on dressin'!\" she commanded, his smile hav-\ning started her petulance.\nHe, however, had come over to the couch and now\nstood over her, staring at her stupidly. She looked\nup at him, animosity in her glance. His vapid ex-\npression deepened.\n\"Well?\" she challenged."}, {"page_pdf": 99, "page_imprimee": "97", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.99", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Sore?*' he asked humbly.\n\"No!\"\nHe tried to study her. Gradually, light penetrated\nhis cloudy understanding: Erna was just like other\nwomen. Luckily, some stroke of intuition prompted\nhim not to turn away this time. Instead, he put his\nhands on her shoulders and said with unaccustomed\nseriousness: \"Erna! Don't be sore.\"\n\"I'm not sore,\" she resented.\n\"I know—but—\"\n\"You don't have to explain,\" she cried melo-\ndramatically. Strange to say, Erna seemed ready\nto cry.\nAt a loss, Jimmy tried philosophy: \" 'Cause life\nis Hell to some folks, Erna, we don't have to imitate\n'em, do we?\" He could not tell whether she was\nlistening. \"Gimme a chance!\" he added more cheer-\nfully. \"Quit the beanery an' gimme a chance! I\ndon't want life to be Hell for you. Gimme the\nchance, won't you?\" He waited, but she did not\nlook up. \"You listenin'?\"\n\"Yes,\" she said.\n\"Then quit the beanery, Erna! We can live nice\nan' cosy an' happy here, can't we? You like it\nhere?\"\n\"Yes,\" she admitted."}, {"page_pdf": 100, "page_imprimee": "98", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.100", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Let's get the minister then!\" he concluded quiet-\nly.\nShe removed his hands from her shoulders.\n\"Erna!\" he repeated.\n\"Wait a moment,\" she cut him short, although\nin a milder tone.\n\"Stick to your freedom!\" he had advised her. He\nwas so human that he understood everything. And\nyet, Jimmy—if she were not forced to decide so\nsoon!\nHer strength came back under the influence of this\ntonic. A little of her innate cheerfulness revived\nas well. She looked up at Jimmy. His puzzled ex-\npression disappeared, and he smiled in encourage-\nment. She smiled too.\n\"Got somethin' to say,\" he read. \"What is it?\"\n\"Marriage'd be Hell, Jimmy,\" she announced\nwithout emotion.\n\"Why?\" he demanded abruptly, but recollecting\nhimself, stopped. Dimly, he once more realized that\nErna was a woman. And the man's psychology\nassisted him: Nature and his long enduring exasper-\nation had been satisfied. Why worry his head trying\nto understand Erna? Let her take care of herself.\nShe would outgrow her present mood. He grew\nblase, and repeated quietly: \"Why?\""}, {"page_pdf": 101, "page_imprimee": "99", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.101", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"I dunno,\" she explained doubtfully. \"Just be-\ncause, I suppose.\"\nHe sat down beside her, not so much to help her\nwrestle with the problem as to encourage her to\nspeak. She was thoughtful. \"I guess I don't want\nto,\" she continued, but with increasing doubt.\n\"You don't want to marry? Why?\"\n\"I wouldn't be free,\" she declared in an uncer-\ntain way.\n\"Why not?\" he demanded. \"You'd be free?\nYou could do what you want. I wouldn't stop\nv*\nyou ?\nShe shook her head.\nAn idea came to him. \"Maybe you'd rather—\"\nbut he stopped, remembering a former experience.\n\"Go ahead,\" she advised him.\n\"You'll get sore again,\" he protested.\n\"No, I won't,\" she disagreed, but anticipated him\nwith: \"I know what you were goin' to say.\"\n\"You do? Well?\"\nErna averted her glance. The old thoughts\npassed in quick review: Landsmann's Mr. Niel-\nsen's advice—scraps of the past—home. She could\nlive with him a little while and then marry him if all\nwent well. That seemed best for her.\n\"Wait'll to-morrow!\" he interrupted her."}, {"page_pdf": 102, "page_imprimee": "100", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.102", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nYou re kind o' up in the air now. You'll be surer\nto-morrow.\"\nShe nodded absent-mindedly.\n\"You'll let me know to-morrow?\".\n\"Yes.\"\nHp -v»»\noure ?\n\"Yes.\"\n\"All right! Forget it! We'll get it all settled\nto-morrow. An' if you'd still want to have the min-\nister—\"\nShe shook her head negatively. Jimmy appeared\njust as well satisfied. He did not understand, but\nwhat was the difference, and what the use of worry-\ning? \"You love me, don'tcher?\"\nAgain, she nodded absent-mindedly. He pushed\nher with rough good nature. Presently, he got up,\nreturned to the mirror and again busied himself\nwith his tie. Erna likewise continued dressing. She\nhad reached a decision. And she was cheerful once\nmore. But she would wait until to-morrow. It\nmight be better."}, {"page_pdf": 103, "page_imprimee": "101", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.103", "texte": "X\nMollie and Gretchen, the Landsmann waitresses,\nwere gossipping. It was about eight o'clock, the next\nmorning. Above the rattle of dishes in the kitchen,\nthis is what one might have overheard:\n\"Yes, I saw her with him.\"\n\"So did I a few nights ago.\"\n\"They must go out every night.\"\n\"Of course! She's out every night since he's\nback. Who else would she go with?\"\n\"It's just like her.\"\n\"Yes! I always said she'd go back to 'im.\"\n\"It was me said that.\"\n\"Maybe you did, but I said it first. She's a fine\ngirl to be workin' in an honest place like this to be\ngoin' out with a common prize-fighter.\"\n\"Not to have any more self-respect!\"\n\"Yes! 1 always said she 'd come to a bad end.\"\n\"Looks that way!\"\nTheir gossipping might have continued indefinitely\nhad not part of it been heard by an eavesdropper.