The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-01-23
OF INSTINCT.
EVERETT HOLBROOK.
copyright. 1871

but Herrick was of the opin-
Mon ID could not last much longer.
He hn6 run this way and that way and
a thoornnd times he had fancied that
he W. Roing to escape. But always
the vel<~t paws with the long, sharp
claw (nging out of them, had caught
hin "a time. So Mt last he lay still.
ponfi1t not knowing which way to
He Vas In big city, all alone. The
people who rushed by him were like the
thoughts that whirled through his
brain; they were shadows and the ever
lasting train of them had no beginning
nor end. He could not distinguish the
real men md women whom he saw from
those whom he merely remembered.
Now and again there appeared in the
throng the faces of the dead, he didn't
mind those, but there were others that
he shrank from.
He stood with his back against the
iron fence in front of Trinity church.
There was just light enough in the
western sky to give the pile of stone n
shadow which fell upon hurrying thou
eands who did not notice it.
Herriclx's hands were in his pockets.
He crumpIed a cracking piece of paper
which meant that he could live several
days longer, il he cared to do so. AS
80 . more extended future, he could
not picture it. All the lines of his life
eeemed 10 end in a knot which could
by NO means be united, but must
merely be dropped. He remembered
that there were miracles, but he could
not think of one to wish for.
From three o'clock till four the crowd
In that part of Broadway is rich and
prosperous; from four till five il boasts
of wealthy connections and takes a
strong interest in life; after five it loses
caste rapidly, and by six il is lot of
weary people going home to supper.
Herrick felt the degeneracy of the
tllrong without really seeing 1t. II u
whole street full of people could get
shabby in an hour, was it any wonder
TINT he had done it in five years?
He crossed Broadway and walked
down Wall street, slowly and with hes
itation. for he had no errand. \ voice
cried: "Cab, sir!" almost in his ear.
He turned and looked up at the man on
the box
els 81 possible" he said to himself,
esthat I still look like gentleman"
He folt toward the cabman us toward
one who had given him helping hand.
Why hot pay the debt? To do so would
cost him only day Of his life. He had
. fire-dollar bill in his pocket.
"Yea,~ he said; take me up to the
Fifth AVENUE hotel"
IL was the first place that had come
into his mind. He got into the cab,
and snapped the door. The cushioned
seat and the comfortable support for
his head we're very refreshing. "A
fnncy came to him that he would dine
dccently and then go to a theater. The
extravagance would be tritiing, for it
was feally of small Importance whether
he starved to death on Sunday or the
following Wednesday. He was in
mood to make jest of it all.
A strong glare from an electric light
btruck down into the carriage, and
made Visible to him package in
brown paper. that looked as il il might
be = sAndwich. The object protrudcd
from under the seat. He thought it
must be the cabman's supper which
had been hidden in some small locker
and had fallen upon the floor. The idea
lthak the food should be spoiled was dis
agreeable to Herrick, and so he picked
up the little brown bundle.
II wos smaller than he had supposed.
and n did not feel like bread. But had
IL be6n food and he at the last pang of
aturvstion, the touch of IL would not
have sent such a thrill through all his
6rame.
po0AsGe was money. 1t felt like a mass
Of bIlb folded, awkwardly wrapped up,
and fastened with elastic bands.
Through the brown covering HerricS
could feel the crispness of the govern
m>nt paper. The amount might be a
poor mans monthly wages or rich
mn44 profit on a great transaction.
~ ~ his own conduct in this matter,
HexxIck had no doubt whatever. Fate
had thrown the money into his hands,
and fate might take IL away, but not il
be could hold on tightly enough. His
hngers trembled as he picked at the
elastic bands. Suddenly and without
hie lowing why, the rubber strings
vnnxlhed with loud snap that startled
MIA md the package sprang open on
~ ices. He caught flash of green
n ~ and then the cab rolled out of
ito shadow.
emed long time before another
~ truck in upon him. At the mo-
men3 when ii did so he saw face close
TO the cab door and he lodged back,
covering the bills with his hands. But
~ Nance passenger on the street saw
II ing; he was thinking of his own
10, no doubt, and had no inkling of
orange thing that passed SO close
eyes,
frick was himself again in a
mt, and he bent forward, eagerly
ling the bills in his hands, and
ling them feverishly. There were
Them, and each was of the denomi-