Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-10-23
My Last Fare.


-~~~~o
q SUPPOSE there was no doubt
about i'll was a good-for-nothing.
Yet had been a university man In
my time and taken my degree with
honors. Then came the inheritance
that had been my ruin. The ample
fortune left me by distant relative
had lasted no more than three years.
l had spent it, squandered it. rioted it,
and the awakening had come too late
to save me a competence. l could not
now count pence where l had been
wont to throw away pounds, and I
dashed boldly into speculation. Pres
emily the final crash came and l was
completely ruined. Since then failure
and misfortune had logged me. had
fallen lower and lower until l had no
longer the courage to rise. Now In the
streets Of London drove hanson
cab. What contrast to the days
when had been used to drive my own
four-in-hand down to Richmond!
That last time ut was bright, sun
shiny day in spring-hOw 1t came back
to me this May morningD. Miss Crane,
the beautiful American heiress. was
on the box seat. and Freddy Haviland,
a great crony Of mine. was Of the par
ty. He was desperately in love with
Louie Crane in those days, and l al
ways thought she had fancy for
him, too. but the stern parent inter-
vened. Miss Loo was not to be allow
ed to throw herself away on a penni-
less younger son. And so Haviland's
proposals met with very decided rejec-
ton. and Louie was carried off to Paris
In spite Of her indignant protestations.
Fred poured his grievances into my
ears. but l had had some feeling in
that quarter myself. and daresay was
not as sympathetic as might have
been. At any rate, l never heard the
end Of their love story. About that
time, too, my own troubles began, and
I presently lost sight of Fred. At first
I had a vague idea he was solaaing
himself with big game in outlandish
parts; recently learned for a fact
that he had succeeded. through two
deaths, to the family title and the rent
roll appertaining thereto. l reflected
that most things came too late in life,
and caught myself thinking Of Louie
Crane. as I pricked my horse in view
Of possible fare. A lady on the oppo-
site side Of the street seemed standing
In uncertainty. Her appearance
caught my attention. yet she could not
have been more plainly dressed. She
had on dark coat and skirt which
fitted pretty figure to perfection. Her
hat-well, yes, her hat certainly was
smart, possibly more picturesque than
smart, and hoped she was pretty, for
otherwise that hat was a mistake.
As watched her with an inexplic-
able interest, she lifted her skirt in
order to cross the street and came to-
ward me. I saw her face then-as
pretty one as l had ever seen-Quite
as pretty as in the old days when l
knew her as Louie Crane. Strange
condolences! Who was she now?
wondered. Countess. Duchess. Milady,
or still Miss Louie Crane, the helress.
Although knew her at once she did
not recognize me, for she looked I'D at
me and asked. gently. What is the
fare to the British Museum"
The world goes up and the world
goes down! Miss Crane, viewed close
~. bore poverty-stricken appearance.
Her pretty figure could not disguise
the fact that her costume was thread
bare, or her neat hand that her gloves
were shabby. My reply evidently sat
isfied her, for she said, Drive quickly,
please" and jumped into the cab.
l drove Off briskly, pondering many
things. Suddenly saw Freddy Havi-
land. now Lord Templeton. 1t was
evident that he had not noticed nv
fare. could not tell whether she had
seen him. l knew nothing, neither
whether she was still free nor whether
time had changed his affection as ma
terially as his prospects in life. All 1
determined on was that l would give
them both chance now if they never
had another in their lives. and with
some heaven-sent inspiration l wheel
ed about my horse and dashed after
the hurrying figure of my one time
friend.
Miss Crane had evidently implicit
faith in me as a driver. and believed
that had decided on quicker route
to our destination, for l met with nei-
Their remonstrance nor Interrogation
from her. Dodging in and out the va
rious vehicles in great anxiety lest I
should lose sight of my qQuarry, l pres
entity passed him. Then turned round
again. and bringing up my horse sharp
~. managed to stop with some eclat
immediately in front Of Lord Tenn.
pleton. His attention thus arrested,
his gaze fell on the occupant Of the
hanson. He recognized her then. 1
saw that. perhaps more quickly than