\nShe came stealthily into the kitchen and of a sudden,\nthe waitresses received some resounding slaps. The\npair screamed."}, {"page_pdf": 104, "page_imprimee": "102", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.104", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nErna called them one or two unquotable names\nand tried to continue her attack. But she saw\nLandsmann coming into the kitchen and beat a re-\ntreat into the dining room, although not without this\nparting shot: \"So you're the kind I've been givin'\ndresses to!\"\nHerr Landsmann was a busy man. Both wait-\nresses were trying to explain at the same time. And\nMollie was weeping violently. At length, he suc-\nceeded in holding an excited consultation with the\ngirls, and with him at their head, they marched out\ninto the store in ragged single file. The trio hur-\nriedly argued the case before Mrs. Landsmann, who\nwas standing behind the counter, guarding the cash\nregister. Pretty soon, Mollie cried: \"Here he\ncomes now!\"\nJimmy Allen entered. He greeted the Lands-\nmanns and the waitresses and then some of his\nfriends, as he passed the store tables. \"How about\nYoung Walcott?\" called one. \"Next Wednes-\nday,\" Jimmy returned. \"Trainin' again?\" \"Yes,\nI start to-day.\" And the young hero penetrated the\nkitchen and stepped down into the dining room.\nErna was in a disordered state. Some of the cus-\ntomers were endeavoring to pacify her, but she re-\nfused their offers. She spied Jimmy and throwing"}, {"page_pdf": 105, "page_imprimee": "103", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.105", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ndown all caution, hurried over to him. He soon\nheard enough details.\nThe young man struck a melodramatic pose.\n\"We'll clear out o' this hole,\" he exclaimed. She\nput her hand on his arm, but he shook it off. \"Go\nup-stairs an' pack your things!\"\n\"But Jimmy—\"\n\"Never mind!\" he interrupted. \"You don't have\nto stay here. If you did, it'd be different. Go up-\nstairs an' pack up!\"\nShe looked at him with momentary dread, but\nJimmy waved his hand toward the doorway. Two\nof the customers got up to interfere, but he gave\nthem threatening glances. Erna moved away and\nthen stopped in uncertainty. \"Go ahead!\" he\nordered her. She tried to go, but Landsmann stood\nin the doorway. His face was struggling between\nanger and dignity.\n\"Erna!\" he commanded.\nShe stared at him.\n\"Go right up-stairs and—\"\nThe storekeeper noticed Jimmy's threatening at-\ntitude and hesitated. \"Go on!\" that individual en-\ncouraged him. \"Got any more to say ?\"\nEvidently, the German had not.\n\"Then get 'er money ready an' see there ain't a\ncent short, you lousy Dutchman! I'll see she gets"}, {"page_pdf": 106, "page_imprimee": "104", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.106", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nher desserts. Hurry up, you fat slob, or I'll help\ni\"\nyou!\nHerr Landsmann disappeared and so did Erna.\nJimmy, master of the moment, gave the dining room\ndenizens a look of contemptuous pride and likewise\nwent out.\nConsternation prevailed. Each patron wanted to\nexpress an opinion, and argument rose high. Only\none of them held his peace: John Carstairs. He sat\naloof, a picture of gloom and stupor.\nIt was an early hour that evening. Carstairs was\nseated at the piano in his small cosy room. The gas\nwas turned fairly low. Except for intermittent\nsounds from the instrument, the room was quiet.\nThe young man was composing. Vague meas-\nures, desolate of all cheer, followed one another in\nfuneral tempo. The monotony, unbroken by even\none note of prophecying gladness, was maddening.\nBut the young man persisted in his lugubrious incan-\ntation. Presently, he got up, turned the gas a little\nhigher and sat down again. A sheet of music paper\nlay in front of him. Only a few measures and the\ntitle—Dirge—had been transcribed. He started\njotting down more notes.\nThere was a knock at the door. He did not hear"}, {"page_pdf": 107, "page_imprimee": "105", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.107", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nit. The knock was repeated. Carstairs struck a\npetulant dissonance, arose wearily, went over to the\ndoor and opened it part way.\n\"Special delivery!\" a man announced.\nCarstairs signed the slip, the postman went away\nand the door was closed. The young composer ex-\namined the handwriting and quickly tore open the\nenvelope. The note was very short.\nHe gave way to eager joy. And he breathed a\nname twice over: \"Elsie!\" Nervous animation be-\ntrayed him further. He re-read the note five or six\ntimes, looked about in bewilderment and re-read the\nnote again. Of a sudden, he hurried over to the\nbureau and pulled open the bottom drawer. A litter\nof odds and ends was laid bare. With anxious\nhaste, he threw them all about on the floor. At last,\nhe came to a picture: the photograph of a pretty girl.\nHis joy deepened; he held the picture at arm's\nlength and gazed a fill of delight. He then arighted\nhimself, went over to the piano, moved the photo-\ngraph of an older woman to one side and placed this\npicture near the centre. He was soon occupied\nstudying the effect, and ultimate satisfaction was his.\nHe again sat down at the piano, but was unable\nto take his glance from the picture. Eventually, he\nsmiled, gave the picture an au revoir look and again\nturned his attention to the keyboard and manuscript."