The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Third Violet, by Stephen Crane

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Title: The Third Violet

Author: Stephen Crane

Release Date: October 20, 2006 [eBook #19593]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THIRD VIOLET***

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THE THIRD VIOLET

by

STEPHEN CRANE

Author of The Red Badge of Courage,
The Little Regiment, and Maggie

New York
D. Appleton and Company
1897

Copyright, 1897,
by D. Appleton and Company.
Copyright, 1896, by Stephen Crane.

THE THIRD VIOLET.

CHAPTER I.

The engine bellowed its way up the slanting, winding valley. Grey crags,
and trees with roots fastened cleverly to the steeps looked down at the
struggles of the black monster.

When the train finally released its passengers they burst forth with the
enthusiasm of escaping convicts. A great bustle ensued on the platform
of the little mountain station. The idlers and philosophers from the
village were present to examine the consignment of people from the city.
These latter, loaded with bundles and children, thronged at the stage
drivers. The stage drivers thronged at the people from the city.

Hawker, with his clothes case, his paint-box, his easel, climbed
awkwardly down the steps of the car. The easel swung uncontrolled and
knocked against the head of a little boy who was disembarking backward
with fine caution. "Hello, little man," said Hawker, "did it hurt?" The
child regarded him in silence and with sudden interest, as if Hawker had
called his attention to a phenomenon. The young painter was politely
waiting until the little boy should conclude his examination, but a
voice behind him cried, "Roger, go on down!" A nursemaid was conducting
a litt