
A lyrical prologue sets the tone, inviting listeners into a moonlit meadow where longing and memory linger like fireflies over a quiet brook. The narrator’s wistful reverie hints at a world where romance and melancholy intertwine, framing a story that will soon move beyond the gentle countryside to the bustling streets of early‑20th‑century America.
The action begins in a bustling Atlanta railway station, where two old friends, Ardmore and Griswold, wrestle with restless ambition and the ache of unfulfilled dreams. Ardmore, weary of wealth and politics, craves a daring adventure that cannot be bought, while Griswold pushes him toward daring exploits—perhaps even the frozen North. Their banter reveals a deep bond forged in university halls and shared solitude, setting the stage for a journey that promises both external exploration and an inner quest for purpose.
As the listeners follow their conversation, they’ll feel the pull of restless hearts on the brink of a new chapter, promising intrigue, camaraderie, and the timeless search for meaning.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (480K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1909,pubdate 1923.
Credits
D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2022-06-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1866–1947
Best remembered for lively early-20th-century novels like The House of a Thousand Candles, this Indiana writer also stepped into public life as a diplomat and civic figure. His career connected popular fiction, state politics, and American cultural life in a way that still feels distinctive.
View all books