}, {"page_pdf": 108, "page_imprimee": "106", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.108", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nHe had decided to finish his composition just the\nsame. The dirge continued intoning its gloomy\nmeasures, but a note of prophecying gladness ap-\npeared. From time to time, too, the composer stole\nshy glances at the photograph.\nIn a cosy room in a building not far away, a\ndifferent scene was taking place. Eric Nielsen and\nErna Vitek were sitting close together on a couch,\nchatting confidentially and bantering each other.\nErna had not broken off her appointment with the\nyoung writer even though a sudden change had\ncome into her life. Luckily, Jimmy was away all\nafternoon, training up in Fordham, and, thanks to\nhis continued absence, she was able to leave their flat\nshortly after six o'clock. She would only stay out\nan hour or so and, should he return before her,\nwould tell him that she had to visit Landsmann's for\nsome small articles she had left behind. On the way\nto Nielsen's, she bought two or three trifles. Fortu-\nnately, she had found him at home, although she was\ntwo hours beforehand.\nHe had heard of the morning's event and was\nheartily sorry. But Erna quickly reassured him. Of\ncourse, he did not believe the hazy part of her story,\n—that she was \"stayin' with some friends\"—but his"}, {"page_pdf": 109, "page_imprimee": "107", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.109", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nphilosophy was equal to the occasion: what Erna hid\nfrom him was no concern of his. In all, they had\nbeen spending a delightful evening. As a conse-\nquence, Erna was staying much longer than she had\nplanned.\nNielsen enjoyed her company. She was a splen-\ndid stimulant to his stimulant-craving mental system.\nAfter his recent intercourse with the every-day\nwoman and the every-day man,—a monotonous gal-\nlery of drab souls—she was a touch of brilliant color.\nHer joy, animal spirit and fighting instinct en-\nthralled him. She stimulated his imagination par-\nticularly and consequently brought him back to his\nold interest in his life and work. So he was trebly in-\ndebted to her.\nErna's greed had developed rapidly, and she had\ngrown reckless in short order. Nielsen inspired her\ncomplete confidence. He did not take her too seri-\nously, neither did he take her too lightly. This was\njust what she had craved so long. As a result, at\nthe height of her confidence and his bantering com-\nment, she allowed him to sit next to her, and they\ndeveloped their further intimacy. For the present,\nshe had forgotten Jimmy. He was physical and did\nnot inspire her as Nielsen's human temperament did\nso easily and so quietly. Moreover, her Vitek blood\nhad been excited."}, {"page_pdf": 110, "page_imprimee": "108", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.110", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nTherefore, it was inside a natural sequence of hap-\npenings that Nielsen's arm stole about Erna's waist\nand that she submitted to the liberty. To tell the\ntruth, Nielsen was decidedly under the influence of\nthe wine in her nature and she under that in his.\n\"Isn't this wicked?\" he questioned pleasantly.\n\"No,\" she denied.\n\"But it's growing darker,\" he protested.\n\"So much the better!\" she retorted.\nAnd they both laughed.\n\"This is rat time,\" he warned her. *\n\"I don't care,\" she vaunted.\nAnd they laughed again.\nErna did not leave the Nielsen workshop until\nwell after nine o'clock."}, {"page_pdf": 111, "page_imprimee": "109", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.111", "texte": "XI\nIt was the following Monday noon. Breen and\nNielsen were seated at the last table in Landsmann's\nrear dining room, eating and gossipping.\n\"Gretchen!\" called the former.\nErna's successor came forward.\n\"Bring me a mocha tart, please.\"\n\"Yes, sir\"—and the girl walked away.\n\"So you think you'll be able to finish your story?\"\nBreen questioned.\n\"I think so,\" was Nielsen's thoughtful response.\n\"I've found the missing link.\"\n\"But is any story ever finished?\" Breen pro-\ntested. \"Can't you always find room for additional\ninstallments?\"\nNot being in an argumentative mood, Nielsen\nquietly accepted his friend's criticism. Soon, they\nwere both meditative. Gretchen brought the mocha\ntart and went away. Hers was a peace-loving tem-\nperament, in distinct contrast to Erna's, an opin-\nion Breen expressed. Nielsen again accepted his\ncriticism.\n\"After all,\" the artist added comfortably:"}, {"page_pdf": 112, "page_imprimee": "110", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.112", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Erna was quite a study. I confess, she fooled\nme.\n\"How so?\"\n\"By running off with that young gladiator.\"\n\"Then you think she's living with him?\"\n\"Of course. What other conclusion should I\ncome to?\"\nNielsen did not answer. At length he said:\n\"Then you're ready to alter your decision of the\nother day?\"\n\"That she's a moral little thing?\" Breen replied.\n\"Yes, to some extent,\" he declared generously.\n\"Her last act does change my first consideration a\nbit. But I still refuse to credit her with being un-\nmoral.\"\n\"Which means that you believe her unmoral?\"\nNielsen ventured in a droll tone.\n\"I suppose so.\"\n\"Explain yourself!\"\n\"She's accepted a life contrary to Society's code\nor her own code—if she was ever unconventional\nenough to have one, which I doubt.\"\nNielsen smiled. \"If what you say is true, we're\nall of us more or less immoral.\"\n\"Why so?\"\n\"Because every one barters his soul some time dur-\ning his existence, and some of us are doing so all the"}, {"page_pdf": 113, "page_imprimee": "111", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.113", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ntime. At heart, you know, we re most of us, un-\nmoral, in appearance, moral, but in action, immoral.'