Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-24

7 a
meat extract and a bone-spoon. She hal
| too long starved You must her TO eat
| give when we TO Orbetello come. where
We halt OF twenty minutes haf will.
Priscilla thanked him in a feeble voice
az she swallowed the somewhat unpalata
bic spoonful which he held to her lips. A.
| for George he sank back in his seat
| overwhelmed with a sudden bitter sense
| OF remorse and humiliation awakened By
! the Germans last remark. He had starved
his wife-he who had soiemnly promised
| u love and cherish herl AS In g fash OF
| revelation, he seemed to see all at once
| how selfish he had been in his absorption
In his little beasts" how little thought
he had given 10 the VOWS which he had
made, the duties which he had taken
upon him ten years before.
When Orbetello was reached he sprang
TO his feet with an air Of purpose and re-
solve. which TO any one who had lived a
less narrow and impractical life than he
would have appeared strangely above the
occasion. With unwonted tenderness he
helped Priscilla to alieht and. placing his
arm around her. supported her to the
restaurant. where he found seat for her
at the long table in the centre OF the
room. The table was laid out with knives
and forks and serviettes. and bore in the
centre large card with the words.
"Pranzo, tire lire DINNER, 3 francs); but
George did not notice that. or. II he did,
he attached no meaning to IT. He fought
his way through the crowd who appeared
TO be shouting at the pitch OF their voices
In every language Of EurcDe. TO the buff
fct. his whole mind and soul concentrated
on his errOnd. Remembering the advice
OF the Frenchman. he managed. after
struggle with the language. TO secure
chicken In white paper parcel, and this
he bore in triumph 70 his wife.
There! he exclaimed i'm breathless ex-
element. as he laid the precious parcel
on the table before her 81 am afraid you
VIII have to be very quick, dear. as there
is not much time"
As Priscilla opened the parcel and was
looking I'm helpless, bewildered way, not
knowing very well what TO do with IT, a
waiter. seeing the symmetry OF his din
ner-table destroyed by that unsightiy OBJ
iect, suddenly snatched IL up and bore ~
away For an instant or two George stood
gazing at the man, speechless ana
aghast. Then he suddenly gathered him
self together-he could not stand by ana
see the cup dashed from the lips OF his
half-starved wife for the third timei With
a white and iragic-looking face in which
there was withal an air OF resolution. he
hurried after the man, and laid a nervous.
frantic grasp on his shoulders. In his
agitation he forgot every word Of Italian
which he had learned from his dialogue
book.
Bought thatr' he roared into the wait
er's ears in a voice that shook with emo
tom Bought that
The large German. who had witnessed
the little scene, came to the rescue. and
explained that the man was only carry
ing the parcel 10 a side-table. The Ger |
man 1t was. and not her husband, who
after all took care that Priscilla's wants
were attended to, ordering a plate and
knife and fork TO be brought for her 10
the side-table and seeing that she had |
all that she required. As for George. ne |
had fled out into the night in an agony |
Of shame and modification; and as ne |
10 "
feverish steps, he was having ii out with |
his way through the |
darkness Of humiliation to that bftterest |
IF all knowledge the knowledge Of ones |
own faults and weaknesses.
".
His wife. who had no clue to his state
Of mind, was somewhat hurt at his deser-
ton of her. AS her physical needs were
and her strength in some mea-
sure returned to her, a sense of soreness
md bitterness stole over her 1t was
hard TO think that IL was to strangers,
'ather than to her own husband. that she
was indebted for what little attention 70
Ter comforts she had that day received.
Faithful wife though she was, when she !
nee more found herself in her corner
attling along through the deepening
gloom, the contrast between what was
nd what ought to be would keep forcing
tself on her mind, and visions of the
deal Man, who is the object of every
Using before her-the man who is strong
nd brave. yet tender large-hearted,
road-minded, prepared TO meet every |
anger and difficulty that may arise. She !
ave a little sigh, and then turned her
yes from the window. through which
he had been looking out on the night,
Dwards her husband sitting huddled to-
ether in his corner. his whole figure !
mp and dropping. his face looking bag |
ard and wan in the feeble light of the
ckering lamp overhead. And, as she |
'oked, pity awoke within her-pity
'hich a wise Providence has made TO
axe the place in the hearts of women {
[ that admiration, which, save in a few |
asses. it is denied them TO feel. A sudden
lsh of tenderness swept over her. blot
ng out all recollection OF her little
ieVances, all perception of her husbands
ultS. He might not be ideal but he was [
RI; he was hers, and he was suffering
George she said affectionately, lean
& across the carriage towards him.
ieorge, you look very tired; put up your !
ct here" and she made space on the
at beside her. needless of the supercill-
IS looks of the Frenchman.
But George only shook his head mourn s.
lily. Again Priscilla leaned across the :,
rriage, and this time she took her hus :,
nd's hand In both of her own. while the y
enchman muttered to himself with a O
rug of the shoulders, "Qu'elles sont Z
lies, ces femmesr'
What is the natter" she asked in a >,
nile whisper. 81 know there is some -
ing the matter Tell mep ~
lie turned his eyes upon her with an 1C
mbe admiring look in them. al
he said, ''you-you are" G.
d then he turned away his head and r
d no more. OF
,ut Priscilla understood 1t was now
airing midnight, and outside the gloom n,
deepened to blackness but from the %
Of bnC nd Wifi ha
ich had darkened their day had passed "a
ay. In spite of the fatigue which she III
/ undergone. something OF the glitter
morning returned to Priscilla's eyes,
nething of its glow to her cheeks.
The Tiberi oh George. the Tiberv' ~,
cried, breathless with a sort Of awe
uck eagerness, as the train swept past
tretch Of dark. glittering water, dotted
h the lights Of boats. IL
n atmosphere of excitement seemed TO ~,
cad itself suddenly through the com III
'tment, leaving the Frenchman alone tn
m window TO window each anxious to ~
ch the first glimpse OF the lights of tn
Eternal City. George sprang to his W
with new air OF strength and pur- tn
e about him, and began TO make pre- oh
ations for the arrival, while the "a.
with a look of languid. cyni- 81
indifference rose slowly from his seat tri
took down his bag from the rack AS
re were glimoses Of black walls and | 70
houses. then a shrek from the en- Sc,
e. a rush and rattle and rumble. the on
It's of a station, and the shouts of ~
rds and porters. w
riscila caught her breath and lightly bu
ssed her husbands hand while her on
RI beat high within her, for amid the
fused medley of shouts and cries her fro
* ear had detected the magical name. Nh
una, Romai" VI
eff
Ii Was Not Knott. of