
On a speeding train to New York, two young women sit opposite each other, drawing the curious eyes of every passenger. The elder sister, a polished actress in a stylish travelling suit, radiates confidence and wealth, while her younger sibling, a dark‑haired brunette in mourning black, appears modest and restless, clutching memories of a small Ohio town and a recently deceased father. Their stark differences spark a swirl of speculation among the eclectic travelers, from ranchers to college boys, each projecting their own desires onto the sisters.
As the carriage rocks toward the city, the sisters carry more than luggage; they bear the weight of unspoken expectations. The actress seeks to secure her place on the bustling stage of Manhattan, hoping her charm will open doors, while the younger woman wrestles with grief, ambition, and the promise of a new life with her married sibling. Their journey hints at a clash of worlds—glamour versus modesty, past versus future—that will shape their choices in the bright yet unforgiving metropolis.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (345K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-12-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1880–1950
A journalist-novelist who brought the upheavals of early 20th-century America and Russia to life, he became the first winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His work mixes on-the-ground reporting with a strong interest in ordinary people caught inside major social change.
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