*\nBreen laughed in amiable derision. \"What\nscrambled egg philosophy!\" he cried. \"Where did\nyou learn it, noble scholar?\"\n\"Nowhere,\" Nielsen answered and frowned.\nBut his ready good nature intervened and he ob-\nserved gently: \"At any rate, Breen, I disagree with\nyou regarding Erna.\"\n\"That she's neither moral nor immoral?\"\n\"She has a little bit of each—like all of us,\" the\nyoung author agreed; \"but fundamentally she's un-\nmoral.\"\n\"Bravo! So that will be the end of your story?\"\n\"I don't know,\" Nielsen silenced him and smiled\na second time.\nBreen shook his head with a knowing air. After\nan interval, he requested: \"Will you see her\n• v\nagain ?\n\"I'm not certain,\" Nielsen said without emotion.\n\"I imagine I will some time. But it won't be neces-\nsary.\"\nThe young men finished their meal.\nA little later, Nielsen was alone in his studio. He\nwas sitting at his small writing desk, looking over\nsome material that lay in front of him. Presently,\nhe seemed worried, but only for a moment. No, the"}, {"page_pdf": 114, "page_imprimee": "112", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.114", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\npoint was absolutely clear. Erna had settled it for\nhim the other evening. At heart, she was unmoral.\nThe young author commenced writing.\nThrough some insidious channel, a thought man-\naged to come between his mind and the manuscript:\nwould he see her again ? Quickly, he beat it down:\nit would be unnecessary to see her again; there was\nnothing more for him to learn. Still, he had enjoyed\nhimself the other evening. The physical, so glorious,\nso great, had once more penetrated his life. Would\nhe drive it away? Nielsen stopped writing.\nAlmost resentfully, he mused: What had he and\nthe physical to do with each other? The physical\ngave him new experience, yes, but it was almost al-\nways experience that he courted and utilized for his\nwork. He must not expect more; he must continue\nto sacrifice everything—thought, emotion, volition—\nto work. Nothing else existed; in no other way\ncould he hope to reach the realm of artist. He must\ndrive Erna and the other evening's sensations from\nhis memory. She had served as his model, no more;\nso he must not permit her personality or his own to\ninterfere again. Furthermore, he must be cautious\non her behalf as well. She was a joyous, healthy\nanimal. Jimmy Allen was a joyous, healthy animal.\nThey were mated, and were living together, un-"}, {"page_pdf": 115, "page_imprimee": "113", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.115", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\ndoubtedly. The chapter was closed. He must not\ndesire more.\nNielsen tightened his resolve. In another mo-\nment, he was again busy, writing.\nThere was a knock at the door. He did not\nhear it. The knock was repeated more loudly. He\nlooked around petulantly, got up, went over to the\ndoor and opened it. \"Oh, it's you,\" he said, but not\nwith cordiality.\nErna came in.\n\"I was down in the neighborhood,\" she apolo-\ngized.\n\"You were right to come up,\" he reassured her,\nsorry to have treated her discourteously. \"Take off\nyour things!\"\n\"But you're busy,\" she protested.\n\"Not at all. Only a little touch or two I was\nworking on. They can wait.\"\nReluctantly, Erna permitted him to help her re-\nmove her coat. She did not take off her hat. \"Sit\ndown,\" he advised her, his regret for his momentary\nshow of self-interest developing.\nShe sat down on a chair. He seated himself at\nhis desk, but faced her. \"What's new?\" he asked\npleasantly.\n\"Nothin' much,\" she returned and glanced at\nhim."}, {"page_pdf": 116, "page_imprimee": "114", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.116", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nHis glance met hers, and he quickly looked else-\nwhere. He felt a sharp pain: he had gone too far\nthe other evening. Erna likewise looked away.\nShe had seen enough; her instinct knew. There was\nan awkward pause.\nNielsen gave her a sidelong glance. What could\nhe do? This was dreadful. He should not have\ngone so far. Erna was staring at the floor. He\ncould see her pugnacious nose and her determined\nmouth and chin, and felt somewhat relieved. Her\ncase might not be as serious as he feared. She had\ntenacious strength of character. But the situation\nwas very uncomfortable notwithstanding. He should\nnot have gone so far. It was selfish—whether a\nman's selfishness or an artist's. Nielsen turned\naway.\nAgain, he glanced in her direction, but she was\nstill staring at the floor. Luckily, she had Jimmy;\nthey were living together—at least, he had taken that\nmuch for granted by putting her story and the bakery\nscandal side by side. They were suited to each\nother. What could or should she have to do with\nsuch a thing as an artist? Perhaps, the novelty in\ntheir short affair had appealed to her. She was a\ngreedy nature. She craved everything: sun, moon,\nstars and all. He himself had only been one of"}, {"page_pdf": 117, "page_imprimee": "115", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.117", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nthem. This conjecture satisfied him considerably.\nAnd he breathed with returning freedom.\nShe looked up. He smiled. She smiled too.\nAnd he breathed still more freely.\n\"What have you been doing lately?\" he ques-\ntioned cheerfully.\n\"I've been busy siraightenin' out,\" she replied, and\nlooked at him.\nHe moved restlessly. There was a second pause,\nbut only a short one.