The Negro world., 1900-04-21
A Nights COmradeship

TIE WAS in a city of 1900 600 souls,
but he knew none of them. He
did not know the name of "a street;
there was not one light, however feeble,
among all the lights of the town that
shone for him. Indeed, he was not
sure that in all the world light was
lit with thought of him. Perhaps-it
might be, remotely and indefinitely
that certain distant, feeble CLEAN in
& town thousand miles away lit with
some faint of his return. But, after all,
II was improbable. He had done moth
sng TO deserve affectionate memory. He
had been ungrateful to those who-had
raised him, selfish and bitter to the
girl who might have loved him, scorn-
full of old friends and neighbors, and
bent upon his own obstinate, wilful
way. The result was a step downward
Ia step which precipitated! Then
the punishment-bTie but shameful
and now liberty again and no knowl-
edge of what to do with it.
The icy rain that fell, the wind that
slapped his face with clammy and in
sulting hands, the cruel hardness of
the paved streets, the impregnable look
of the city walls appalled, him. In spite
81 his arrogant putting down of the
thought, he could not but remember
the village, which he had held in such
contempt, but where, once, he would
have had a welcome from every man
and woman, boy and girl, dog and
horse. 1t was as much lost TO him
now, that cordiality and friendliness,
as IL those who had offered il were
people of another globe. Except al
ways-but. no, he would not trust him
self to think of that one possible ex-
ccption, of that one light which burned,
perhaps, for him.
He did not know where to go. He
had q horror of going to any place that
might be inhabited by such dark spirits
as those he had just left in their cap
tivity. He had had enough of dark
ness. Yet where else could he go? He
must be careful with the few dollars
that were in his pocket. They were
hateful dollars-the dole of the state
20 its offending child. He had no
sooner assured himself of the need for
the kcrupulous guarding of this treas
ure than he was seized with a passion
ute impulse to east it from him in
the gutter. The money used should
come TO his hands fresh from toll and
liberty! But saner thought impelled
linn not only to retain the money, but
to place it in a small pocket in his
flannel shirt under his vest.
He was growing cold and sleepy. The
thoughts that had beaten in his brain
wild, tiger thoughts that fretted and
paced and would not lie quiet-had
worn him out. The need for rest was
upon him imperatiyely. He looked
about him for some corner in which
he could creep for short time, and
he saw by his side what at first APP
peared to be the evil yawning mouth
OF the night. but which proved, upon
closer examination, 10 be a large
burned building, ice-coated, grimy,
desolate. Hardly realizing the poor
ness of his choice. he turned in here
and groped about amid the debris,
wondering if he could not find some
place out of the wind where he could
spend the night.
The place was far from being
complete ruin. as he soon saw, and he
etnmbled finally against a fight of
stairs. They were intact, and he
climbed them cautiously and came
upon great wareroom, stripped of all
that had once occupied it, but in a
state of only partial ruin. At the end
ot this great room he discovered
small apart ment which had evidently
been used foran Office. The glow from
9 neighboring arc light showed him
that the room was unharmed. lie en-
tered and looked about him. An old
freplaee with hideous notified iron
mantel was at one side. Two common
chairs remained, and there was shade
al the window. William Rhoda took il
upon himself TO laugh. Actually, the
place seemed homelike, compared with
those relentless streets.
He had an idea--a bold one. lie
xrept down among the debris and gath
efed an armful of half-burned wood.
and with this he returned to the little
room. Then he drew the shade. closed
TIE door. and proceeded TO Light him
= hre. Ie was incredible-the comfort
Of IL. He warmed himself before il,
ehnekling with delight.
1T is really gorgeous, said he aloud.
~Ain't it?'' responded a voice. Rhoda
was on his feet like a ca and facing the
aoor. A man with a gaunt face looked
III.
~Room enough fer two?" he in.
amired Rhoda's heart was beating at
hia ears.
u aaaIl probably be killed" he re-
Neeted and remembered with anger
thnt he had no weapon OF any sort,
not even = pocketknife. The other
man had entered and closed the door
bsAind him. standing with his back 10
IL. He was short and rather stout. and
his head sat almost upon bis shout
Gers. His heavy nose and mouth BE-
apoke an obstinate. but not particular
II ili-natured temperament. His eyes