Wichita eagle., 1890-01-08

|
ever picturesque was this or that group
ing of lads or lasses, ragged men and
ragged women, upon the hot pavement
of Santa Lucia, which she was requested
by the car driverto look upon, she never
SO far forgot herself as to omit to use her
salts while she inspected through her
glasses the details of the curious scene.
"For any sake, don't let US stay here"
she would remark to her brother.
There's typhus in the air upon this
spot, if typhus exists anywhere"
Imagine, then, this poor lady's dis
ouietude when one morning her brother
announced to her, with sufficient timid-
ity and humility, indeed, that he was
enamored afresh-this time Of woman
resident in the city which appalled, her
SO much from social aspect.
The declaration was made while they
were at breakfast in the Hotel Vesuve.
Il tell you what, James; think we
had better go to Capri at once. I find
Naples quite oppressively hot. We will
take the boat tomorrow morning." She
said this as though her suggestion were
decision which could not be contested.
Her brother, however, was equal to the
situation. 'It would be inconvenient
for me, dear Maria, just at present. Next
week would be much better. Then /
snould be able to place myself entirely at
your disposal" l."
For reply, Miss Pink rose from the ta-
BILE, and walked out of the breakfast
room.
Left alone, James Pink showed none
Of the depression of the man who is in
chains to his wife, and who has just had
a new bond of pain set upon him. He
watched his sister depart as if she was
somebody else's sister, and not his
Maria. Then, with the same look of Ella
ton which had perplexed and disturbed
Miss Pink, he challenged the room to
convict him Of aught akin to misery.
Moreover, he called for the waiter, and
gave certain orders about the evenings
dinner in tone of resolution that raised
him tenfold in the walters esteem, and
altered the opinion which the other
guests in the hotel had casually formed
about him.
Nor was this the limit of his metamor-
phosis. He asked for cigarettes-a per-
nicious invention which hitherto he had
been content to execrate. And, having
allowed the waiter to light one for him,
while he held it in his mouth, he left the
room with-of course speaking in met
aphor-banners flying.
Miss Pink was stupefed to see her
brother pass into the hall Of the hotel
smoking a cigarette. She had left the
door of the ladies' room open on purpose
that she might estimate exactly the acute
ness of the suffering she had caused
! James by the manifestation of her dis
pleasure; that she might see him in his
| dependency as soon as possible, and
perhaps, there and then, make proposals
for reconciliation. And this was what
met her eyes. But ere she could recover
her equanimity her brother had disap-
peared. A Whit of smoke was all that
remained Of him. 1t was very delicate,
aromatic smoke; but did that make the
sin any the less fragrant?
In the meantime, James Pink was
walking towards the city.
| 1t was marvellous to see with what
skill this man, ordinarily the perfection
of clumsiness, found a safe path between
| the noses of the horses of the different
cars which, at the crossing by the pal
ace and the Theatre San Carlo, hotly
competed for his patronage. And it was
| equally wonderful that he could go at
! the pace he did, with so hot sun in the
| heavens. But, in truth, James Pink had
that within him which made him indif-
| ferent to externals. There was a fair
portrait in his mind, which attracted all
his energies, mental and physical, as a
loadstone gathers to itself environing
shreds of steel. And the god Cupid,
who generally knows what he is about,
though some hold him to be blind, pro-
tected him through all the dangers
which encompassed him.
Where the road widened into spa
cious public square, the lawyer abruptly
turned west and left it. The sea was
again before him, blue and radiant. Be
yond was the white fringe of the myriad
of houses which bind the Bay of Naples
like snowy marge of sand. And over
the houses swelled Vesuvius, clear and
enhancing on this bright day. method
ically putting its smoke toward the pur-
ple shadow of the island of Capri, a
light sketch on the horizon. Closer at
hand was to be seen the conventional
furniture of busy port; maze OF masts,
with here and there a red or black fun
mel in their midst, and multitude OF
men and boys lounging against walls
and ratings, and the stout columns OF
granite sunk in the piers as convenient
tether for the harbor craft. There was
uproar enough, in all conscience. All
ports are noisy; but the tumult OF the
port of Naples may be called transcend
ent.
A hundred yards or so from the gate
of the port there was little white mar
BILE seat under tree. The seat COM
manded a view of a low building, of a
temporary kind, erected between 1t and
the bay. In the doorway of this build
ing an orchestral organ was to be seen,
and from the colored posters outside ii
was evident that here was show Of a
| kind to be found alike in the cities OF
Europe and Timbuctoo. 1t was, in fact,
a circus. From the organ loud harmon
les proceeded forth upon the charmed
air, and voluble were the rapturous COM
ments of the Neapolitans who enjoyed
this gratuitous diversion. The organ
was not automatic. a long handle was
turned with untiring energy by woman
fit to extort admiration from traveller
to whom no type of beauty is un.