The Winslow mail., 1897-04-10
A MATTER OF INSTINCT

Fate was cat and Leonard Herrick
was a mouse. There had been some
rare sport, but Herrick was Of the opin-
ion that it could not last much longer
He had run this way and that way,
and a thousand times he had fancied
that he was going to escape. But al
ways the velvet paws, with the long,
sharp claws springing out of them,
had caught him just in time. So at last
he lay STILL painting, not knowing which
way to turn.
He was in a big city all alone. The
people who rushed by him were like the
thoughts that whirled through his
brain; they were shadows, and the ev-
erlasting train of them had no begin
ming nor end. He could not distinguish
the real men and women whom he saw
from those whom he merely remem-
bered. Now and again there appeared
in the thrOng the faces Of the dead. He
did not 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 a
shadow which fell upon hurrying thou
sands who did not notice it.
Herrick's hands were in his pockets.
He crumpled cracking piece of paper
which meant that he could live several
days longer if he cared to do so. AS
to more extended future, he could
not picture it. All the lines of his life
seemed to 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 o'clock till the crowd in that
part of Broadway is rich and prosper
Gus; from to it boasts of wealthy
connections and takes a strong interest
in life; after ) it loses caste rapidly, and
by 6 it is a lot Of weary people going
home to supper. Herrick felt the de-
generacy of the throng without really
seeing it. If a whole street full of peo-
pie could get shabby in an hour, was
it any wonder that 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. A voice
cried, Cab, sir!t' almost in his ear. He
turned and looked up at the man on
the box.
rs it possible" he said to himself,
'that ! still look like a gentleman
He felt toward the cabman as toward
one who had given him helping hand.
Why not pay the debt? TO do so would
cost him only day of his life He had
So bill in his pocket,
Yes" he said; take me up to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel"
1t 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 were refreshing. A fancy came to
him that he would dine decently and
ther go to theater. The extravaganza
would be trifiing, for it was really of
small Importance whether he starved
to death on Sunday or the following
Wednesday. He was in a mood to make
a jest OF 1t all.
A strong glare from an electric light
struck down into the carriage, and
made visible to him package in
brown paper, that looked as If 1t might
be a sandwich. The object protruded
from under the seat, He thought it
must be the claimants supper which had
been hidden in some small locker and
had fallen upon the floor. The idea that
the food should be spoiled was dis
agreeable TO Herrick, and so he picked
up the little brown bundle.
1t was smaller than he had supposed