The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-05
The Cloud That Passed.
"a story by Amelia Hutchinson Sterling
IN the English magazine McMllan's. In
five parts)

l buO SsOuu Btt0l 0SSOos
4 "a story by Amelia Hutchinson Sterling
IN the English magazine McMiilan's. Il
five parts.)
PART III.
II the platform was crowded. the refresh
ment room was even more 80. Glancint
round the tables, Priscilla saw only on
vacant seat
Yes: beside that French fellow" Georg'
remarked. surlily. when she pointed It on
| TO him You may take 1t IL you like
Priscilla drew herself UP with LITTLE
| air of wounded dignity: she felt that he
| husband was carrying his unreasonable
ness too far.
well, then. I will take it." she said
| quietly. as she moved across the room Il
| the uIloccupied seat.
The Frenchman beckoned TO a waiter
| and in a few seconds plate Of soup wa:
smoking before her on the table. Hungry
| though she was, however. she was quite
Unabls 10 eat. Her eyes strayed anxious
| y towards George. who was making fran
| tic efforts to make himself understood and
| TO get what he wanted. laying hold eagerly
of every waiter who passed him. and be-
| ing politely shaken off with hurried
| "Subito. subito." She heaved a little sigh
was empty. Then she looked up into his
| face He, too, was watching George. and
there was a smile on his lips-a hooking
malicious smile. il seemed to her.
Monsieur has already fnished?" she
said. interrogat;vely. with a slight tone of
reproach in her voice.
"Ah, true,'' he exclaimed. II had forgot
will resign my place TO monsieur. your
husband And he arose from the table
and moved away.
George did rot show the gratitude that
might have been expected of him.
D that Frenchman!" were the first
words he uttered. as he slipped into the
seat just vacated beside his wife.
1T seems to me tina: ne has made him
self very useful" said Priscilla, quietly
He was really not a bad-tempered man
as men go, bu: he had the nervous irri-
liability OF the man whose days are spent
indoors with books, and the unwonted IA
tigue, excitement and anxiety had proved
altogether to much for him.
"George!" Priscilla exclaimed. turning
her blue eyes full upon him with that look
OF ind; gnant innocence in them which only
blue eyes can show.
"Welli" he muttered silently. without
looking UP. And then he scalded himself
with spoonful Of soup. and save express
sion to his feeling in that word beginning
with the letter D. which is the usual safety
valve of the irate male.
Priscilla continued 10 eat her soup in dig
nified silence: and for a few minutes no
word was spoken between the two. The
cloud which had been a mere speck on the
horizon so short q while before was now
threatening to darken the whole sky OF
husband and wife. Suddenly George sprang
TO his feet with an exclamation of alarm.
Outside. bell was ringing loudly.
II believe that's our train" he painted
excitedly. Come, quick"
Leaving their plates of soup unfinished,
the two fled out Of the restaurant and along
the platform. amid the ringing OF bells,
the shriekinS of engines. and the angry
shouts of guards. The Frenchman was
watching for them. with the door of their
compartment held open, and they had just
time to sink painting into their seats when
"Pronti," was roared out in a stentorian
voice, and the train began TO move.
Il fear that monsieur and madame did
not find time enough to eat their meal
said the Frenchman in a friendly way. as
the train emerged into the sunlight from
the tunnel which it enters on leaving the
station. Then he reached up to the rack
over his head. and took thence parcel
in clean white paper. Il supplied myself
in case of need he said. as he unfolded
the parcel, displaying a small roast chick
en- neatly carved into four pieces, two rolls
ard a small packet of salt IF monsieur
will do me the honor to accept this. or TO
purchase il? 1t is at the service of mon
sieur."
George declined the offer as xrac.ously as
it was possible for him to do in his state
of mind.
But madame" said the Frenchman.
looking towards Priscilla. perhaps mad
anne will eat Of it?'
Poor Priscilla. The few mouthfuls of
soup which she had eaten had only been
sufficient TO make her realize that she was
hungry, and the food offered TO her looked
very tempting in Its clean white cover; but
one glance at her husbands face showed
her the necessity OF declining.
I'VE shall be able 20 get something at
Pisa" George said TO lner, his aniabil.ty
returning in reward for the consideration
which she had shown for his wishes.
But Priscilla was not much inclined TO
be amiable. She had made the sacrifice of
her own inclinations 10 her husbands i'll
humor: but she could not help feeling that
she should not have been called upon 10
make il She gave a little sigh as she
leaned back in her corner. and slowly ate
the roll which she had brought with her
from the restaurant. There are women
who can humor their husbands as II they
were fractions children without any loss
OF wifely esteem and affection; there ere
others who wish 10 admire where
they love, to whom each instance Of weak
g.. ---sf As.
the part of their husbands. is a wound in
the heart. Priscilla belou ged 10 the latter
class. She would have been willing. for
her husbands sake, 20 suffer almost any |
pr!vation If il were now demanded OF her. |
but it panied her deeply 20 find him ready !
to starve her in q mere fl OF temper.
She made no reply 10 Georges remark. !
but turned her face towards the window /
and watched the landscape flying past. |
But il had quite ceased 20 interest her as 4
Il had done in the morning. She was only /.
conscious OF thu dusty glare OF the after /
noon gun. the weary sameaess OF the mar 4
row strip of dry scorched plain through !
which the train was now passing. and the l
endless nlonotony OF the chain CT hills be- |
You'd On her left. The knowledge that these
hills were the Apennines gave her no thrill /
.uch as the mere thought that she was /
boxing on the Alps had given her In the
morning Even when. OF touch from
George she turned her head 20 look through /
the window on her right. ard she knew
Inst the blue sea on which her eyes fell
Vas the Mediterranean. she fei; 20 rapture.
10 enthusiasm. She was disappointed with
herself that she should fee none. AZ the
same time cAat she was disguised with the
enthusiasm .: ne two Ger
man ladies'. who kept exclai-nins II Their
lard voices a, regular intervals, Wur6e--
;chon. v-un6erchon, between their attempts
a. making conversation in italian with ire