The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-21

broWn lpai' thirsty, ne sought around tnc
place, descended the broad stone stairs to
the basement, where ranks on ranks of
shelving held great store OF wine, both old
and new. But he turned away and found
the fountain In the public square, and there
he munchod his crust and drank Of tho
water.
Tho idea of home haunted him, and on
his many daily excursions, as evening fell,
he turned back as ii to seek the point from
which he started in the morning. AS the
workman returns to his home at night. IL
was then especially that his utter lonoli-
ness struck him with greatest force. All
places were the same to him, and no place
was home.
One day his journey took him to the
distant outskirts in his persistent search
for a human face and the sound of hu
man voice, and as he approached the in
closure of u great field he was startled to
Hear the neigh of horse, the first sound
from man or animal, save his own voice,
that he had heard in weary weeks for
even the birds of the air and the beasts Of
burden had disappeared from that mys-
terious place. No wonder his heart stood
still for joy,
The neigh was repeated, and tho frantic
horse came up to the inclosure at mad
gallop and dashed himself against the tall
fence. With no thought for the strange
action of the animal, but prompted by the
wild wish for any companionship, INLAND
ran to the fence, tore away tho palinEs,
and throwing his arms around the horse
neck he burst into tears. The horse was
almost human in his whinnying, and when
INLAND sought the road the horse followed
him like IA dog and gave every sign of in
tense pleasure at tho companionship.
They were constant companions, and
together they ate and drank at tho foun-
tain. 1t was lease of life for both. But
the overwhelming yearning for tho sight
of human face and the sound of a hu-
man voice returned to INLAND, and he new
er ceased his search. He walked, with the
horse following, from dawn to dark, pene-
trating every section of the great city,
never dreaming of using tho horse, his
companion, to bear him along. The horse
was TO him fellow creature and what
was time to MilandP His one thought was
upon meeting a human being. What
change from the time when he avoided
them all! To see, to speak, to commune
with one of his kind-aye, even were he
of the lowest, the most degraded, were joy
unspeakablc. He looked in every window,
rang every bell. He climbed to the top OF
the tower and rang an alarm of fire upon
the great bell that was wont to bring the
hurrying crowds and the rush of fire en-
gines, but there was no response to his
challenge. He climbed tho loftiest monu-
ments and looked over sea OF roofs, but
there was not sign to denote that % liv-
ing person dwelt In the great metropolis
The streets remained deserted and the
sun rose and set In daily round upon tho
nj ct nd I, Ia
into blank despair and was weary enough
to lie down and die,
Dragging himself along from house to
house in the slums Of the great city on a
rainy evening, he fancied that tho chal-
lenge Of his rap at a wretehed cabin was
answered by groan. But as he had been
the victim of many hallucinations in
which even the wind seemed to have the
voice of human beings he doubted his
own ears. Entering, he stamped upon the
naked floor and listened.
Surely there was no mistake. There was
the groan again, and plainly from the in
ner room. Trembling, he entered, and
could he believe his eyess A wretched old
man lay In the last stages of disease and
starvation, wretched creature of the
slums, but in tho eyes of INLAND most an
CELLO.
Neither attempted to speak, but 1t was
wonderful to behold the luster Of the old
mans eyes. And, as for INLAND, his look
WAS worship. Not n word was spoken.
Both were struck dumb with joy ineffable.
Their joy shone In their wrapt faces.
Utter strangers to each other, they wcro
nearer, dearer than tho nearest kin. Mi
land flung himself into seat and devour-
cd the face of the wretchcd creature with
hungry eyes.
And the hours fled swiftly as they gazed
upon each other and the wretch felt moth
ing OF the palms that had raeked his dis
eased body. INLAND forgot his hunger
and tho horror Of loneliness.
And then gradually their eyes seemed to
change into stony look, although the
radiant happiness Of their faces remained
unchanged. And then it could be seen
that their eyes saw not that upon which
they gazcd.
For they wero deadi
Dead from the excess of joy at sight of
their own kind, leaving the Silent City
the mystery of its loneliness.
And in tho long watches of the night
and in the rain the faithful horse nelghed
pitifully.-Detroit News.
No Gambling in Chicago,