Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-04-19
A Nights Comradeship.


souls, but he knew none of them. He
did not know the name of street;
there was not one light, however fee
BILE, 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
lit might be, remotely and indefinite
ly-that a certain distant, feeble CLEAN
in town a thousand miles away was
lit with some faint hope of his return.
But, after all, it was improbable. He
had been ungrateful to those who had
raised him, selfish and bitter to the girl
who might have loved him. scornful
of old friends and neighbors, and bent
upon his own obstinate, wilIful way.
The result was step downward-a step
which precipitated! Then the punish
ment-brief but shamefui-and now
liberty again and no knowledge of
what to do with it.
The icy rain that fell. the wind that
! slapped his face with clammy and in
sulting hand, the cruel hardness of the
paved streets, the impregnable look Of
the city walls appalled, him. In spite
OF 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 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 if those who had offered it were
people of another globe Except al
ways-but no. he would not trust him
self to think of that one possible ex-
ception of that one light which
burned, perhaps. for him.
He did not know where to go He
had a 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 to
its offending child. He had no sooner
assured himself of the need for the
scrupulous guarding of this treasure
than he was seized with a passionate
impulse to cast it from him in the gut
ter. Fhe money he used should come
to his hands fresh from toll and liber-
ty! But a saner thought impelled him
not only to retain the money, but to
place it in small pocket in his flannel
shirt under his vest.
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 imperatively. He locked
about him for some corner in which he
could creep for short time. and he
saw by his side what at
frst appeared to be the evil.
yawning mouth of the night,
| but which proved, upon closer examin-
alton, to be a large burned building,
ice-coated grimy, desolate. Hardly
realizing the poorness of his choice, he
turned in here and CROPPED 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 com
plete ruin, as ne soon saw, and he
stumbled finally against fight OF
stairs They were intact, and he
climbed them cautiously and came up
on a great wareroom, stripped of all
that mad once occupied it, but In
state of only partial ruin. AT the end
of this great room he discovered
small apartment which had evidently
been used for an office. The glow from
neighboring arc light showed him
that the room was unframed. He en-
tered and looked about him. An old
fireplace with a hideous notified iron
mantel was at one side Two common
chairs remained, and there was a shade
lat the window. william Rhoda took
it upon himself to laugh Actually,
the place seemed homelike, compared
with those relentless streets.
He had On idea--a bold one. He
crept down among the debris and gath
cred an armful of half burned wood,
and with this be returned to the little
room. Then he drew the shade. closed
the door. and proceeded to light him
fire. 1t was incredible-the comfort OF
lit He warmed himself before il.
ehuckling with delight.
1T is really gorgeous" said he aloud.
Amt it?" responded a voice.
RhOda was on his feet like cat and
facing the door A man with gaunt
face looked in.
1 Room enough fer two?" he inquired.