Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-01-29
ROMANCE ON FOUR WHEELS.

w ell, sir, I've SpolG III dill ON0I III d
variety of ways. and I've come to the
conclusion that it was a Call. And this
is how it came about-in the Christmas
time. too, which makes it a proper sort
of story for this time of the year. you
see. To begin with, then, 1 was the
only cab to be found-the only cab
that had turned up for ever so long, the
porter ct the station told me, with a
good deal of bad language, to which |
was pretty we'll used, and even dealt in
largely OF my own account. It's nc
good mincing matters about what l was
at that time of my career-for the per-
lice knew it, and the charge sheets at
the station proved it, and the back OF
my license had been specially 'dorsed In
a neat round hand in order to catch the
eve of the next official who might be
curious enough to ask to see it. In
fact. sir. aud to make clean breast
of it. was about as bad a cabby as
ever trundled in his four-wheeler with
in the radius, and out of i'll was a
vampire cabman who preyed upon his
customers, and was fond of rum.
never took less than my fare. Pm
shamed to say [ took great. deal more
once of confused gentleman from a
city dinner, who gave me suverins for
shillings-and the way IN which I've
bullied the defenceless sex, when aged
ard borne down by parcels. brings the
blush to nv leather cheeks to think OF
now.
Why went out that partikler Box
ing Night I've never been able to
properly understand. I had good
dav of it, and fairish lot of slim liant
though | wasn't in any way unfit for
business, as many of 'em were-I was
never industrious. and I lived very
much from hand to mouth, and gener-
ally with a glass in my hand-I was
fond of my holidays in bar-parlors, on
holiday occasions. | had lots Of pals
who wouldn't have gone out Boxing
Night to drive the queen of England
home from the pantermiue; had even
a friend at the door of the Swillchester,
who had promised to pass me in when
the company had settled down, and Mr..
MacHowler had begun his poplar war
whoop: and Bill Chumps had asked me
to bis private sing-song down at Stepney.
But for some reason or Other-l say now
it was Call!-I got my horse and cab
from Bones yard, and trundled Oft to
business about half-past nine at night.
[ remembers that | was in a mlsan-
thropical mood had been fined last
week forty shillings, or g. month-'the
money was paid, the papers said, and
[ read it with pride, though l should
have to pay it back in bits and with IN
terest to that screw of a Bones.
Well, it rained and showed and froze
all at once in fine style, and the peo-
pie in the streets were looking as nice
and miserable as they could look, when
[ thought I'd turn the corner OF Muller
street, and draw up on the quiet side
of "The Royal Vetern," and have just
arf quarten of Jamakey. | had
nearly finished, and was wishing the
landlady merry Christmas and hap
by New Year, and telling her that Twas
bound to Stepney presently, when in
bounced perliceman and railway
porter, Jest as if the place belonged to
'em.
cit that yer cab outside 2" asked the
perliceman.
eyes, it is my cab," I said.
"The1es fare waiting for you at the
station" said the porter. II have been
looking for a cab these ten minits-
come on" ..-.
Where's the fare to go?" a p
"Peckham. She's ~"
"I'm engaged for ten minutes past
ten to drive an old gent to Bsdlam." |
said, little too ironical; for [ don't
think they believed me; "and Pm sorry
I can't take her" aaa
And Pm sorry l can't take her"
[ said again, when was firm upon my
box, and away / druv, despising them
both. I heard the perliceman call out,
81 know you, Jones Pledge" but !
didn't mind his knowing me, and if
was engaged to take up another fare to
Bedlanl, what business was it Of his
/ wasn't on the the rank or plying for a
hire, was I?
Presently turned. A boy was tear
ing along the roadway after me, and
nearly run him down at fust.
"Hil cab-ycu're wanted. 'Old 'ard
wait bit"
"Who wants meg"
A large paTty-aC tuo ota'iOii-
mother and kids from York-going to a
ball-Stepnev-oh! haven't | run?' .
"Stepney-are you sure they said
Stepney?"
"Swear they said Stepney." was the
replHS 4" You amt engaged %
mo. Jump on the box-they'll give
you sumfnk for fetching me, tonight. I"
"They've promised me shillin'."
.That's LIBERAL shall want a drink
our o that f5{3Lf
Right you are, gunner" said the
boy.
Off we went to the station and to the
arrival platform, where the guards were,
and one or two perlicemen, and a girl