Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04

the ground, with a shaft In his chest. Ted
staggering 10 his feet from the footpath
like drunken man and the cab still.
standing, but twisted off its axle--then
The policeman, and the crowd, and the
rest of II.
The fact was. and you may as well
know 1t at once. that Ted had sacrificed
his horse and almost himself TO save
the little lady whose conveyance to Cur
ION street he had undertaken. No one
else knew it at the time, however.
| II 7lS took down A,797 in his notebook,
| the debris was swiftly taken off, the
| crowd dispersed, and Ted Drake moved
sadly away muttering to himself: Yes
| Mansion to-morrow-eleven." And
| he kept repeating these words for more
| than two hours while he YEARLY walked
| the streets, going round and round,
round and round, everywhere but in the
direction Of his home.
For there-at home, in q small street
off Camberwell new road-were his wife
and children. How could he go and tell
them what had happened? 1t was i'm
possible!
Ted had been an officer and a gentle
man once. and he had come by the usual
eradatiOns TO the profession Of London
cabby. But the horse and hanson were
his own. and he had done very well-so
well that he had got married. and was
the happy father of four little ones
whom he dearly loved.
And now Ted had to tell her this fear
full news-news of ruin--ruin now, hence
forth and foreveri He wouldn't do It.!
Why, it would break her heart!
Nevertheless evening drew Ted
found himself drawing nearer and nearer
TO Remington gate (he had got as far
as the Elephant several tines and at
length actually realized that he was I'm
Camberwell new road itself He crept
guiltily along, feeling now a bit stronger
in the nerve, and presently reached the
little back lane, up which stood his tiny
stable.
Entering the stable he glanced swiftly
round. The first thing that caught his
eye was the halter dangling from the
manger. Who was that that struck him.
Ell? Nobody-yet he fell against the
boarded wall like a log.
Was it a shock of the brain? Perhaps, |
for the CHASTITY thought which came to |
him at the sight of the rope might well |
paralyze any man.
But was ii so CHASTITY after all? He |
was a ruined man-that was clear, and |
what else could be done? At least he |
would be rid of his trouble. and as for |
Mary and the children-well, she would |
marry again-anybody would marry a |
good little woman like that-and-
There was a soft football on the Gin
ders outside, face peeped in at the
door, and a voice was heard.
lied, are you thereto, where have
you been so late? And where is Dandy |
and the cab? And why are you staring
at the halter so?-and o, Ted! what
what has happenedY
He told her all-of the accident and |
his cowardice, and even Of the Mansion
house, tomorrow, II.
And this ordinary, low-born, brave lit |
tie woman drew him away and comfort |
ed him: told him not 10 mind that all |
would come right that he must tell the
magistrate exactly how II occurred, that
he was sure to get of, and that then he
could take n situation the same as he |
lid in the old days before he grew rich |
and bought cab of his own.
Mansion house. next morning IL Ed
ward Drake, licensed cabman, charged |
With furious and reckless driving in |
fleet street damaging a dray belonging 10
hessrs Ale, Stout q Co, brewers, Of the | l
Borough road. What have you to say?
The police evidence, the drayman's | I
and the evidence of a bystander. {
Who came up after the accident had hap I
'ened, went dead against him. The case | s
ooked hopeless. Had the defendant any |
witness TO corroborate his mere assertion
hat the affair was a pure misfortune
rom which he himself was the worst, in [ {
act the only, sufferer? No.
III you please, yes, your Worship and
dainty little lady dressed all in white 4.
Except for a BIT OF blue in her hat, stepped .
risky into the box.
What do you know of the matter.
Mss! But, first, what is your name?' n
uerled the magistrate grayely. L
Dot Holdernesse-I-I mean Lady Dor G.
thy Holdernesse, daughter of Lord Am b
ermere' she replied; land / know a S
God deal about it. was in the cab" fl
"Well?' IN
1T wasn't well at all. The dray ran 81
can into the poor horse, and it wasn't y,
IL the cabman's fault, and if the shaft o.
auh hit the horse it would have hit me. II
nd say 1t is shame to prosecute a Il
IAN for"
Il am sorry l cannot allow Won 70 h,
lake speech. Lady Dorothy" inter q
'pted the gallant magistrate, "but of ~
'urse what you say puts a very differ g.
IL complexion on the matter, and the m
,fendant is discharged" w
Outside the court Ted and his tear c.
lly-glad wife were met by Lady Dor mt
ny and gentleman. "You take Mrs re
rake TO have some lunch" said he 10 IN ~
r ladyshlp. 'Mr Drake and | have &c
me business together" in1
The four separated accordingly. and ST.
esenty Ted and his unknown friend M
md themselves in the sanctum of the 10
eat man Of Ely place Hoborn. ~, MI
Tell you what II is" said the nm bi,
lown 20 the solicitor, ALE 4 Stouf's i'm.
ay run into this mans hanson. Kills '
horse, wrecks the cab, knocks the III
bby off his box, and nearly frightens On
death my little Dorothy Holdernesse .no
whom | am 10 be married next week IN,
en they have the cheek to get him m,
'secuted! Well that game was no Sci
cd, and now l want you to 20 for A
D & Co and get damages-heavy ones. Sci
op' wa
Ind the great man did. Five hundred 60,
lars We're handed over TO Drake with for
a week. at the great solicitors offices coo
the presence OF Mrs Drake. Lady Dor tio
y and-the unknown. out
'arning 10 the latter his h.,. | Ing
-'S ">eAi anu eyes to