There was warmth and cheer where she was.
Here--An overpowering sense of desolation came upon me, I hitched a
little nearer the edge. What if--? Would they miss me much or long
at home if no word came from me? Perhaps they might never hear.
What was the use of keeping it up any longer with, God help us,
everything against and nothing to back a lonely lad?
And even then the help came. A wet and shivering body was pressed
against mine, and I felt rather than heard a piteous whine in my
ear. It was my companion in misery, a little outcast black-and-tan,
afflicted with fits, that had shared the shelter of a friendly
doorway with me one cold night and had clung to me ever since with
a loyal affection that was the one bright spot in my hard life. As
my hand stole mechanically down to caress it, it crept upon my knees
and licked my face, as if it meant to tell me that there was one
who understood; that I was not alone. And the love of the faithful
little beast thawed the icicles in my heart. I picked it up in my
arms and fled from the tempter; fled to where there were lights and
men moving, if they cared less for me than I for them--anywhere so
that I saw and heard the river no more.
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