An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

her a try-out.” Or, “You might see if this girl will be of any

use to you.” And Clyde, after he had questioned them as to

where they had worked, what the nature of the general

working experiences were, and whether they lived at home

here in Lycurgus or alone (the bachelor girl was not much

wanted by the factory) would explain the nature of the work

and pay, and then call Miss Todd, who in her turn would

first take them to the rest room where were lockers for their

coats, and then to one of the tables where they would be

shown what the process was. And later it was Miss Todd’s

and Clyde’s business to discover how well they were

getting on and whether it was worth while to retain them or

not.

Up to this time, apart from the girls to whom he was so

definitely drawn, Clyde was not so very favorably impressed

with the type of girl who was working here. For the most

part, as he saw them, they were of a heavy and rather

unintelligent company, and he had been thinking that

smarter-looking girls might possibly be secured. Why not?

Were there none in Lycurgus in the factory world? So many

of these had fat hands, broad faces, heavy legs and ankles.

Some of them even spoke with an accent, being Poles or

the children of Poles, living in that slum north of the mill.

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And they were all concerned with catching a “feller,” going

to some dancing place with him afterwards, and little more.

Also, Clyde had noticed that the American types who were

here were of a decidedly different texture, thinner, more

nervous and for the most part more angular, and with a

general reserve due to prejudices, racial, moral and

religious, which would not permit them to mingle with these

others or with any men, apparently.

But among the extras or try-outs that were brought to him

during this and several succeeding days, finally came one

who interested Clyde more than any girl whom he had seen

here so far. She was, as he decided on sight, more

intelligent and pleasing—more spiritual—though apparently

not less vigorous, if more gracefully proportioned. As a

matter of fact, as he saw her at first, she appeared to him to

possess a charm which no one else in this room had, a

certain wistfulness and wonder combined with a kind of self-

reliant courage and determination which marked her at

once as one possessed of will and conviction to a degree.

Nevertheless, as she said, she was inexperienced in this

kind of work, and highly uncertain as to whether she would

prove of service here or anywhere.

Her name was Roberta Alden, and, as she at once

explained, previous to this she had been working in a small

hosiery factory in a town called Trippetts Mills fifty miles

north of Lycurgus. She had on a small brown hat that did

not look any too new, and was pulled low over a face that

was small and regular and pretty and that was haloed by

bright, light brown hair. Her eyes were of a translucent gray

blue. Her little suit was commonplace, and her shoes were

not so very new-looking and quite solidly-soled. She looked

practical and serious and yet so bright and clean and willing

and possessed of so much hope and vigor that along with

Liggett, who had first talked with her, he was at once taken

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357

with her. Distinctly she was above the average of the girls in

this room. And he could not help wondering about her as he

talked to her, for she seemed so tense, a little troubled as

to the outcome of this interview, as though this was a very

great adventure for her.

She explained that up to this time she had been living with

her parents near a town called Biltz, but was now living with

friends here. She talked so honestly and simply that Clyde

was very much moved by her, and for this reason wished to

help her. At the same time he wondered if she were not

really above the type of work she was seeking. Her eyes

were so round and blue and intelligent—her lips and nose

and ears and hands so small and pleasing.

“You’re going to live in Lycurgus, then, if you can get work

here?” he said, more to be talking to her than anything else.

“Yes,” she said, looking at him most directly and frankly.

“And the name again?” He took down a record pad.

“Roberta Alden.”

“And your address here?”

“228 Taylor Street.”

“I don’t even know where that is myself,” he informed her

because he liked talking to her. “I haven’t been here so very

long, you see.” He wondered just why afterwards he had

chosen to tell her as much about himself so swiftly. Then he

added: “I don’t know whether Mr. Liggett has told you all

about the work here. But it’s piece work, you know,

stamping collars. I’ll show you if you’ll just step over here,”

and he led the way to a near-by table where the stampers

were. After letting her observe how it was done, and without

calling Miss Todd, he picked up one of the collars and

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358

proceeded to explain all that had been previously explained

to him.

At the same time, because of the intentness with which she

observed him and his gestures, the seriousness with which

she appeared to take all that he said, he felt a little nervous

and embarrassed. There was something quite searching

and penetrating about her glance. After he had explained

once more what the bundle rate was, and how much some

made and how little others, and she had agreed that she

would like to try, he called Miss Todd, who took her to the

locker room to hang up her hat and coat. Then presently he

saw her returning, a fluff of light hair about her forehead,

her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes very intent and

serious. And as advised by Miss Todd, he saw her turn

back her sleeves, revealing a pretty pair of forearms. Then

she fell to, and by her gestures Clyde guessed that she

would prove both speedy and accurate. For she seemed

most anxious to obtain and keep this place.

After she had worked a little while, he went to her side and

watched her as she picked up and stamped the collars

piled beside her and threw them to one side. Also the

speed and accuracy with which she did it. Then, because

for a second she turned and looked at him, giving him an

innocent and yet cheerful and courageous smile, he smiled

back, most pleased.

“Well, I guess you’ll make out all right,” he ventured to say,

since he could not help feeling that she would. And

instantly, for a second only, she turned and smiled again.

And Clyde, in spite of himself, was quite thrilled. He liked

her on the instant, but because of his own station here, of

course, as he now decided, as well as his promise to

Gilbert, he must be careful about being congenial with any

of the help in this room—even as charming a girl as this. It

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359

would not do. He had been guarding himself in connection

with the others and must with her too, a thing which

seemed a little strange to him then, for he was very much

drawn to her. She was so pretty and cute. Yet she was a

working girl, as he remembered now, too—a factory girl, as

Gilbert would say, and he was her superior. But she was so

pretty and cute.

Instantly he went on to others who had been put on this

same day, and finally coming to Miss Todd asked her to

report pretty soon on how Miss Alden was getting along—

that he wanted to know.

But at the same time that he had addressed Roberta, and

she had smiled back at him, Ruza Nikoforitch, who was

working two tables away, nudged the girl working next her,

and without any one noting it, first winked, then indicated

with a slight movement of the head both Clyde and

Roberta. Her friend was to watch them. And after Clyde had

gone away and Roberta was working as before, she leaned

over and whispered: “He says she’ll do already.” Then she

lifted her eyebrows and compressed her lips. And her friend

replied, so softly that no one could hear her: “Pretty quick,

eh? And he didn’t seem to see any one else at all before.”

Then the twain smiled most wisely, a choice bit between

them. Ruza Nikoforitch was jealous.

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Chapter 13

THE reasons why a girl of Roberta’s type should be seeking

employment with Griffiths and Company at this time and in