The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-11-10
/ tempt without any feeling Of

Il He was not there, and now, be-
cause she scarcely felt disappointed,
she thought she could not really have
expected to find him
"But what shall / do?" she said,
turning in her perp1exity to the cab
man, who gazed at her in turn, out
of his indistinct, moon-like vague
ness of features, with calm neutral
| ity that was at first exasperating
| but there was human being behind
that mask of flesh. a slow thinking
machine, that could feel for fellow
creature on occasion, although he
recognized no difference of degree,
and habitually confounded age, sex
and rank, CHASING them all as fares,
good or bad, in common category,
according to the way they paid.
I'VE left women in charge of the
house, Gertrude further explained.
"She ought to have been there to let
me i'm
Well, there was no one there, TIL
take my dick" the cabman said. 81
know the sound of bell in an
empty house. One human bein'
makes all the difference, and there's
nobody here, neither"
Then they both looked up at the
house for some seconds
But what shall do?" Gertrude
repeated.
"Hev you no friends?"
"Oh, yes; plenty"
"Then go to them as lives near
est" the cabman disinterestedly
growled forth.
What! at this time of night?"
Gertrude exclaimed We seem to
have SO many friends, and yet in
great emergencies how few there are
to whom we feel entitled to appeal
for special help! II couldn't pos
sibly disturb any one so late. And
besides, how should I explain?"
Then she remembered that she
must not explain, which would in any
case have settled the question.
well, miss, should say then
that respectable hotel would be the
place for yew," the cabman further
advised, with grave deliberation, elf
you can get in; but very much mis-
doubt it, though you hev tidy bit
of luggage. But you see, it being the
season, every place is chock-full.
Howsumever, yew can but try"
Gertrude looked up at the dingy
house again
Il suppose can do no more till
daylight" she said, thinking of her
husband. Drive me then, please,
to some respectable place-the
nearer the better. I am very tired"
So they rumbled away again, first
to large hotel close by, then to
another little further off, then to
three, one after another, that seemed
quite close together; then on, and on,
and on, again, till it seemed to Ger
trude as if she had been driving for
ages in that cab, and would go on
forever; but nowhere could she get
room, or even a sofa to rest upon
till morning.
The cabman's patience seemed un-
ending, but he stopped at last in de-
spair, and came to the door. The
darkness was paling by this time,
the morning air was fresh, but keen;
the day was at hand, and the gas
In the streets looked belated already,
and yet was missed when suddenly
the lamps went out. The cabman
looked at his pale fare, and felt
fatherly compassion.
ITS no use goin' on" he said:
hut II you'd take nap in the cab
now?"
Gertrude answered him with the
ghost of smile. How do you man
age yourself?" she said. do you
go on all night like this and every
night?"
"Ay,' was the unusually quick re-
Spouse. Probably the fact, as seen
from her point of view, surprised
him. 'Only sometimes it rains" he
added, land sometimes l don't make
breakfast for the old boss out of
all get"
"Ah, then this is good nights
work." she said.
We'll, yes,p he answered, as If
that, too, had never occurred to him.
Where are WEI"
He named the locality.
Why" she exclaimed, my sis
-er-in-law lives here, at No. "a. How
can have ever been so stupid. l
never thought Of her. Drive me
there, please, at once
Some one opened an upper win
dow, and looked out in answer tc the
cabman's ring.
Let me in, Anniel 1t is I, Ger
trude!" she called.
Good heavens! what has hap
tpened?" she heard her sister-in-law
exclaim as she left the window.
In few seconds she opened the
door herself and embraced her
brothers wife, but asked no ques-
lions until they wero alone to-
gether.
You are good old man." Ger
trude said to the cabman as she paid
him. Come for me tomorrow morn
/ ing--this morning at o'clock. /
may have many places to go to.
Bring fresh horse"
Then she turned to enter the
house, but stumbled, and fell faint
ing on the threshold. The cabman
helped Miss Somers to carry her into
the dining room.
They laid her on the sofa, and
then Miss Somers showed the man
out. She had not questioned him,
either, and one glance at her plain