1908 Immigrant Romance

This is a work of historical fiction. All characters are 18 years of age or older.

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Pietro is an emigre from Sicily, Italy. He arrives in New York City harbor on an ocean liner and looking at the Statue of Liberty for the first time, vows to work hard to achieve the American dream of economic prosperity and personal happiness. But life is not easy. He is only eighteen and can only find a job as a seller of newspaper on the street in city squares and public areas like theaters in Manhattan. Pietro buys a cheap bicycle and rides it delivering newspapers to the more affluent areas like Washington Square. There he encounters a beautiful blonde named Mabel Delmont whom he first glimpses from her upstairs window at her townhouse. She sneaks him in through the window when there is no one in the house, showing him her house and how she lives, and they also both go away together in secret outings. They call each other on the telephone. The butler knows it is a poor boy that the family would not approve of but believe it will be a mere infatuation. He allows Mabel to take Pietro's call during times she is alone. He calls her from a local furniture shop. Pietro and Mabel are attracted to each other despite their huge social class differences. Mabel is 18 and her wealthy parents are pressuring her to find a suitable wealthy husband. She is hesitant because she would like to be a singer or actress which her parents do not approve of. Pietro shows her a new world of independence and doing as one pleases which she likes. Mabel confides in Pietro that she is a virgin and wishes to lose her virginity to him. They go out on his bicycle into the woods near the Hudson river. They make love in the woods. Pietro is very in love with Mabel but also realizes that he cannot marry her. When Pietro dares to knock on the front door of the house to confront Mabel about what decision should be made regarding their love, he is told by the family butler that the Delmont family has moved out and that Mabel married a wealthy automobile tycoon, Clifford Vander and that she and her parents moved to Chicago. Heartbroken, Pietro returns to Brooklyn back to his unhappy life as an immigrant in Brooklyn.