The morning call., 1892-12-30
CAUGHT ON A CAB


1t was an abominably wet day. You
know what that means in London-cab-
drivers milIenhium, little mudpie makers
| Elysian fields, despair and petticoat ruin to.
/ fair pedestrians. Mrs: Lancaster stood
under the shelter of a fasliionab bic .modiste's
door, looked forward and groaned, No.
hanson 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 dspensation of gain is not In provi=.
deUee diocese" was her ifreyerent sum-
ming up He'd make it rain at the proper
times or ON No Mans LandIif it were. Oh.
darling J" she murmured under her breath,
for hanson bore in sight, looming,
WhisteriShy, hsZily wet. A slaShing
golden bay between the shafts and civil
jehu perchea behind. =,
Out went her umbrella and she tucked up
her frills. She sigualed; he drew up and
she dashed out. The man, careful fellow,
had closed the doors and let down the wfn-
dow. An agouized endeayor to~open door,.
balance umbrella, rescue skirts from mud.
and save new bonnet ensued. He saw that.
and with unusual. uncabbylike courtesy
jumped down: saying: -.
ALLOW me-" ....
The lady gave a little scream. -:
Toni you driving q hanson ?'' -:
NO verse than driving my coach,*is it,
| Mrs. Laneaster?" he retQFted.
"Oh! Tom, dear. what on earth are you.
doing it for!' Then. with high-handed at
tempt at dignity: Might ] ask the reason
for this new and extraordinary meter.?. Is
| it for bet?" - -. =
"A bet? oh, dear, nor A distinct
| pause THAT bonnet Of yours. is getting
rather the worse of it; it's pity, foritS
| rather nice One." he added, eying it crit
| ically, as one who: knows the ways and
means of bOnnets, or rather the ways. of the,
| bnnnetS, and the means of tfose who can
| afford such one as he saw before him.: He.
! eyed it critically, though not feeling near:
| SO cool as he was anxious TO make her be-
| iieve,
'Oh! what does that matter ?1::: she
| snapped out. "BosO good as nj OF to max e.
personal remarks. l shall spoil as-maay
bounets as L choose" with glaring inde-
| pendenee, =. -
"H'm!you always used to do So" glover.
| ing down at her. =: -: - - ;:
DO You refuse. then. to drive me?'' She:
| faltered. There was not another cab in
| sight. :<*:<: =
"Oh, dear, mol When a mans poor and
has to earn his living by the sweat Of his
brow he is likely to find tire: latter more
plentiful than the former; sol am only too
| glad to get what fares cam. He gfoated
| wickedlY, for she looked up In" his face
| while a mist gathered and grew IN his eyes,
| and she gave little Sob - - :: :. :.
"Oh, Tem, dear Tom," sre whispered: II
| never knew 1t was SO bad as this. .;: =: :.
"Didn't yOu?" he answered, with brutal
| uDSympathy for her sympathy with him in
his altered cireums tances: Then he banged
| open the door, raised the window and stood
! by her in an attitude of almimpatienee
She gave another Implorlng giance:. He
| was eying his noble beasts hindquarters,
his mouth punched up in an audible
whistle. "COlonla never could stand fnthe.
rain,' be said, refectiTely, as if: taxing her:
| into his confidence. : - ~
Mrs. Lancaster sighed and stepped into:
| the hausom. -. -. - ::
She settled herself in corner Of the cab.
| with another sigh and fnrttxe glance at
| the looking-slass. to her left while. the
| driver mounted behind and slowly gathered.
| up the reins. lie banged down tile window
and slapped open the little trapdoof over
head with professional: noise, and then
Where to ?" with professional bTeyitF.
Home, please. if you don't mind" said
his fare, meekly..'>... : :.
As they drove down Bond street: Mrs.
Lancaster,S eyes being shut off from. out:
ward sights. she: turned .them:> inward and
viewed her whiriing thoughts. -: :.
What a story I his would ~make:ff any:
one only knew, orif only had the pen of. a.
ready writer. tTps really quite d pity that:
my gift all runs to seed in correspondence.
Poor rdariinIg. how wet :he must. be eget-:
ting MP there T. 7
d
they turned into Plccadilly: Mrs. Lancaster
profted by the. OCCASION. Size took her Jlill-.
brella and pushed. up the skyfight. :, !.
1t was Immediately opened -: -:
Mr.. Lancaster locked @down:; Mrs. Ian:
caster looked up. :. =. :. :: ! II.
.Doy0o want TO get ont2 e am afraid You
csun0t::We mayhaye towaithere quarter
OF an hQut. . - - -. +.
"It isn't that She answered. -''IWanted
to know, er-I Thought *et-T wanted 10 ask
Oh, Tom, dear, aren't you very wet and cold
up there? 2" ... = :. II: .::... - 81:
Thank you. ..0ne could scarcely exnect
that there should be draught up here or to-
find it parchingly hot; but m quite COM
fertahle, thank .you. all* the same" with. a
male 'S:lncons sisteney: -: = - =.
Down went the skylight. :Thegreat stag.
nation: slowly uprose and they. drove *on
again. 1t had begun to clearnp. Mrs. Lan-
caster thought she kiew her way about
town, but MIR. Lancaster should have known
1t still better, and Yet ne took her around:
Grosven0r place as. means to- reaching
Park Lane. 1t seemed as If he took "a pleas
ure in driving BY the. most opposite and
rOuudab bout route. -. -. = : : ::
" She had money of her own, a good ei500
year. and when the: final split :cane--a
split born of A very small rift-he had been
too proud TO let her know *how his money
matters stood. and SO it came about that,
husband and wife. had not met for quite a
year, ana that during the last five weeks:
uS Ifuu uIlFcn Il i;UuuOU
harnessed to luxurious rs. r.: hans ofIi,>
/ And he? Well. he was thinking OF what
/. laundering ass he had been and how he
had tried her love and laith in him. -. -. -.
And she? Well. had she, too, not flifted
just a bit with Lord Racque and Colonel
Targent, and when he had demonstrated
ever so little had she not fared out ON him
and thrust that OdiOus, yellow-haiTed Sig-
nora Sorela in his face?
II wish he wouldn't drive quite so FAST.
she thought: I'VE shall. get home so soon
if he does:" :. ::
They were passing restaurant. She
slanted Der umbrella toward it and he drew
| up instantly. -:
"If yon don't mird,". she said, 81 am inst
going in for glass of wine. i feel little
faint"
1t was no such thing, for in two minutes
she was out again. the wine untouched and
the glass in her hand.
"You must have got so wet and cold /
wish you-would y0uP she stammered,
tlmidly-"woula you mind just taking a.
| little-to-to-please me?'
She had taken off her glove, and the
broad wedding band caught his eye. A
! spasm OF pain came upon his face. 1t was
| like driving your fist through mirror and
smashing the smooth, even surface into
| bits.
'"Thank you," he said. little unsteadily,
| In rather husky voice, as he descended
| slowly from his perch.
'Oh! will take it in for you." ;.
u could not think OF giving lady my