Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-02-03

| Ou hHOW your way now. uOU l
you ?" he evidently did not know Il, and the
white horse went steadily up and down the
long. wet streets. like a phantom steed in
| a hOrrid dream.
Things really were becoming serious /;
midnight was approaching. hadnotthe re.
| mofest idea where we were. and the pas
sers-by became more and more infrequent
lights vanished from windows, few cabs
were seen. and the world was evidently
gong to bed. The fog was rapidly ex-
tinguishing my voice. and anxiety quench-
ing my courage. Ms curls hung limp and
wild about her face, and even Ms spirits
began TO fail.
I'm afraid we are lost" she whispered
10 my ear.
Not q doubt OF it,
The man must be tipsy. after all
That is evident
What icW people think Of usg''
That We are tipsy Also"
What shall we do?"
Nothing but sit here and drift about till
morning. The man has probably tumvled
of; this dreadful horse is evidently wound
up and won't stop till he has run down !;
The fog Is increasing, and nothing will
bring us to halt but collision with some
other sh.pwrecked Yankee as lost and mis-
cradle AS we are"
| ", H., uou oe sArcastiC anu grim now !.
Do exert yourself and land somewhere.
Go to a hotel. This horrid man must know
where the Langhsm is"
Il doubt il he knows ANYTHING, and I
am sure that eminently respectable house
would refuse TO admit such q pair Of frights
as we are, At this disreputable hour. No.
we must go on till something happens to
save US. We have discovered the secret Of
perpetual motion, and that Is some com-
fort
NJ. groanedI laughed. the ghostly horse
sneezed, and l think the driver snorcd
When things are pretty comfortable l
am apt to croak, but when everything is
tottering on the verge of annibilatlon
usually feel rather jolly. Such being the
perversity of my fallen nature. | began to
enjoy myself at this period, and nearly
drove poor NJ. out of her wits By awful or
whimsical Suggestions and pictures of our
probable fate.
Ii was so very absurd that really could
not help seeing the funny side of the pre-.
dcament, and NJ. was the best fun of all,
she looked 50 like dilapadated Ophelia
with her damp locks, blue rigolett all
awry, her white gloves tragically clasped,
and her pale couDtenance despatched with
the mud that lay thick on the wooden boot
and flew freely from the wheels
had my laugh out, aad then tried TO
mend matters. What could we do2 Ny
nrst impulse was to stir up the sleeping
wretch above. and this did by energetical-
ly twitching the reins that hung loosely be-
| fore eur noses like the useless rudder Of
! this lost ship.
Young man, II you don't wake up and
take us to Colville Gardens as quickly as
possible,I shall report you tomorrow. I've
got your number and shall get my friend
Nr. Peter Taylor, Of Aubrey House. to at
tend to the matte.. Mes al NJ. r., and
will see that you are fined for attempting
TO drive cab when you know nothing OF
London
fear that most Of this impressive haran-
que was lost, owing to the noise of the
wheels and the feebleness OF my nearly ex-
tinguished voice; but 1t had some effect.
for though the man did not seem scared by
the threatened wrath of an NJ. F.. he did
feel his weak point and try to excuse it,
TOR he answered In a grufy apo!ogetic
tome
who's agSln' to know anything in such
blessed fog as this7 Most cabbies
wouldn't try to drive At no price, but Ill
do my best, num-"
Very well. Do you know where we are
now" demanded.
''Blest i'll dov'
de didn't say 'blest'-quite the reverse
but forgave him, for he really did seem
to be making an effort, having had his nap
out. An impressive pause followed, then
N. had an inspiration.
'Look, there's q respectable man jus.
going into his house from that four-wheeled
cab. Let rs hail the whole concern, and
get help Of some Sort
gave the order. and, eager to be rid of
us at any price, our man ratified US up to
the door at which . grsy-haired gentleman
was settling with his driver.
Bent on clutchiBg this spar OF salvation,
l burst out Of our cab and hastened up to
the astsnished pair. What said l don't
know, but vaguely remember jumbling in
to my appeal all the names Of all the eel
ebrated and respectable persons whom
knew Oh beth sides Of the water. for felt
that my appearance WAS entirely against
me, and really expected to be told to 60
about my business.
John Bull, however, had pity upon me,
and did his best for us, like man and q
brother.
Take this cab. madam; the driver
knows what he is about, and will see you
safely home. III attend to the other fel-
lOw," said the worthy man, politely isHof-
ing NY muddy visage and agitated man.
ners.
Murmuring blessings on his head, we
skipped into the respectable four-wheeler,
and in burst of confidence offered Mr..
Bull my purse to defray the expenses OF
our long drive.
Rash woman. you'll never see your
money again." cried NJ. hiding her Ro-
man earrings and clutchinS her Etruscau
locket, prepared for highway robbery, il
not murder.
did see my purse again. and my money
also, for that dear old gentleman paid our
miserable cabby out of his own pocket Gas
found afterwards), and with final gruf
"All right" the pale horse and his beery
driver vanished in the mist. 1t is, and al.
ways will be my firm belief that it was q
phantom cab, and that it is still revolving
ceaselessly about London streets, appear.
ing and dsappe airing through the fog, to
be hailed now and then by some fated pas.
senger. who is whisked to and fro, bewil.
dered and forlorn till rescued, when ghost.
ly steed and phantom cab vanish darkly.
''Now you will be quite safe, ladies'
and the good old gentleman dismissed u.
with q paternal smile.
With q feeling of relief fell back, ex
hausted by our tribulatiOns.
II know now how the wandering Jew
felt" said NJ, after period of repose.
II don't wish to crOsk, dear, but II this
man don't stop soon, shall begin to thinl
we have gently stepped out of the frying
pan into the fire. Unless We were severa
miles out Of our way. we ought to arrive
somewhere responded. Hattening my
. nose against the pane. though l literally
could not see one inch before that classica
| feature.
"Well, I'm so tired shall 90 to sleep
whatever happens. and you can wake mi
'up when It Is time to scream or rum" said
H.. settling herself for doze.
groaned dismaliy ,and registered . WOW
, TO spend all my substance In future on tn
most elegant and respectable brougham
procurable for money, with . gray haired
driver pledged to temperance, and q stal
. wart f0otman armed with lantern, pistol
directory and map OF London.
| All Of a sudden the cab stopped; tn
, driver, not being future, descended, ~
coming to the window said civilly:-
' The fog is % thick,mum I'm not quit
Z sure II I'm right. but this is Colville square
Don't know any such place. Co!vill