\n\"You' ve been busy too,\" she said.\n\"Oh yes, I—l've been working on a story.\"\n\"What kind of a story?\"\n\"Merely a foolish little affair about a foolish little\naffair,\" he hastened to condemn.\nHer glance dropped. His work and her own\nlived apart. \"I brought back * Little Eyolf'.\"\n\"So I saw. Did you like it?\"\n\"Not very much.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"It's too sad,\" she explained. \"An* I don't like\ncripples.\"\n\"Of course!\" he broke out. \"I forgot that you\nlove only joy and happy people.\"\n\"An' freedom,\" she concluded unconsciously.\n\"Certainly, and freedom,\" he agreed.\nHe caught a glimpse of her eyes—eyes that could"}, {"page_pdf": 118, "page_imprimee": "116", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.118", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nlove you to-day and hate you to-morrow—and felt\nstill more reconciled with circumstances. Erna\ncraved freedom, and was free. She could take care\nof herself. She possessed that rare thing, the life-\ncontrolling temperament. Perhaps, she would not\nneed even Jimmy Allen. How splendid she was!\nWould she hate him to-morrow? It would be a\nshame. He had only to raise his hand—and they\ncould continue. But he must not, it would be so\nmuch better for her. She would be miserable with\nhim: an artist and not a physical man. She belonged\nto Jimmy—and still more, to herself. He must not\ninterfere, but leave her destiny to destiny. Nielsen\nfelt almost completely relieved.\n\"You love your work, don't you?\" Erna an-\nnounced with unexpected candor.\nNielsen looked at her with sharpened eyes. She\nwas glorious. She had emphasized \"love\" and not\n\"work.\" He could scarcely reply.\n\"Don't you?\" she repeated.\nShe was more than glorious. Her own gameness\nhad fought the problem for her. She required as-\nsistance from no one.\n\"Yes,\" was all he was able to say, his emotions\ncrowding him.\n\"Do you write a whole lot?\"\n\"Yes, lots and lots, but it's all trivial.\""}, {"page_pdf": 119, "page_imprimee": "117", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.119", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Oh no!\" she contradicted him.\n\"Oh yes!\" he mimicked her, and laughed, al-\nthough he did not know why. \"My writings are as\nmuch like life—\" as you are like art, he would have\nfinished, but hesitated.\n\"As what?\" she assisted him.\n\"As the catching of butterflies is like the catching\nof rats,\" he closed with a return to himself.\n\"Oh, the Rat-wife!\" she interpreted.\n\"Yes.\"\n\"You're not a rat-wife writer then?\"\n\"No.\"\n\"You're not a butterfly writer either?\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\" 'Cause butterflies come from caterpillars, don't\nthey?\"\n\"Yes,\" Nielsen admitted and laughed again, al-\nthough his emotions were threatening him, as before.\n\"I forgot about the caterpillars.\"\n\"Yes, I hate 'em,\" she reminded him. \"They're\ntoo—too—\"\n\"Fuzzy wuzzy!\" he helped her.\n\"Yes,\" she accepted and laughed for the first time,\nif not very heartily.\nNielsen studied her with frank admiration. Her\nnature was that of a lioness. She looked capable of\npushing over or slipping from under any circum-"}, {"page_pdf": 120, "page_imprimee": "118", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.120", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nstance. She did not even require one's sympathy.\nAnd still?— But he resisted the temptation. For\nher sake, it would be better not to continue.\n\"I must be goin',\" she said suddenly.\n\"Oh no, not yet!\" he begged.\n\"Yes, I must be goin*,\" she insisted and got up.\n\"I got shoppin' to do.\"\n\"Haven't you finished decorating?\" he inquired,\nand got up against his will.\n\"No,\" she returned and smiled.\nNielsen helped her with her coat. He was tempted\nto put his arms about her, but resisted. It would\nmake her departure more difficult. She turned\naround. \"Is my hat on straight?\"\n\"Oh yes,\" he assured her and added, byway of\ncontrolling himself: \"Vanitas vanitatum/\"\n\"What's that?\"\n\"More triviality!\" he declared.\nErna started toward the door, but he stopped her\nwith: \"Don't you want another book to read?\"\nThe temptation was a strong one, but she dodged\nit: \"No, I'll be too busy now. Maybe, later on,\"\nshe concluded with a lingering tone.\nNielsen looked away. Erna continued toward the\ndoor, but he hurried after her and opened and held\nit open for her.\n\"Good-bye,\" she said."}, {"page_pdf": 121, "page_imprimee": "119", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.121", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n''Oh no, not good-bye, but /\" he quoted\ngently.\n\"That's a hard word to pronounce.\"\n\"Try it anyhow,\" he encouraged her.\n\"Orrevore!\"\n\"Fine!\" he congratulated her, repeated the~\nphrase, and added: \"Come in again soon.\"\n\"Yes,\" she agreed.\nBut she never did."}, {"page_pdf": 122, "page_imprimee": "120", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.122", "texte": "XII\nTwo months passed.\nErna Vitek was still living with Jimmy Allen.\nThere was, however, less and less likelihood that\nthey would ever marry. In fact, the most probable\nissue to their affair was that they would separate\nagain, in the near future and this time for good.\nErna was tired of Jimmy. For some weeks past,\nher restless nature had been craving some one else,\nor better still, some other mode of living, her present\none having reached a state of unbearable monotony.