Irma in Italy

ark except when lit by flashes from the searchlights. The warships that had looked so sombre in the afternoon were now

she stood there alone, the little old gentleman approached. "There is to be a

must stay until we see the other f

y to bring you this. It may be of us

r! But I

saving an honest penny by allowing those who went ashore to abstain from dinner. It would have b

were all

Others could have been, but they preferred sightse

gentleman departed, Irma thanked him warmly for his g

length, against the sky rose a huge bulk that might have escaped a less keen vision

in passageways and in the library. Loud were the complaints

ual afternoon tea, and no one had t

isited me," she said, "but I really do not kno

ave an expressive whistle, while even on Ma

et," repeated Irma, "though the fairy g

t had been made in Paris. Just now these are much more attractive than those spangled scarfs I wre

nd see," an

at if I knew the name o

w it myself,

nine o'clock rarebit," interposed Uncle Jim,

ldn't use poison," and Aunt Caro

er the basket to Marion

e felt very faint. It seems he had little luncheon

gentleman's gift with Marion, Irma found Muriel most grateful for a portion. For some time the two girls sat together at one end of the long

xciting day I should think you wo

ut the day has been so exciti

ent to their room. "I do not like fog, and I am gla

she realized that the boat was still. What had happened? She was conscious of persons walking on the decks above, of voices far away, even of an occasional shout. Ought she to waken Aunt Caroline? While her thoughts were running thus, she

ad been answered, some one shoved her arm rather roughly

said brusquely. "You will ge

f frozen. The night air was chilly, and it was on th

ught I wouldn't wake Aun

at. With his well-brushed hair he presented a strong contrast to poor, dishevelled Irma.

d told you so long ago." Thereupon Irma turned toward the stewards

nals, but we stopped just in time to get clear of a man-of-war. It would have been pretty bad if s

n amiable girl; he was sure of this. Therefore his own offence must have been very serious. "It is no use," said Marion

last, when a metallic hammering had continued for hours, as it seemed to her, she was quite sure something had happened to the boilers, and she drowsily hoped the Ariadne would keep afloat until morning. It would be so much easi

ma, looking through the curtai

ss will bring you hot coffee and toast. You wil

ning-room, and shortened a day that otherwise would have see

ere one or two old favorites, whom for the time he preferred as companions to any of his fellow passengers. As to Irma, he trie

s from the boiler room, all had seemed a kind of nightmare. So on Thursday, which might be their last full

not far away, and as the day was particularly sunny, Irma used her camera to advantage. Not only had she photographed little Jean and her black nurse earlier, and se

a friendly manner. Altogether there was not a large number. In the spring, the captain had told her, not many immigrants returned to Europe. Those now going back to Italy were chiefl

s pulled over their eyes, they called anarchists, and they had theories about most of the others. Both girls had a strong desire to make a tour of the steerage quarters, under the guidance of the ship's doctor. He as

ld consent to let the girls see more of the third

e thinks I will catch something from these negati

ld be unwilling to have Mari

ve him down there. I remember what

heard my mother and Mademoiselle

at she closed her camera

s, I think, must be her grandchildren. Generally she has the baby in her arms, but the two older girls seem to be taking care of it to-day, and

the deck where a number of people, old and young, were playing shuffleboard. Just then the ship

as longing to live until she reached Italy, was sure, in fact, that once there she would recover. But from

"it must be hard

fter landing he was taken ill, and in another week or two had died. Charitable societies looked after them for a while. The

they have

he family will be better off there. With no real wage-

y will do in Italy, i

ere they live. But there, you must know something about it;

have heard n

's been very good, too, to another steerage passenger, a young fellow from Bologna,

r others spoke to her about the death of the Italian woman and the needs of her family, and then Muriel came to say that she had given fiv

en, still Aunt Caroline had expressed herself strongly against his going to the third cabin. Evidently he did not wish her to know that he had disregarded her wishes. What he was unwilling to tell Aunt Caroline and Uncle Jim, he would hardly c

ion had finished, "and I made a contribution. I did not k

im as he was sta

after dinner. Marion glanced at her in astonishment. But he did n

. "No, we do not nee

ther glance at Ir

dislike me so much that he won't take my money

n it from the little sum she had set aside for presents for the family and Lucy and Gertrude and other friends. From h

this would really be her last night at sea, som

with him, unless, perhaps, their paths should cross in Italy. But she had never ventured to ask him just where he was going. Now, contrary to his habit, the old gentleman talked less of the countries he had visited in the past.

t what he is like. Willful as ever," and wit

one seems to think the sooner we are in Naples the better. But we've had a fine trip, no accidents, few seasick, few home

ll possess our souls in patience. Those who know say it will be l

unt Ca

s the rest of us. It is really true

passed it, and when they entered the lovely Bay of Naples, the sun had set, and it was too dark to see its actual beauties clearly. When at last they were anchored, it was

ders?" sighed Irma. "Are t

ist was

f you agree, we can do as the larger number here intend to do. W

ar the Ariadne. In one a quartette sang the sweet Neapolitan songs. In another some stringed instruments played a soft melody. Sometimes the music stopped, while

e deck, carrying bundles and baskets. They made thei

d to be coming home," whi

ost of them pr

he picked these up, when two or three others fell-then others. The poor fellow was in despair. He did not wish to leave them. But he had no way of carrying them. For besides the string of bananas he had to take care of his bundle of clothing carried clumsily under the other arm. Whil

rma had instantly recognized Marion's voice. "Come

unk. I was only afraid I couldn't get back with it in time. I dare say the poor wretch meant

arn the Italian you hurled at him?

eft home, and here on shipboard I

id Irma imagine this because she had hear

e bananas, who had completed his task

le the man, as he passed on to the ga

t below. She needed a good night's rest,

e Irma heard a voice crying, "Good-by, god-daughter." It was the little old gentleman. Since evening s

ving her handkerchief. But alread

u calling?" aske

fairy go

rejoined Aunt Caroline. "Except for that fruit at Gibraltar, your fairy godfather would seem

t," replied M

ed. She knew there