Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-10-10
0 N E 0 R 7 W 0 .


light Of the lamps fell upon the dingy
habits % six monks on their customary
way into Rome for the night, couple Of
peasants, and two foreigners the one an
English gentleman about 30, the other an
American somewhat younger. A thunder
storm was without, large drops OF raj
were already falling thickly upon the win
dows which the light within turned 70
slate color A light cloud Of tobacco
smoke was curling about the heads Of sew
eral OF the passengers the Americans big
cigar OutdOing the cigarettes Of the others.
He had soon found out that the English
man had been visiting the English GENE
terry 40 the request Of a friend he had left
In Naples. and not 10 see Keats tomb,
which had been his own object, This led
him 20 ask as many questions about Ma
pies as he could think Of, and to express
his curiosity concerning the object Of an
independent traveller having chosen that
time Tor visiting Naples then heavily
stricken with cholera.
"They Quarantined You, sir, guessW he
remarked
81 was fearfully fumigated," answered
the Englshman. Then he went on 10 ex.
t0l the wonderful exertiOns Of his friend
the Swedish doctor there. and TO say that
he himself had fallen ill., and had been
sent away as no longer Of any use. The
subject was interesting, and they discussed
It until an Interruption occurred.
The bell sounded the car stopped, and a
man entered quickly, with the rain run
ming In rills from his hat and shoulders,
and seatcd himself opposite the two who,
ike himself were foreigners.
There is always something that strikes
one rs weird in lighted Vehicle moving
along through o dark night. The contrast
OF the rain darkness, and storm-mutter-
ings without, and the glitter within, IN
which the silent living figures showed up
In vivid light and shade, struck the Eng
lishman with fresh force, as the newcomer
arrested his special attention by some
thing he could scarcely define, that at
once attracted and repulsed him More
than once he caught his s0mher, brilliant
eve. fixed upon him from under the shade
OF q ttlt hat An absurd fancy struck him
that he was travelling with a being from
another world, who was somehow bound
up with his own fate. He watched him
furtiycly and saw him lean forward with
an ind 0creut air to read the initials on p
feet The American, who had done the
same observed this too, and said 20 his
neighbour; "NOw, sir, / never remember
seeing such queer letters as yours for the
initials OF an Euglishmau, as / take you
~ be-
The young man laughed slightly at this
frank curiosity. go. q. @. Well perhaps
It IS an unusual combination. l never
heard OF another family called by my
name, Questin, though for all that we do
not boast any special blucness in our
blood"
The chr stopped again and the conductor
looked In, gcstiCulatng to the latest com.
err He, however, choOk his head, and
signed TO him to go on, aud no one got
Out until the car reached its resting place.
"-ir," said the American. as he stepped
of the ear, "there is my card. II yuuever
come TO the States. there Is one man there
who win give you "a welcome, or any 9TH
er man who has been rlskiug his life by
his own free viii among cholera victims,
as guess you have, and that man is sep
timus s pcrku,'n Wberewith he nod.
dcj. and supp ug his card into the other
man alud disappeared under his UNI
brclla.
The Eugljshmeudid the like, and thought
no more of s. s. Perkins, until three days
later he met him again
'Suy," begau Mr. Perkins, edo you ever
carry such thing as q Double about with
you
AIR Questin, surprised and amused, dc
mandcj ou explanation
"OnN' rcioiued Septmus Perkins,