The Second Class Passenger: Fifteen Stories

he world remembers little of her besides her end, which stirred it as Truda Schottelius could always stir her audience

tood out in silhouette like a forced effect, and Truda, remarking it, frowned, for of late she found herself impatient of forced effects. She was a pale, slender, brown-haired woman, with a small clear, pliant face, and some manner of languor in all her attitudes that lent them a slow grace

licitously, but shivering somewhat. "Mad

d grown up in the mechanical service of great singers and actors. There was not a tone in his voice, not a gesture in his repert

nd lies in this city. It is, you see, a place vexed with various politics, an arena of trivialit

d, sipping h

r tempted me, my fr

cher bowed c

ere is an occasion for a particular discretion, it is only because I have

s not matter at all. And think! Politics before br

ged. "It is as Madam

at the station; I will

A swift carriage, manned by a bulky coachman of that spacious degree of fatness which is fashionable in Russia, bore her to her hotel along wide monotonous ways, flanked with dull buildings. It wa

ade on other lines. A large audience was gathered in the theatre that night to make acquaintance with her, for her coming was an event of high importance. Only one box

he task of Truda to get the range, as it were-to find the measure of their understanding; and before the first act was over she had their sympathy. The rest was but the everyday routine of the stage, that grotesque craft wherein delicat

etected a perfunctory note, as though the people who waved and shouted had turned from graver matters to notice her. She saw, as the carriage dashed away, that the crowd was strongly leavened with uniforms of police; the

e broad back of the coachman perched before her, she sat in a solitude. Thus it was that the sound which presently she heard moved her to quick attention, the noise of a child crying bitterly in

soft Russian, and stepped down to the gro

against the wall of the house, and the coachman, torpid on his

"Bring me one of the lamps. Here

d as though to grip at the stones of the pavement, lay the body of a woman, her face upturned and vacant. And by it, still crying, crouched a child, whose hands were closed on the woman's disordered dress. Truda, startled to s

y. It was a question, and th

gauntleted hand and its light traveled about them in

loser at the dead woman, puffing with the exertion. "Y

ery. Truda was still staring at

s fain to obey her with his best speed. There, ere his conventional torpor claimed him again, he could hear her persuading and comforting the child in a voice of gent

y, when questioned, presently brought her manager knocking at her door. He was hot and nervous, and Truda met him with the splendid hauteur she could assume upon occasion to quell interference w

ar? How are we to get on in Russia-in Russia of all pl

k a chair beside the child, leaving him standing, a

e! And at such a time as this, too. Wha

ow," answere

biting his nails. "These Jews

at will be the end of the matter,"

e child, and shook his head. "Ah, Madame," he said, "if only one could cut an a

"That is inconvenient,

ity-a beastly place, it is true, but with much money, and very busy exterminating Jews. Which will you, Madame-

sking, at the hotel; and Truda went to work to make her newly- found responsibility comfortable. For that night she experienced what a great artist must often miss-something with a flavor more subtle than the

und a new sensation,

little sisters," she a

I had nothing-not ev

cle of that little dependent life cast away on the shores of the world. By morning its companionship had so wrought in her that she could have given the manager a clear answer if he had come ag

is claim. Truda, delicate and fragile in a morning wrapper, a slender vivid exotic of a woman, shaped as though by design to the service of art, looked up to scan him. He stood just within the door, his peaked cap in his hand, great

s you," she said. "She

o us," he said. "And we are ve

a shrewd scrutiny, as though he

ked Truda. "The dead woma

mother. Her father went the same way

arted, but she

lency does not understa

s face had no resemblan

you se

that strange fever that seizes certain peoples an

iety. Here it is not sudden passion, but a thing suggested to the mo

traint that was mor

Excellency is the greater, since you saved the chil

said Truda. "The child

she wer

s a Jew," sa

ess of his gaze was an embarrassment

ink-I believe-that the world does not know of this persec

lf?" asked the Jew evenly. "Wh

d up at him, doubt

e repeated. "It can

stand on the

u mean?" de

ose from her chair and took one step towards him; then paused.

