The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14

 piled with simple gesture of assent, as if she could not trust herself to speak. Her face had lost the glow of excitement, and had relapsed into it's former pathetic calm. The ice was broken. Twas soon engaged in an an- imated conversation with the elder lady, and the daughter was occasion ally drawn in to join the talk. They were evidently cultivated people, ex- cellent linguists, and acquainted with general European literature. In their society time flew so rapidly that it was something of surprise when our boat actually drew up to the quay, just as the midnight hour was tolled out from the great Domkirche, and echoed from all around.
 The steamer was crammed with fruit baskets, piled high above the deck, leaving hardly standing-room for passengers, of whom, however, there were very few. Carrying the light portmanteau of my compan- ions, as well as my own, led the way to the fore part of the vessel, where space had been kept clear of fruit bas- kets. The night was calm and genial, and we agreed that it would be pleas anter to camp out on deck than to de- scend into the saloon, and, arranging rugs and shawls, camp stools and portmanteaus, we settled ourselves comfortably to continue our talk. Soon the boat was on the move, and we passed away from the twinkling lights of the city, and from the roar and rattle of the trains on the great latticed railway bridge, into the gloom and calm of the silent river.
 For a time we looked back upon the huge cathedral towers, touched here and there by silvery flakes of moon- light; but these soon disappeared in the mist of night, and the low and distant shores were lost altogether in the hazy gloom.
 Thus we travelled on, cut adrift as it were from the every day world-as far as sight and sounds were concerned we might have been sailing halfway between earth and sky. And thus we three, who had been thrown together haphazard on this summer night seemed loosened altogether from all sense of earthly responsibility and fell into the vague and dreamy talk, dis cussing and questioning all kinds of theories touching heaven and earth, and the mysteries and problems of life and death.
 Hours passed quickly away; the light of dawn was already gliding the turbid waters of the rivers, when we were conscious of an unusual hustle on board. No doubt we were approach ing the German frontier, where there is generally some trifling custom house formality to go through. But this night something more than ordinary was in progress. A strong party of German officials had come on board, and with rattling arms and gleaming lanterns, wereo making a minute sur vey of all the passengers. My travel ing companions exchanged glances of alarm. The chief of the officials was approaching us, accompanied by the conductor" of the steamer.
 "Ah, you have some Russian pas- sengers on board," said the former, in the convinced manner of German official.
 The elder of my companions put her hand appealingly upon my arm.
 "We are lost, my son, unless you can save us."
 The Prussian officer, tall and stiff, was standing over us, while his com panion held the lamp.
 "This is an English party?" said the latter, apologetically, as if he were introducing some poor, wandering people to the notice of the king.
 "Ah p said the German, sniffing the air suspiciously and majestically. "How do we know that?"
 How, indeedl might plunge into perjury fathoms deep, but could ever convince this sceptical, iron-framed man that l and my compagnoas 9e voydge were of the same nationality? He would insist on examination of papers, baggage, and all the rest; and l should be brought to shame, and probably hauled off to the guard house to share the fate of my female friends, whatever that might be. And yet one soft, appealing look from Ogla made me think that all this would be endurable in such company. And then suddenly it occurred to me, have passportl Yes; my mother who is an old fashioned traveller, in- : sisted on our having foreign office passport In our joint names when we started on our travels, and there it re- mained untouched in the note-case } where I had first placed it. I sprang ] to my feet, and politely saluted tho official.
 } "Pardon me, have passport"
 ":Ha, ha goot, goot he has pass. ) port" said the German, his features relaxing as he examined the document 3 carefully hy the light of the lantern