The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-04
The Cloud That Passed.
"a story by Amelia Hutchinson STEERING
in the English magazine McMilan's. In
five parts.)

"A story by Amelia Hutchinson Sterling
in the English magazine McMiilan's. In
five parts.)
PART II.
Priscilla sighed gently, as she continued
to gaze out of the window, though, II
must be confessed, with lessening inter
est The fresh glory OF the morning had
departed. alike from her heart and from
the landscape; she began to be unpleasant
" conscious Of the heat of the midday
sun, and of the patched, dry look Of the
scrubby, irregular hills; she gradually be-
came aware of the sameness and monotR
ny of the scene, and ceased to feel its nov
elty-more scrubby hills, more lemon
tres, more sun-baked houses, with pictur-
esque, ragged children playing on the
steps, and picturesque peasant women lean
ing over the ratings, more dried-up streams
with the white stones showing in their
beds. She sighed again.
"If madame would permit that the blind
be lowered?' the Frenchman suggested re-
spectfully For in her eagerness to see
Priscilla still kept her blind drawn up,
though the sun was beginning to shine in
at the window.
Before Priscilla could reply. George
broke in.
GO over to the other corner" he said;
you will be out of the sun there"
HIS tone was sharp and authoritative.
Priscilla could not resent 1t, sInartng as
| she still was from the recollection OF the
repulse which she had suffered from him
already in the course Of the morning
| journey.
THANK you," she said. with a little air
| of quiet dignity, but / think / shall stay
here The sea viii be on this side"
LAS YOU like" George replied ungracious-
| ~. "but I shall get out of this sweltering
sun anyway And, rising, he removed the
bag in the rack above his head to the cor
Ter of the compartment farthest from that
| in which his wife was sitting.
Priscilla had asserted herself, but she did
| rot seem to be happy. She shifted uneas:ly
| in her seat and uttered half-suppressed
sigh. Her glance strayed towards her hus-
hand in his remote corner, but was arrest
| ed IN passing by the look on the French
mans face-a look of gratifled vanity.
| That look settled the question.
after all, think shall go over there.
| she said, as she arose from her seat 1t Is
| getting very hot here"
II the Frenchman felt any disappoint-
ment he did not show 1t.
| Madame IS wise" he said approvingly,
| springing with alacrity to mis- feet in order
| to remove her belongings TO the other cor
| ner; IL too commence to suffer here from
! the heat, ard it is well that we take now
| the places which We wish to keep for this
| coupe Will not long rest to US three alone. "
1--WE are coming to a station, them
oueried Priscilla, who had now seated her
| self opposite her husband.
1--WE APPROACH the City of Palaces re-
| Piled the Frenchman, as he removed his
| possessions and took seat beside her.
I'VE approach Genes-Genova-how do
| you other English call it?-Ah, yes. Genoa.
| And there find themselves there always
many traveers-ah. but many" he gave
an expressive shrug Of his shoulders.
George looked up from MS books with
| an air of Importance and dissatisfaction.
| He felt that in changing her seat his wife
| had acknowledged his authority, and yield
| ed a fitting obedience TO it, and he con-
sequently felt pleased with himself and
| with her.
| I'VE shall lunch at Genoa" he said in a
| tone of decision, h.ch was intended to show
| the Frenchman that he was master OF the
/ situation. 1--WE have Wenty minutes
| there"
Priscilla, whose face was turned towards
/
(, she was, she felt inclined to resent her hus-
| bands little air of ownership and authority,
| and TO half regret the concession she had
| made in changing her seat.
The Frenchman smiled that half pity
! ing, half-patronizng smile of his which
1 George found so irritating.
| Monsieur has perhaps travelled to ge-
| noa before by rhis train?" he quered-
| George admitted that he was making the
| Journey for the first time; but there was
something in his tone and manner that
4 seemed TO say that he knew what he was
1 about, and would not accept advice from
| any one. So at least, the Frenchman in
| terpreted it With a softly CALCULATED
"Ah." he threw himself back in the seat
| and gently stroked his moustache.
| Even this apparently inoffensive exclama-
| ton, however, proved irritating TO George,
| as was evident from the increased dignity
| and self-sufficiency OF his bearing as he
| proceeded to fold up his maps and shut mis-
| books.
The train was entering the outskirts Of
! the "City OF Palaces" on either side Of the
| line houses began to appear; gradually
| they became more and more numerous. and
| soon the view on the right, where the
! ground sloped down TO the sea, was a con-
! fused tumble of roofs and chimneys, with
the masts of shipping in the background
| while on the left, large square stone houses
| with an air of solidity and dignity about
| them. struggled up the hillside amid lemon
| and orange trees. Then, with a shriu
| whistle, the houses and lemon-trees gave
| place TO the walls of the commonplace mod
ern railway station.
As the train drew up at the Platform
! George rose with a bus.ness-Eke air; ou'
| his heart sank within him as his eyes
| well on the confused crowd of people OF
| every nation Of Europe, all excitediy rush
ing abou and eTbowing each other There
were stout Germans of both sexes in non
| descript garments, with blue spectacles
| and opera-giasses; there was the omnipres-
ent American girl IN checked tartan, talk
ing volubly 10 her male companion; there
was the invariable group of English woner
of uncertain age, standing erect and dig
1-r1ibes amid the general excitement, Wit
j the!ssw otltef AIN. or prUpfiety and Froprse'
l torsh;p. calling aloud with correct Enghsf
| accent .'Faccnno. Facchino,' There
were neat little Frenchmen in new toEris
costumes. in which they did not seem Il
feel quite al home, running about IN al
a;mless way. knocking up against every
one. and perpetually taking OF their straw
hats ana murmuring distrac:edly. Par
DON" and here and there was q PICTURESQUE
| oontalina, with a hambino IN one arm anc
bundle in the other. looking bewiiderec
| and apologize. as If she knew she had NJ
| right TO be there.
AS George stepped out onto the platform
there was d sudden rush for his corPart
ment. ani il seemed TO him thai he Wa
| surrounded by a dozen excited women. al