Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-04-19
\ Nights Comradeship.

He was in city Of two million
souls, hut he knew none of them, Tie
dld not know the name of street,
there was not one light, however rce-
Bile, among all the tights Of the town
that shone for him, Indeed, he was
not sure that In all the world tight
was lit With thought Of him. Perhaps
II might be- remotely and mdeantte-
" that a certain distant, feeble CLEAN
IN town thousand miles away was
lit with some faint hope OF his return.
hut, after all, 1t was Improbable. He
had been ungratoful to those who had
raised him, selfish and bitter to the girl
VINO might have loved him, scornful
of old friends and neighhors, and bent
upon his own obstinate. willful way.
The result was step downward step
which preeipitatedl Then the punish
Iment-~hrief but shameful and now
Liberty again and no knowledge OF
what to do with 1t.
me icy rain that fell, the wind that
slapped his face with clammy and in +.
sulting hand, the cruel hardness Of tho
paved streets, the impregnahle 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 a welcome from every man
and woman, boy and girl. dog and
horse, 1t was as much lost to him
now, that cordlality and friendliness.
as II those who had offered II we're
people OF another globe Except al
ways but no, he would not trust him
self to think of that one possible eN-
ception, Of that one light which
burned, perhaps, for him.
He did not know where to 40. lie
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 whore else could he go2 He
must be careful with the few dollars
that were In his pocket fhey wero
hateful dollars the dole Of the state to
its offending child. He had no sooner
assured himself of the need for the
scrupnlons guarding Of this treasure
than he was seized with Il passionate
impulse to east 1t from him In the gut
ter The money he used should come
TO his hands fresh from toll and lber-
ty But saner thought impellod him
not only To retain the money, but to
place II in a small pocket in his flannel
shirt under his vest.
He was growing cold and sleepy.
fhe thoughts that had beaten in mis-
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 looked
about him for some corner In which he
could creep for a short time and he
saw by his side what at
first appeared to be the evil,
ya%ning mouth of the night.
but which proved, upon closer examin,
alton, to be u large burned building,
ice-coated, grmy, desolate. Hardly
realizing the poorncss OF his choice, he
turned In here and CROPPED about amid
the debris, wondering. II 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, rs Ie so0n saw, and he
stumbled finally against flight Of
stairs. They were intact. and he
climbed them cautiously and came up
on a great wareroom, stripped OF all
that had once occupied IL. but In a
state of only partial ruin. AT the end
Of this great room he discovered a
small apartment which had evidently
been used for an Office. The glow from
a n hboring arc light showed him
that the room was unframed He en-
tered and looked about him. An old
fireplace with hideons notified iron
mantel was at one side. Two common
chairs remained, and there was a shade
at the window. William Rhoda took
Ii upon himself to laugh. Actually,
the place seemed homelike, compared
with those relentless streets.
lie had 81 ldea---a bold one. He
crcpt down among the debris and gath
cred an armful of half burned wood,
and with this he returned to the little
room Then he drew the shade, closed
the door. and proceeded to light him d
fire. II was incredible comfort OF
I'll He warmed himself before 1t.
with delight.
1T IL really gorgeous said he aloud.
Amt IT, responded voice.
Rhoda was on his feet like cat and
facing the door. A man with gaunt
face looked In.
Room enough fer t9o?" he inquired.
heart was beating at bis ears.