\nShe recovered from her experience with Eric Nielsen\nonly after several weeks of struggle. Even such a\nfine tonic as that supplied her so freely by her re-\nsource of blood found the healing of her wound no\nordinary matter, but she had recovered, except for an\noccasional memory. Her battle with her craving for\nNielsen did not assist her attachment for Jimmy; on\nthe contrary, the latter degenerated by contrast.\nAnd Jimmy, himself, was very much to blame as\nwell. He had changed toward her.\nIt is no doubt true that possession often breeds\nboredom, and boredom, carelessness. Erna, before\npossession and after • possession, was not the same"}, {"page_pdf": 123, "page_imprimee": "121", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.123", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nindividual, and Jimmy treated her accordingly. He\nwas no longer an anxious desire-maddened suitor.\nFurthermore, he was softening physically. He\ncontinued training for his schedule of fistic contests\nand carried out that schedule; he defeated Young\nWalcott, the man from Chicago and another, but\nlately, had fought two very poor draws, in the latter\nof which he, himself, was on the point of being\nknocked out. His manager, the astute Jerry Nolan,\nwas losing patience with him. He bluntly attributed\nhis protege's decline to the fact that he was \"livin\nwith a woman. A man's got to cut out drink if he\nwants to succeed as a athlete, but he's got to be\nto cut out women. They sucks his blood an*\nstrength.\"\nJimmy did not agree with this sentiment. He\ncontinued to live with Erna. What is more, he had\nthreatened to move out of the Nolan apartment and\n\"to throw up the sponge\"—quit the prize-ring—if\nhis manager persisted in arguing along these lines.\nAlthough Nolan submitted, he found other grounds\nupon which to pick quarrels with Jimmy. The truth\nis, the young manager was ambitious, and Jimmy's\nability to climb the pugilistic ladder reflected credit\nupon him. He had always felt and expressed his\nfaith in his protege and prophesied that he would\nbe \"mixin' it with the top notchers\" not far hence,"}, {"page_pdf": 124, "page_imprimee": "122", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.124", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\na prophecy Jimmy substantiated by defeating \"the\nKid,\" Young Walcott and the westerner so de-\ncisively. But he was in danger now, as his recent\nbattles and his late mutiny testified. Should Jimmy\nfall from grace a second time, it would be irrevo-\ncably. Therefore, Nolan was using eloquence, per-\nsuasion, threats, anything, to save him.\nMany of their quarrels took place in Erna's\npresence. After a while, Jimmy, much to her grow-\ning distaste, formed the habit of bringing Nolan and\n\"some o' the boys\" to the flat. Custom gradually\ntrained them to believe that she was nothing more\nthan part of the furniture, and they accepted her\nattentions, due them as Jimmy's guests, just so.\nThey stayed well on into the night, amused them-\nselves, played pranks, broke dishes, quarrelled, made\nup—and came again. And more and more, they\nlooked upon Erna with contempt. On her side, she\nhated and despised them.\nDuring the day, Jimmy was usually absent, train-\ning at the Nolan headquarters in Fordham. Erna\nsaw him for a moment in the morning, when she\nprepared his breakfast, and at evening, when she\nprepared his supper, not to see him again, as a rule,\nuntil fairly late at night, except when he brought\n\"the boys.\" To be sure, she slept with him and—"}, {"page_pdf": 125, "page_imprimee": "123", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.125", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nwell, she hated that too. It made her feel herself\nsome dirty, inferior animal.\nErna's days were still more monotonous. She\nsewed quite a little, attended to details of house\nwork, which were few, and otherwise, took long\nwalks or went to an afternoon vaudeville or moving\npicture show. As she was accustomed to a day of\nconstant labor and occupation, she had never known\nmuch idleness; her evenings were spent in resting or\nin the search of a little excitement. Moreover,\nErna's was purely an emotional nature; she did not\npossess the intellect or imagination so requisite to-\nward making idleness useful. Unfortunately, she\nhad no friends to visit.\nAt first, Jimmy gave her money in regular install-\nments. Their house expenses paid, she would have\na sufficient balance with which to indulge herself—\nwith a new hat, a new dress, a few odds and ends,\nor her afternoon amusements. The installments,\nhowever, were more and more irregular and smaller\nin amount; last week, none had materialized. The\nreason was this: Jimmy had returned to drinking.\nAnd the climax was impending. One night, he\ncame home late, pretty well drunk.\nErna opened the door. He swayed and then\nstaggered into the room, a broad leer on his face.\n\"Howsh—the—girl?\" he demanded stupidly."}, {"page_pdf": 126, "page_imprimee": "124", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.126", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nHe tried to embrace her, but Erna stepped back,\nand he nearly fell. With an effort, he straightened\nhimself and laughed. \"Wha—whash—a—mat-\nter?\"\n«\nErna's resentment poured over. \"You beast!\"\nshe said in low tones.\n\"You—what?\" He leaned forward to hear\nbetter.\n\"Beast, I said,\" and she pelted him with epithets\nand reproaches.\nJimmy made several ludicrous attempts to apolo-\ngize, and protested: \"I—l'm not—d-drunk; I\nI'm just—ossified.\" And he laughed more stupidly\nand tried to approach.\n\"Keep away!''\n4 4 Wha—whash—a—matter ?''\n\"Keep away!\"\n\"Wheresh—No—Nolan?\"\n\"Nolan's in hell, where he belongs,\" she cried\nangrily, and a second tirade followed, directed this\ntime at the manager and Jimmy's friends.