The Wheat Princess

along with his eyes upon the ground, scarcely aware of his surroundings, until an excited medley of voices close at hand suddenly startled him from his thoughts. He glanced up for a moment

d spots in her cheeks, while a struggling crowd of b

e accompanied this speech with a vigorous shake to a small boy whom she held by the shoulder. The boy could not understand her words, but he did understand her action and he kicked back vigorously. The crowd laughed and began to close arou

doing here? What is the m

ee you. Look! those horrible litt

leading eyes. The blood was running from a cut on its shoulder, and a motley assortment of tin was tied

a disgusted tone. 'He's very dirty,

the dog's wound, and it lay in

ded again, almost roughly. 'What are yo

but just now she was too grateful for his appearance

English cemetery, and was just driving back to the station when I saw those miserable

I did, or you wouldn't have had any money left to pay your cab-driv

Italians! I think they are the cruellest people I eve

have not enjoyed

led him if I hadn't

oing out to th

d Gerald are going to

rned toward the waiting carriage. 'Let me take the dog and I will dr

s would find him. I shall take him home and feed him. He

ting him into the train.' And while she was in the midst of her remonstrance he stepped into the carriage and put the dog on the floor b

body's going to hurt you,' and she

h. She rattled on now, with a gaiety quite at variance with her usual attitude toward Sybert, of anything and everything that came into her mind-Gerald's broken

xuries, when her father was-as the Neapolitan had truly put it-taking his money from the mouths of the poor? It was their work which made it possible for such as she to live-and was she worth it? The world had given her much: she was educated, she was cultured, she had trained tastes and sensibilities, and in return what did she do for the world? She saved a dog. He made a movemen

look at her watch. 'Gracious! I haven't much time. Wi

ip, whereupon Marcia jerked him by the coat-tails and told him tha

s shoulders and they s

vention of cruelty to animals?' she

more consideration on animals than the

eir pace; 'I'm afraid we'll be late for the train. Don't you s

nd there were no Mrs. Copley and Gerald in the waiting-room. Marcia's face was slightly blank as she realized the situation, and her first involuntary thought w

It doesn't matter, though; I'll wait here for the next train. There is one for Palestrina before very long-Aunt Katherine went by way of Tivoli. Thank you v

in doesn't leave till seven, and there won't be any carriage

l find a carriage for me. There's a ve

la that night; but he reflected that it was his duty toward Copley to get his niece back safely-as to letting

with you,' he said,

he cried. 'I shouldn't think of letting you. I've been over the same roa

sted with bandits,' he declare

s intended for irony, but as it happened to be true, he did no

arcia; but I'm coming, just the same. I am

u wouldn't,' she returned

about an hour and a half before the train goes-you

stay here. I don't wish to miss a second train

ef, and then I can take a vacation with a clear conscience. I have a matter to consult your uncle about, and

eeding the dog with sausage amid an appreciative g

efore you came back. But you aren't so particular about etiquette as the

he poor beast

o of sausage, and you shou

if they would not be ave

use I haven't any luggage for you to carry, and because you like my dog,' she explained in Italian.

to pauperize them any more than

oward's ideas of charity, do

ter go out and find an empty compartment while the guards are not looking. I fear

use I found him

some a fellow as his namesake. Come

are rarely in demand. As he was helping Marcia into the car, Sybert was amused to see Tarquinio, the proprietor of the Inn of the Italian People, hurrying into a third-class compartment, with a furtive glance over his shou

iend,' Sybert said as he got Marcia settled; and without

watched Sybert enter a third-class compartment she had not a doubt but that the Italian was the 'friend' he was searching. She leaned back