Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-02-25
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The
Graphie's s
My Last Fare

suppose there was no doubt about
it was good-for-nothing. Yet
had been university man in my
time and taken my degree with hon
ors. Then came the inheritance that
had been my ruin. The ample for
tune left me by a distant relative
had lasted no more than three years.
had spent it. squandered it, rioted
it, and the awakening had come too
late too save me q competence. |
could not now count pence where
had been wont to throw away pounds
and ! dashed boldly into speculation.
Presently the final crash came and
| was completely ruined Since then
me. had fallen lower and lower
until | had no longer the courage to
drive hansome cab. What CON
trast 10 the days when | had been
used to drive my own four in-hand
down TO Richmond.
That last time lit was bright. sun
shiny day in spring-how it came
back to NE tnis May. norning') Miss
Crane, TIE beautiful American heir
ess. was on the boz seat, and Freddy
HaViland. d great crOnN of mine, was
of the party. He was desperately in
love with Louise Crane in these days,
and | always thought SIZE had a fancy
for bin .too but the stern parent in
tervoned Miss Loo was not 10 be
allowed 10 throw herself away on d
ncnnless younger son. And so HaVi-
lands proposals net With very de
cided rejection. and Louise was cas.-
ried off to Paris in spite of her indis-
nant prOtestatiOns.
Fred poured his grievances into my
ears. but | had had some feelings
in that quarter myself. and | daresay
was not as svmpathetic as | might
have been. At any rate, | never
heard the end of their love story.
About that time. too. my own trou-
bles began, and presently lost sight
of Fred AL first ! had vague idea
he was solacing himself with big
,i,,l, o,.fo,
learned fer fact that he had sue
ceeaed. through two deaths, to the
tanning thereto. | reflected that most
things come too late in life and
caught mvself thinking of Louise
Crane. as prieked my horse in view
of possible fare. 4 lady on the
opposite side of the street seemed
standing in uncertainty. Her appear
ance caught my attention. yet she
could not have been more plainly
dressed She had on dark coat and
skirt which fitted q pretty figure to
perfection Her hat-Wel. yes, her
hat certainly was smart, possibly
more picturesque than smart, and l
hoped she was pretty, for otherwise
thai hat was a mistake.
AS watched her with an ineXpic-
able interest she lifted her skirt in
order to cross the street and came
toward me. I saw her face then-as
pretty one as | mad ever seen
quite as pretty as in the old days
when knew her as Louise Crane.
Strange coincidence. Who was she
now, | wondered? Countess, duchess,
milady or still Miss Louise Crane, the
heiress Although | knew her at
once, she did not recognize me, for
she looked at me and asked gently.
What is the fare to the British mu-
seum?'
The world goes no and the world
goes down. Miss Crane. viewed
r'oco'v bore a pOvertv-stricken ap-
pearance Her pretty figure conld
-,ot i r,,icn the feet that her cos
tune Voc threadhare. or her neat
hand that her gloves were shabby.
My reply evidently satisfied her. for
she said: Drive quickly. please
and jumped into the cab.
l drove off briskly, pondering many