" she asked, in a

Truda nodded. "Ah, Excellency, there is an instinct in this thing, and, besides, who but a Je

ain as that?

d frankly, meeting his eyes with unabashed

Jewish baby that cries for me wins me over; and there are worse things-yes, many worse th

t what you say

, and I know. Yes!" For a moment her face darkened as though with memories. "

simply. "What you

And beyond him there are greater men all easy of access-to me. And beyond them is the sentiment of Europe, the soft hearts of the wo

last. "And you will ack

?" he

this is the time to take the baby away, while I am nerve

effects out of a spoon and a dish of jam. "The child is in

t in her wonderful eyes. "I shall not

our own people," he answered;

with a couple of big fing

go to it at once, to make sure of its company. She stood where the Jew had left her, deep in thought. And

of them and made herself their master by main force of personality. Monsieur Vaucher, the manager, was still a connoisseur of art. Years of feeling the public pulse through the box-office had not stripped him of a certain shrewd perception of what was fine and what was mean in drama; and he chuckled and wagged his head in the wings as minute by minute the spell

d, as Truda came from the stage,

working; "it is not for me to guide you. Do as you will by day,

d and withd

e great box," she said. "Prese

as he," he said. "He is

receive hi

e," she answered. "He is

im, then!" he said gravely, and opened

on. He was a great dark Russian, heavy and massive, with a big petulant face not without intelligence, and Truda had known him of old in Paris. She looked at him now with some anxiety, trying to gauge his susce

ripened, my friend; your power has grown to ma

him. "I am a little t

ard on one's n

telligence. It is suffocation to one's finer nature. It has a dullness that turns men into v

ou not? You are aloof, far above thrills. Why, it was only last night

ut it. If you had been an hour later they would have

ered her big cloak more closely about her. "But I had not heard-I did not know-what the

set you," he said soothingly. "You must forget

ace to face in the attitude of intimacy. The Prince, bearded and big, felt protective and

ing and smooth, rou

said, "you c

e of resignation. "You are wrong, dear lady.

gher powers who are res

suggested the Prince. "But

sly. "Yes," she said;

n do nothi

is a pitiful business, no doubt; it has thrust itself on you by an accident

at up again, the fur cloak slipped, and her bare shoulders gleame

Jewess,"

e Prince smile

Jews are my friends. And if you can do

was amusement in his smile. H

in to-night, in your great scene-that suggests it. A sort of ardor, a glow, as it were; some

liment from her with a

ll do nothin

ere they were, Ma

cloak about her again. "I am tired, as you see," she said wear

feet at once an

a matter is not to interr

ughed, pressed her hand, and bade her good-night, leaving he

ess as a sea under the tall lamps; rank upon rank of shadow-barred faces showed themselves, vociferous and unanimous-a crowd in a good temper. She bowed in acknowledgment of the shouts, but her face was grave, for she was taking account of what it mea

te. It was to the big young Jew, the baby's uncle; she had a shrewd notion that Monsieur Vaucher would be able to lay hands on him. The note was brief: "I fear there

e man?" she dema

nchman was still under

can do anything you desire. He

ored to him sometimes for an hour or two the emotions of his youth, and he was very much her servant. It was in the spirit of devotion and service that he called a droshky, and fared out to the crooked streets of the Jewish quarter to do his errand. It was a fine soft night, with a clear sky of s

cigar; "the Schottelius, sh

eturned to the hotel and bed, a man con

in contact with her failed to observe a new note in her manner. It was not that she was softer or gentler; rather it seemed that she was more remote, something absent and thoughtful, with a touch of raptness that lent the true air of inspiration to her acting. Her spare

years too late,"

oked at her

adame should not have fo

th a situation that would not be devised to show her talents. She felt that she stood, for the first time, on the threshold of brisk, perilous, actual life, of that lif

to be born i

nd were in the first stages of drunkenness. The play that night was that harrowing thing La Tosca; she was dressed for her part when the word came, written on a scrap of

