Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-04
CAUGHT HIM ON A CAB.

1t was an abomipably wet day. You
know what that means in Lond0n-cab-
drivers millennium, little mudpie makers
Elysian fields, despair and pretticoat ruin
to fair pedestrians! Mrs. Lancaster stood
under the shelter of fashionable modste's
door, looked forth and groaned. No ham
som in sight: ruin to her clothes stared her
in the face if she sailed out; ruin to her
purse whispered to her behind should she
enter the shop again.
"The dispensation of gain is not in Prov
idence diocese" was her irreverent sum-
ming up. "He'd make it rain at the proper
times or on No Mans Land, if it we're. Oh,
darlingW she murmured under her breath,
for hanson bore in sight, looming, Whis-
tlerishly, hazily wet. A slashing, golden
bay between the shafts and a civil Jshu
perched up behind.
Out went her umbrella and she tucked
up her frills. She signalnd; he drew up
and she dashed out. The man, careful fel
low, had closed the doors and let down the
window. An agonized eodeavor to open
door, balance umbrella, rescue skirts from
mud and save new bonnet ensued. He saw
that, and with unusual, uncabbylike cour-
tesy, Jumped down, saying:
"Allow me.D
The lady gave little scream.
''Toml you driving hansom?"
"No worse than driving my coach, is it,
Mrs. lancaster" he retorted.
"Oh! Tom, dear, what on earth are you
dung it for?" Then, with highhanded
attempt at dignity: ''Might l ask the rea-
Is it fer bei?"
"a bet? Oh, dear, mol" A distinct pause.
"That bonnet of yours is getting rather the
worst of it; ;t's pity, for it's rather nice
one" he added, cycling it critically, as one
who knows the ways and means of bonnets,
| or rather the ways of the bonnets and the
means of thoss, who can afford such a one
as he saw before him. He eyed it critically,
though not feeling nearly so cool as he was
anxious to make her balieve.
"Oh! what does that matter" she snap
ped out. 'Be so good as not to make per.
soDal remarks. shall spoil as many bon
nets as l choose" with glaring independ-
ence.
s'H'm! you always used to do so," glow
ering down at Ler.
| "Do you refuse, then, to drive me?" she
faltered. There wasn't another cab in
sight.
''Oh, dear, no! When mans poor, and
has to earn his living by the sweat of his
brow, he is likely to find the latter more
| pICupihu' h1u Lu0 moA, oO duA Ouly tOO
glad to get what fares l csn." He gloated
wickedly. for she looked up in his face while
a mist gathered and grew in his eyes, and
she gave little sob.
| "Oh, Tom, dear Tom," she whispered,
81 never knew it was so bad as this"
"Didn't You?" he answered, with brutal
unsympathy for her sympathy with him in
h's altered circumstance. Then be banged
open the door, raised the window. and stood
by her in an attitude of calm impatience.
She gave another imploring glance. He
was eyeing bis noble beasts hindquartsrs,
his mouth bunched up in an audible whis'
tie. ''Colonis never could stand in the
rain, be said refeotively. as if taking her
into his confidence.
Mrs. Lancaster sighed and stepped into
the hansom.
"By Jose! She's got the same clipping
little feet and ankles" was Toms murmur.
He reed not have been 30 surprised. Wo-
men do extraordinary things, incredible and
hair curling in the eyes of men; but-their
feet don't wear out and they do not invest
| in new ones.
She settled herself 10 corner of the csb,
with another sigh md furtive glance AT
the looking glass to her left, while the driv.
or mounted behind AID slowly gathered up
the reins. He banged down the window
and slapped open the lit le trap door over.
head with professional noise, and then,