\n\"Be c-c-careful!\" he interrupted, but she added\nfurther condemnation. \"Be c-c-careful!\" he re-\npeated. \"No—Nolan's a frien' o' mine an' so's\nP-p-piggy Wallace. Be c-c-careful!\"\nHis defence only succeeded in infuriating her.\nShe concluded with two or three judgments that in-"}, {"page_pdf": 127, "page_imprimee": "125", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.127", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\neluded the families of those gentlemen. Jimmy's\ngood nature stopped. \"You !\" he called her\nand stumbled toward her.\nErna retreated, her face aflame. Once more, he\ncalled her and fell toward her. She tried to\nward him off, for he had driven her against the\ncouch. But Jimmy pushed himself forward and\nraising his fist, brought it down clumsily upon her\nface. Erna slipped and fell upon the couch, her\nmouth bleeding.\nFurious, she jumped up and attacked Jimmy.\nHe was in a defenceless condition, and blows rained\nupon his shoulders, body and head. He tried to\nraise his guard, but it was useless. At length,\nswearing incoherently, she struck him full in the\nface, and he swayed, mumbled stupidly and toppled\nover on the couch, unconscious or asleep—more\nlikely the latter. Handsome Jimmy was a disgust-\ning sight.\nErna, still struggling with herself, looked down\nat him. He started snoring, a part painful, part\nbeatific smile wrinkling his face. His legs were\ndangling over the side of the couch. She gave them\na kick, lifted them and shoved them onto the couch.\nShe then turned away and wiped her mouth with her\nsleeve. Erna had come to a simple determination.\nWithout hesitation, she went over to a closet and"}, {"page_pdf": 128, "page_imprimee": "126", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.128", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nopened the door. She likewise pulled open the\ndrawer of a commode. And somewhere, she found\nan old suit case and dragged that forth. Her pack-\ning did not last more than twenty minutes. She left\na hat, a dress and some odds and ends behind her.\n»•••••••\nOne pleasant late afternoon about two weeks\nlater, Eric Nielsen was occupied in writing at his\ndesk. He was engaged on an essay he had planned\nand started some time ago. His pencil was moving\nmore rapidly than usual.\nThe door was opened gently and Bainbridge\nBreen came in. \"Busy?\" he inquired.\n\"Come in! I'll be through in a second,\" Nielsen\nreturned without looking up.\nThe painter came forward. The author's pencil\nscribbled a little faster, a period was jotted down,\nand he laid aside the pencil, at the same time eyeing\nhis work and sighing with satisfaction.\n\"Finished?\"\n\"Oh no, not for some time. I've got several\nthousand words more,\" Nielsen explained.\n\"How's it coming on?\"\n\"Splendidly!\" was the optimistic rejoinder. \"If\nI can keep sufficient enthusiasm in my body, I ought\nto be able to carry it through perfectly.\""}, {"page_pdf": 129, "page_imprimee": "127", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.129", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"It'll be your chef-d'oeuvre, I suppose,\" Breen\nobserved with his customary pleasantry.\n\"I hope so,\" Nielsen admitted seriously. \"It's\nstronger than anything I've done, I feel. It shows\nmaturity, I think, not only maturity of judgment, but\nmaturity of execution as well.\"\n\"In other words, Art,\" Breen interrupted slyly.\n\"What more do you ask?\"\n\"Nothing,\" confessed Nielsen, and his warm\nsmile appeared.\n\"But what's the matter with the story?\" the\npainter demanded.\n\"How do you mean?\" the author retorted.\n\"I thought that had fulfilled your ambition.\"\n\"Not quite, not quite,\" Nielsen hastened to deny,\nand was thoughtful. \"I don't know just what it\nwas, but there was something missing in it,\" he said\ngently, and changing the subject, concluded ab-\nruptly : \"I'm sure I have that something in this es-\n»»\nsay.\nBreen explained himself: \"You know what\nmade me ask about the story?\"\n\"No. What?\"\n\"I had lunch in a small bakery on Sixth Avenue\nthis noon.\"\n\"Well?\"\n\"Guess whom I saw there?\""}, {"page_pdf": 130, "page_imprimee": "128", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.130", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Well?\"\nCan t you guess ?\n\"Out with it!\"\n\"Our old friend: Erna Vitek!\"\nNielsen turned and stared at his friend. He was\nunable to speak.\n\"What do you think o' that?\" Breen pursued,\nunruffled.\n\"She must have left Allen.\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"And is working again?\"\n\"Yes!\"\nNielsen stared at the floor now. He seemed una-\nble to formulate, much less express, an opinion.\n\"How is she? Changed?\" he requested at last.\n\"Somewhat! She's quite a little harder and a\nbit more quiet—that is the way matters appeared to\nme. But her eyes have lost none of their boldness.\nAnd besides, she seems to like it there.\"\n\"She does?\"\n\"Yes, and she' s very popular too.\"\n\"How so?\"\n\"The men are very attentive, it looked to me,\"\nBreen volunteered significantly.\n\"And she?\"\n\"She's still got an eye open. Not as wide open,"}, {"page_pdf": 131, "page_imprimee": "129", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.131", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\nperhaps, as in the old days, but it isn't closed, that's\ncertain.\"\nNielsen was silent, reflecting.\nAt length, Breen asked: \"What do you imagine\nwill become of her?\"\n\"How?\"\n\"I mean, of her life—what life do you suppose\nshe'll lead eventually: this young lady so moral,\nunmoral or—\"\n\"I can't say exactly,\" Nielsen, who disliked the\ntopic, interrupted.