The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-07
The Cloud That Passed.
"a story by Amelia Hutchinson Sterling
in the English magazine McMillan's. In
five parts.)

| in the English magazine McMillan's. II
| five parts)
| PART ".
| Priscilla was glad when the next station
was reached and the Italian girl al.ghtec
! from the train. But her departure did MOI
| improve matters, for her place in the com.
partment was at once taken by large
| German Of the intellectual-machine type
| one of those men Ito be found only in the
| Fatherland) who seem capable Of dong
| their daily twelve or fifteen hours brain
work without showing any signs of IA
| tigue. The two ladies' hailed their coun-
| tryman with effus:on, and then the three
| hard voices went to work with such en-
ergy that they seemed TO exhaust the air
in the compartment. The brooches were
again brought out for inspection. and were
eravely examined and commented on by
| the newcomer, maps were spread open,
Raedeker was consulted, and all the time
the ceaseless stream of talk went on.
The Germans had ii all their own way;
the Frenchman, since the arrival of the
latest conner, had retired behind a neWspa-
per with a scowi on his brow, and George
Lamont, whose face was gradually becom-
ing more and more drawn and haggard-
looking, was chiefly occupied in drawing
up the window, as the train entered one OF
the innumerable tunnels on this part of
the line, and in letting it down again.
When Pisa appeared in sight, Priscilla
was scarcely capable of feeling even the
most languid interest as her eyes rested on
the celebrated leaning tower and the great
round dome OF the cathedral, while her
husband, whose whole mind was concen-
trated on the problem how to secure food
for his wife and himself in the five min
6cs IL.
solutely nothing.
When the station was reached, even be-
fore the train came to a halt, George was
leaning out of the window beckoning
eagerly, his face looking white and tense
with excitement and resolution. He hal
caught glimpse Of one or two men carry
ing on their heads large fiat open baskets
containing food Of some sort, and h1-was
anxious 10 attract the attention of one of
them. But his signals were unfortunately
misunderstood; first there was rush of
porters towards his compartment, think
ing he wished TO alight; and then, when,
after many unintelligible explanat tons and
Gespairing gesticulatons he had at length
got rid Of them, he was attacked by a wo-
man selling a small wax model Of the lean
ing tower, who would not be shaken off
1t was not till 'Pronti." had been roareI
out in deep voice OF command, and the
train was already in motion, that he was
able to sink back in his seat gasping and
painting, but triumphant, in his hands two
rolls, containing meat, and small flask OF
native wine.
His triumph, however, was short-lived
after a glance at the contents of the roll
which he had handed to her, Priscilla sank
backwards with a look of sickness and dis
N he icn ria md
flush of the morning had departed. George
examined the sandwich which he held n
his hand, and then laid it down on the
seat beside him with hopeless sigh; hun
Cry though he was, his national prejudices
would not allow him to eat raw bacon and
sausage redolent with garlic.
An animated discussion. in which Pris-
ella caught the words Schinken and
Wurst, now took place between the two
German ladies; and then one of them lean
ed across the carriage towards Priscilla
and offered, in a mixture of broken Eng
lish and German, to buy the sandwiches.
No. no, they would not take them for moth
ing-they would pay einen biligen preis;
and she insisted on counting out some
coppers into Priscillas palm.
Then they proceeded to discuss the re-
jected dainties with evident satisfaction;
and, as If fortified thereby, their voices
went on louder, more eager, more contin-
Uous than ever. while the train ratified
along through the endless succession of
tunnels through which this part Of the
line passes.
When the sun had dipped behind the APP
PENNIES, and, over in the east, a faint
gray haze was beginning to rise. all the
three Germans rushed excitedly to the
,--cr v.@;v, i've Low
blue line of distant hills with a back
ground of hazy sky, cried out with one
voice, 'Elba, Elbar' Even Priscilla open
ed her langu:d eyes and looked; but the
Frenchman turned his face towards the
opposite window.
BY and by, however, he appeared TO some
what recover the amiability which had de-
serted him since the entrance OF the Ger
mans. Reaching up for the white paper
parcel in the rack above him, he began
to make his evening meal with a cheerful
air of enjoyment.
Let me counsel you" he said with good
humored politeness, Ito buy only, in this
country of barbarians, the fowl and the
eggs Of the fowl. That's all they have OF
good
D the fellow" George Lamont NUT
tered to himself, as he turned his face TO
the window, unable to endure the sight
of the others enjoyment. which he chose
TO consider malicious and insulting. For
mild. scholarly man such as he, 1t was as
tonish:ng how often IN the course of the
day he had felt compelled TO relieve his
feelings by the use of strong language.
Meanwhile the gray of evening was
creeping over the landscape, and a little
chill breeze began to steal IN al the win
= nj In l.
corners, were rapidly settling down into
a state OF Istess semi-consciousness due 20
ten hours OF continuous travelling and want
of food and they did not notice the rush
of passengers towards the front of the
train which began to take place at every
station at which they stopped. At length,
al one stoppage, the chance remark of
some Englishman hurrying past the COM
partment aroused George.
why. there is evidently dinng-saloon
on the train he exclaimed as he started
TO his feet with sudden energy. II shall
go and secure places. Wait till I come
back And springing out. he quickly DIS
appeared among the rushing. eager crowd
of stout Germans, slender Americans and
stiff English.
Priscilla rose and leaned out OF the win
dow, watching for her husbands return:
but the gray Of the evening had now al
most deepened into the darkness OF night
and she could only see a few yards ahead
OF her. Suddenly she felt light touch on
her arm, and, turning her head, she saw
the Frenchman beside her.
IF madame would accept my counsel
and permit me 10 conduct her 10 the sale
a dinner?" ne sad intsrrogatiyely. Il.
will not be possible that monsieur secure
ufa1eS ror two-ioakff and he waved his
hand expressively towards the crowd out