Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-10-14

i'N'hSt"h avenue. then Third. then
>"H"id. Avenue A-until if seemed "a
II the street WAS leading them richt
INTO the Last river.
III front OF q little row OF ivy-coy-
cred red brick houses stood n familiar
'aNicaH. and ut their approach out of
stepped the same pretty lady. She
t"'u Her driver hurrielly and sent him
n , toward the rushing world OF
''i'h avenue as Fat drew uD.
RATS fare first caught sight Of tho
iauF as he was in the act of descend
,"s from The cab. He stood stark still,
ha'r IN and half out of the cab. mo
'i"hiess. as II turned to stone.
fhiiip. said the girl. laying her
naIia on the gloomy young mans arm.
rat WAS gentleman. His associa-
'ioh with the heaux monde in those
Spiehdid Old days stood him I'm good
stead npw--for he sat on ton of his
ancient vehicle looking neither to tho
right nor to the left; as If he heard
ana saw nothing. Nobody stirred on
'he quief street. Pat. the young lady.
ana the angry-eyed gentleman were
atone on the brink of the East river.
ihilip, continued the lady. breu,h
iesSiy; when ! saw you drive off with
that desperate look on your facc-I
JUST Couldn't stand it, and when the
starter mt the hotel told ME you had
gwen orders to drive hereto the
f,fer-all sorts Of horrid things came
my tongue ont for the things had
SAID to you. why did you come to
thiS jumping-off place, PhilipT
The young mans face twisted into
smile. II live here, that's ALL" he
SAID. pointing to the last Of the little
houses IN the row. You would have
Thought ynu We're miles and miles
away from the theaterS and the shpS,
II was so quiet and still on East End
avenue. The little red house cleaned
warm and snug in the fading sunlight:
the only maving thing TO he secn WAS
big fnurmasted schooner (like Pat
and his cab. one Of the last of IT'S
kind) moving nlajest:cally up the river
In front Of them--Sllent and swift as
the wind caught its broad white sails.
Perhaps 1t was the unexpected
beauty of the scene that made the
girls eyes fill with tears and turn her
head away. Or perhaps 1t was be-
cnuse She realized The tragedy Of Pat
and his old hanson, or the four-maSted
schooner on what might be it's last
voyage, or the passing of love--who
knows? But whatever It was, II was
enough for Philip. He iesped ont of
the cab and lifted her In, as if she
had been a feather. HIS erstwhie
gloomy face was alight. his voice vital
and ringing as he called to Pat:
"Hey, there, old sober-sides: drive
on. It doesn't matter where--just
drive on" and he jumped back into
the cab beside the girl.
"Yes. sor." said Pat, who made for
Central park. where he saw the green
distances beginning TO turn 10 Il dninty
lavender and the little lights sparkling
through the dusk.
"And some folks say Inc country
beats New York." he unused, forlornly
--"St. Patrick! How Wen hate 1t, the
nag and met"
Three hours later he opened the lit
tie trap door in the roof. "Shure. it's
not loOkin' I am, Sor," he called but
how much longer do you want me?
It's hard day I have ahead OF me
tomorrow and It's no dinner I've mad,
sOr."
He heard laugh below and
Dinner! the poor old thing wants
dinner" came up through the trap
door. Then the young man got out
and came mp close 10 Pat.
"Sny, driver" he said. smiling at the
girl who was leaning around the side.
"we both think this Is the incest taxi
I'm town. We've our own special rca-
sons for liking this old hus. Whit
would you say to engaging yourself
to US ms our own AMI particular driver
at the rate Of eighty dollars Il month";
Would that cover things for your
There was a silence. through which
Pat looked at all the little blinking