Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-24
THE CLOUD THAT PASSED.
Macmlllan.)


unable TO eat. Her eyes straycd anxious
" towards George. who was making
frantic efforts to make himself under
stood and 20 get what he wanted. LAYING
hold eagerly of every waiter who passed
him. and being politely shaken or with
q hurried "subito. subito!" she heaved
a little sigh and glanced at the French
mans plate. 1t was empty. Then she
looked up into HIS face. He too. was
vat-hing George. and there was smile
on his lips-a hooking. malicious smile,
q seemed TO her
Monsieur has already hnished?' she
said intsrrogatively, with slight tone
Of rcproach IN her voice.
"Ah, true!' ne exclaimed. 81 had for
got I viii resign my place TO Monsieur.
your husband" And he rose from the
table and moved away.
George did not show the gratitude that
might have been expected OF him.
"D--n that Frenchman!" were tho
FIRST words he uttered. as he slipped into
the seat Just vacated beside his wife.
at seems 20 me that he has made him
self very useful" said Priscilla quietly
1T seems 20 me-" retorted her hus-
band surlily-"it seems 20 me that Won
have made friends with him pretty
quickly"
lie was really not bad-tompered man
as men 90, but he had the nervous irri-
liability OF the man whose days are spent
indoors with books. and the unwonted
fatigue, excitement. and anxiety had
proved altogether too much for him.
George Priscilla exclaimed. turning
her blue eyes full upon him with that
look Of indignant innocence in them
which only blue eyes can show.
"Well!' he muttered suddenly. with
PVT looking up. And then he scalded
himself with a spoonful of soup. and
yave expression 10 his feelings IN that
Sord beginning with the letter y, which
2 the usual safety-valve Of the irate
male.
Priscilla continued 10 eat her SCUM in
lcnifed silence: and for a few minutes
10 word was spoken between the two.
The cloud. which had been n mere specll |
Dn the horizon so short awhile before
was now threatening 10 darken the
whole sky OF husband and wife Sud |
5en'y George sprang 10 his feet with an /
exclamation Of alarm. Outside. a bell !
Eas ringing loudly.
y believe that's our train" he painted
Ncitedly Come quicki"
Leave their plates of soup unfinished.
ihe two fed out Of the restaurant and
along the platform. amid the ringing of
bells. the shrieking of engines and the
bngry shouts OF guards. The French |
man was watching for them, with the
tcor Of their compartment held open.
and they had just time TO sink painting
INTO their seats when "Prontir was
'oared out in a stentorian voice, and
The train began TO move
II fear that Monsieur and Madame did
not ind time enough TO eat their meal"
said the Frenchman in a friendly way.
IS the train emerged into the sunlight
rom the tunnel which II enters on
eaving the station. Then he reached
~ 20 the rack over his head. and took
hence parcel in clean, white paper. |
j supplied myself i'm case of need" he |
ai0, as he unfolded the parcel display
rs a small roast chicken. neatly carved |
nto four pieces, two rolls. and a small !
'ackage Of salt. IF Monsieur will do me
he honor TO accept this, or to purchase
t. 1t IS at the service of Monsieur"
George declined the offer as gracious
= as 1t was possible for him to do i'm his
tate Of mind.
But Madame" said the Frenchman. :
'oking towards Priscilla. Perhaps
iadame will eat OF it?"
Poor Priscilla. The few mouthfuIs Of }
1up which she had eaten had only been
efficient TO make her realize that she :
vas hungry, and the food offered to her 4
}oked very tempting in its clean. white c
over; but one glance at her husbands a
ace showed her the necessity of de- {
lining. v
we shall be able to get something at T
isa,' George said to her, his amiability |
turning in reward for the considera- i
on which she had shown for his wishes. n
But Priscilla was not much inclined to h
3 amiable She had made the sacrifice
her own inclinatiOns to her husbands | Il
humori but she could not help feeling | s.
iat she should not have been called | :
lon 20 make il. She gave a little sigh ! l.
she leaned back i'm her corner. and | -.
1wly ate the roll which she had brought | A
I'm her from the restaurant. There are
omen who can humor their husbands W
If they were fractions children with IL
10 any loss Of wifCly esteem and affec- ne
ln; there are others who wish to ad- oi
ire where they love, TO whom each in "a,
ance Of weak tyranny, each fit of h.
.llish III humor on the part Of their
islands Is a wound i'm the heart Pris- ar
Ia belonged 20 the latter class. She a
luld have been willing, for her hus- no
nd's sake. TO suffer almost any priva- pI
1n II 10 were not demanded Of her. liial
u 10 panied her deeply 10 find him ready
starve her in mere fit Of temper he
She made reply to Georges remark. pa
L turned her face towards the window sh
ID watched the landscape flying past. FIR
10 u had quite ceased TO interest her | ma
II had done In the morning She was ~,
ly conscious Of the dusty glare OF the eii
ernoon sun, the weary sameness of an
E narrow strip Of dry scorched plain | wa
rough which the train was now pass gry
p and the endless monotony Of the ses
ain OF hills beyond on her left The
JWiedge that these hills were the WI
ennines gave her no thrill, such as the .v
ne thought that she was looking g
The Alps had given her in the morn mel
Even when, on touch from George, ton
turned her head to look ba'
ough the window on her right. and oua1
knew that the blue sea on which her taa
s fell was the Mediterranean. she MT
no rapture. no enthusiasm. She was anC
appointed with herself that she should hal
none, at the same time that
was dlsguested with the extravagant oP1s
husiasm OF the two German ladies'. oh
Kept exclaiming IN their hard a !
es az regular Intervals Wundershon me-
laerschoni between their attempts at arm
sing conversation In Italian with the SSla1
Italian ia the compartment iO %
les'-iooking young woman Of the the
rgeOis class. who was evidently not had
10 accustomed 10 travel. and seemed | doc
az home than any Of the foreigners tat
I'm that somewhat mercenary spirit f0Ii
en- appears 10 distinguish the Ger a az,
desire for knowledge. the two ladies ~
from the moment she entered the tina
ldrtmcnt set Themselves 10 ,,ol,a unO