\n\"Think she'll take to the streets?\"\n\"No, no, not that!\" was the vehement denial.\n\"Why not?\"\nAgain, Nielsen seemed unable to answer, but\nhe boasted unexpectedly: \"She's too strong. She\nhas fight in her—and love of freedom.\"\n\"But so have street ladies.\"\n\"Yes, but they don't carry it through.\"\n\"Why not?\"\n\"I don't know,\" was the stubborn reply. \"They\ndon't, that's all.\"\n\"Well, do you? Does Tom, Dick or Harry?\nDoes Erna?\"\n\"I don't know. Let's drop the subject.\"\n\"/ wouldn't be so certain that she does,\" Breen\ninsinuated, still persisting."}, {"page_pdf": 132, "page_imprimee": "130", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.132", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"Of course, you wouldn't,\" Nielsen condemned,\nunable longer to hold back his emotion. \"You're\nwisdom itself.\"\nThe young artist decided to shift the topic:\n\"Heard from Carstairs lately?\"\nAnimation returned to Nielsen. \"Yes, I heard\nfrom John last night.\"\n\"Is he still in Indianapolis?\"\n\"Yes, he has a fine position there and seems con-\ntented now.\"\n\"And Elsie Pearson?\"\n\"Oh, that'll come off, as you said the other day.\"\n\"Marriage?\"\n\"Yes!\"\n\"Good for John! I'm glad he won. He was a\nlong time waiting.\"\nNelsen nodded. He was thoughtful once more.\nBut he shook off the mood and asked: \"What are\nyou doing, Breen?\"\n\"Getting ready for spring.\"\n\"That's so—spring'll be here in a week or two.\nGoing out to the country as usual?\"\n\"Yes, I've gathered a bunch of canvases and\nplenty of tubes, etcetera, and off I'll go.\"\n\"Going to Connecticut again?\"\n\"Yes, that's the only country for a landscape\npainter.\""}, {"page_pdf": 133, "page_imprimee": "131", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.133", "texte": "ERNA VITEK\n\n\"I suppose so,\" Nielsen agreed.\n\"How about supper?\" Breen interposed.\n\"Why, what time is it?\"\n\"After five o'clock.\"\n\"By Jove—that late? I must be getting dressed\nsoon.\"\n\"Got an engagement?\"\n\"Yes, I' m going to feed with the Plymptons.\"\n\"Too bad! That means, I'll have to eat alone.\nSee you in the morning! So long!\" and Breen\nmoved away.\n\"Going over to Landsmann's?\"\n\"Yes. But it's hopelessly dull there these days.\nIt'll give me the incurables to-night.\"\n\"Or a tummy-ache, at least,\" Nielsen added\ngood-humoredly.\n\"Yes, so long!\"\n\"So long!\"\nBreen went out quietly and closed the door.\nNielsen studied the door with a blank expression.\nBut he shook himself and returned to his manuscript.\nIn a moment, he was absorbed, re-reading."}, {"page_pdf": 135, "page_imprimee": "133", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.135", "texte": "POETRY\nA MAGAZINE OF VERSE\nEdited by Harriet Monroe, 543 Cass St., Chicago, 111.\n\nPOETRY, at the end of its first year, is no longer an experi-\nment but an assured artistic success, a publication whose\nimportance is authoritatively recognized, not only in this\ncountry, but in Great Britain and France as well. The\nfield it has opened up is full of brilliant possibilities, en-\ncouraging the editors to hope for the enthusiastic sup-\nport of a discriminating public.\nPOETRY endeavors to present the best verse now being\nwritten in English, quality alone being the test of ac-\nceptance.\nPOETRY is an effort to create an organ for the art. While\nthe ordinary magazines must minister to a large public\nlittle interested in poetry, this magazine appeals to and\nwill develop a public primarily interested in poetry as\nan art, potentially the highest, most complete human ex-\npression of truth and beauty. Thus it offers to poets a\nchance to be heard by their own audience, in their own\nplace, without the limitations imposed by the popular\nmagazines. And to lovers of poetry it offers each month\na sheaf of new verse in delicate form uninterrupted by\nprose articles demanding a different mood.\nIf You Love Good Poetry, Subscribe—\nPOETRY\n543 Cass Street, Chicago.\nSend POETRY for one year ($1.50 enclosed) beginning\nto\nName\nAddress"}, {"page_pdf": 136, "page_imprimee": "134", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.136", "texte": "THE INTERCOLLEGIATE SOCIALIST\nThought-Compelling, Admirably Written Quarterly\nof Socialism and the Socialist Movement\n\nAmong the year's contributors are:\nKarl Kautsky, Jean Longuet, Keir Hardie, Morris Hillquit,\nAlexander Irvine, Helen L. Sumner, Sidney and Beatrice\nWebb, Prof. Vida D. Scudder, Upton Sinclair, William Eng-\nlish Walling, Charles Zueblin, Ernest Poole, Howard Bru-\nbaker, Albert Edwards, Jessie W. Hughan, Caro Lloyd.\nREAD ITS REVIEW OF BOOKS!\nSUBSCRIPTION, 25c. SINGLE COPY, 10c.\n15 COPIES, $l.OO.\nINTERCOLLEGIATE SOCIALIST SOCIETY\n105 WEST 40TH STREET - - NEW YORK CITY\n\nTHE INTERNATIONAL\nA magazine for matured minds.\nA magazine for those who dare to think.\nA magazine for all true cosmopolites.\nA magazine with a courage so fearless that it publishes\nthe best.\nBrieux, Schnitzler, Strindberg are only a few of the ad-\nvanced thinkers who have appeared in the pages of THE\nINTERNATIONAL.\nWe have been in the vanguard of intellectual freedom.\nWe shall always be far ahead of our times.\nYou may glimpse the future by reading THE INTER-\nNATIONAL.\nGeorge Sylvester Viereck, Editor.\nLeonard D. Abbott, Richard Le Gallienne, Associate Editors.\n15 CENTS A COPY. $1.50 A YEAR.\nMOODS PUBLISHING COMPANY\n29 WEST 42ND STREET - - NEW YORK CITY"}, {"page_pdf": 137, "page_imprimee": "135", "url_page": "https://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/?a=d&d=bmtnaat191403-01.1.137", "texte": "The April issue of THE\nGLEBE will present Collects\nand prose-pieces by Horace\nTraubel.\n\nSubscription price per year, $3.00"}]}