Tell him I cannot play to- night. He mu

ut of her composure,

ame--!" s

e," she ordered. "Tell Vaucher I am

Its guardian, staggered at her appearance, let her out; on the pavement outside, muffled to the eyes like a man that evades

she said. "

rily while he spoke, he told he

ays. Some Jews who were found in the street were beaten to death; soon they will move down to the Jewish streets, and then"-

," said Truda, "and go

r. "Do you think any driver

ow the way. If we stay here any lon

to keep up with him. He took her round by the back of the theatre and into a muddle of streets

d the young man again. "

t there will be no more Judenhetze in this city. That is what I think. For, after all, I am the Sc

own sideways on

all?" h

teps, and he slowed to keep by her side. She lifted her clear face proudly. "I tell you," she said, "the part I am to play to-night will move Europe to its core. Paris! Berlin! Vienna!

. "To-night, it is not a p

" she retorted. "Let us go

red, courtyards with barred gates. Over the roofs there rose against the sky the clustered spires and domes of a typical Russian church, flanking the quarter on the south. The streets were empty; they met no one; and the young man led her to a courty

hispered. "Believe what I say: after

reet by the wall which the great gate pierced. From it half a dozen doors led into the hous

dull noise of shouts and singing, a confused blatancy of far voices; and as it swelled and sank and swelled again, a tremor ran over that silent waiting throng like a wind-ripple on standing crops. Overhead the sky shone with pin-point stars; a br

nk to a long snarling drone; she, wise in the moods of men in the mass, a practicer on the minds of multitudes, knew the moment was at hand; this was the voice of human beings with the passions of beasts. The noise dwindled as the mob poured through an alley, and then broke out again, loud and daunting, as it emerged. It was near at hand; now there was added to its voice the drum of its footsteps

th a kind of detachment. The blows on the gate increased; she could even hear, among the other sounds, the heavy breathing of those who strove to break a way in. Men came running to aid them, and the stout gate bent under their efforts. It was fastened within by an iron bar lying in sockets across it; with an interest that was almost idle she saw how these sockets, one by one, were yielding and let the bar go loose. One broke off with a sh

e Schottelius would be unable to appear that night, and her place would be taken, etc. The announcement was not well received, and nobody was less pleased than the Prince. He knit his heavy brows in a scowl as poor Vauche

earful and impotent

nown her go on and make a success when she was ill enough to keep another woman

ime than one might have supposed from the condition of poor Vaucher, he had elicited some outstanding facts-the note which Truda ha

. I shall be at the barracks in ten minu

acks, the dragoons were drawn up-awaiting him. He moved them off towards the Jewish quarter at the trot. The streets echoed their ho

dy, your Excellency. But the principal-er-disorder is in the str

his horses clearing a way for themselves and bowling men to right and left. The street was in darkness and resounded with vi

caught his aide-d

shouted. "Dismount a do

coutrements, and on the housetops cowering Jews broke into tremblings at a wild hope that here was salvation. The Prince peered anxiously about, unconcerned at all the savagery that was unloosened to each side o

r-cut face that he sought. Even as he tightened his bridle, the gate gave rendingly; he turned his head as the mob, roaring, poured in. For the space of perhaps a second he sat motionless and stricken, but it was long enough to s

oared, and tor

nered throng. There were swift bitter passages as the troopers cleared the place- episodes such as only Jews knew till then, ghastly killings of men who crawled among the horses' feet a

e arrived on tiptoe Monsieur Vaucher, searching through tears for Madame. When he saw

he asked

nced up. "Yes,

pondered. "Who killed h

e hand to the dragoons' leavings, the very si

n account. It is not wise to destroy a great genius like this, he

thing now. She gave her life to teach it. Th

fe." His composure failed him suddenly, and he fell on his knees on

e said. "She never fa

elius! She-she had t

above them, scared curious Jews