Why She Wouldn't have Him.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1521, 26 February 1886, Page 3

Why She Wouldn't have Him.

I lire in Charlotte-street, Blooms-lury-square. My beet man lives in the country; so that we arranged that we should meet, before the ceremony, in the vestry of the church— St. Martin's Church. Dear Eugenie's father has his office, and also lives in Spriag Gardens; and as he is a vestryman as well he naturally wished us to be married at the parish church. I decided that eighteen minutes would be enough to allow myself for driving to the church ; so, after waiting an hour and a half in about the same state of mind as a criminal before his eiecution, I sent the servant for a cab.

44 Cheer up, sir," said my landlady, as I left the house; 44 for it's nothing when your used to it. I've been through it myself three times now, and I buried my third two years ago come the tenth of next month." I shuddered as 1 went down the steps. I was only number one. The cabman held the door of the cab open for me as I got in, and as he shut it he looked me full in the face, and said, with a savage scrowl: " Oh! it's you, is it, my man ? I've got yer at last, ave I ? "

And so saying he jumped on bis box, and drove off furiously. I could not understand what bis remark about having got me at last meant, but I felt relieved when he mounted and drove off. I am rather timid of cabmen at the best ot timti and always make a point ot giving them sixpence over their legal fare.

As we drove dowu Bloomsbury■treet, I got a shilling more than the right fare ready, in order to appease his wrath when I got out, 44 Hallo ! " I thought, suddenly "he s goiDg wrong," as, after going a short distance down St. Andrew'sstreet, he turned sharply off to the left, into some of the purlieus of St. Giles'.

44 Hi! cabman,' I cried, putting my head out of the window; 44 wrong way St Martins Church—keep t'y'r right."

The man only gave a diabo.ical grin, and, putting bis tongue into his cheek gave his horse tbe whip. 44 Dear me," I thought, distractedly, 44 The man's drunk ; and I shall be late at the church. Wbat will dear Eugenia think ?"

1 halt got out of the window in my desperation. "St. Martin's Church!" I screamed again. 1 know what I'm about. Vou keep quiet! roared the cabman in return.

We were now in the midst of the slums of Sr. Giles -place? I had not been iu before in my life. " Let me out! " 1 called at the top ot my voice, gettiug half out of the wiuuow.

Not it I know it," bellowed the caomau j Iye been on the look-out tor you tor tbe last tw 0 months, and 1 don i mean to let you slip through my tiugrriß IIOW."

Aud again he whipped on his horse. u '„ (iear ' dear!" I said to myeeit, " lbtrre'# uo mistake about it ; he mtdiiit tu take me to some den and luere murder rue.'

1 thought once of jumping out of the cab; Out the man was driving at such a lurious pace that 1 should have beeu killed in ihe attempt. law is awtul,' I soliloquised ; 41 to be borne away in the full light ot day aud without one's friends having the least idea what haa become of one." 1 made another frantic appeal to the cabman, be«eechiug him to let me out. "an still or I'U turn you oyer," he laid, ibreateuingly, ih ughta of contusions and broken limbs) passed through my brain, bo 1 drew track. All uneasiness about the wedding party waiting for me at the churcu bad now leit me, in the greater anxiety tor my own safety. Wc were going at the same violent pace when the cab suddenly turned into a lane narrower than the rest.

.Now my tale is sealed," I thought; but, Liu, still my &guuy was prolonged, anu iu a moment or to »«j emerged into a wider tburougiilare ; « n d at last alter another turu or two, we pulled up.

The man jumped dowu and opened the door.

" Now, then, tumble out," he said.

I ain not a large man, but i resolved to Bed my lite uearly. 1 sprang out. Hurrab ! the first person that met my guze was a policeman.

" tlere, poiicemau, heip ! " I cried, rushing up to him.

" Well," he Mid slowly, 44 what's the matter ? "

1 was proceeding to explain, when the cabman pushed forward.

" 1 gives this 'ere cure into custody," he said, " lor going off without paying bis lure." i started.

•• i'wo months ago," 1 he went on, " I drove trom the city to the Burlington Htrcade ; and wheu I put him down, he slipped in ai one end and out at the other, without payiug me." " There'some mistake," I exclaimed. " 1 wasn't in London two months ago." Looking at my watch, I found it was tire minutes to eleven. "There's certainly some mistake," I continued; " and what's more, 1 must be off. I have an important engagement"

" Not «o fast, sir," said the policeman, laying his hand gently but firmly upon my arm: " Come to the station and the inspector will take the charge." There was nothing for it but to comply ; so I accompanied the two into the the police station, for it was there that the cabman had driven to in such hot haste.

When I saw the inspector, I protested to him that it was all a mistake but without effect.

14 The magistrate's sitting now," he said and after one or two other cases are disposed of, he will be able to take yours." Mv heart sank. What was Ito do? I ought already to be at the church. 14 J cannot wait a moment longer," I exclaimed, passionately, 44 1 must go!' The inspector expressed his regret, but told me that I could not

All at once a happy thought struck me.

44 Here, cabman,' I said, 44 what was the amount of the fare ? "

41 Haifa-crown, he replied." 44 Then here's five shillings," I said, handing him the sura. The man slowly closed one eye, and thrust his hands into his pockets. 44 1 dessay you'd like it," he said, 4 ' but you catch me a-taking it. I mean to prosecute yer, now I've got yer, to the last drop." My spirits fell again.

44 How long is it likely to be before we can get it settled ?" I asked anxiously. 44 Can't say exactly," replied the inspector. 4 " Ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, very likely." 41 But—but—l'm going to be married this morning," at Inst I blurted out; 4 * and I ought to be at church by this time.''

44 Very porry, sir," said the inspector coolly, as if 1 had only said it was time 1 went to lunch ; "but if gentlemen will get into trouble they mu"t take the consequences." 44 But it wasn't me at ail, I've told you," I replied furiously. 4 'Jest what the claimant says," remarked the cabman, sententiously. 4 ' You sie," said the inspector, 44 the case must eiiher ccme on now, or you must be bailed out; and it would take as long to do the one as the other."

Five—ten minutes elapsed, and still the other cases were not finished.

I had reached a state bordering on frenzy, when the inspector said it was our turn, and we went into court.

I felt almost guilty as I entered, as if I had really committed the offence. The cabman stated his case : about some person who had taken his cab from the city to the Burlington Arcade, and had gone away without paying his fare.

''And there he is," he said pointing to me.

Of rrur?e 1 flatly denied thecharge, . xjWaining the impossibility of my being in London at the same time as I was at Margate

" How do you know this is the gentleman ? " inquired the magic 4 rate. "I know him by h s general look," answered the cabman, "and partic larly by them black marks about his face."

41 I only put the sticking plaster on this morning," I exclaimed.

The cabman said nothing to this, as he was fumblim: in his pocket. "This'll prove it," he said at last, drawing forth a glove ; " He left this behind him "

" Let the geutleman try it on," said the magistrate.

The glove was passed on to me. Now I am rather proud of my hand. 1 have taken seven and a half ladies size , and this glove was about nine. ' 4 That is certainly not a fit," said the magistrate, as 1 put my hand into it. The cabman looked sheepish, " l'hats queer," he said, slowly, scratching his bead. 14 Are you still certain that this is the person whom you took to the Buriington Arcade r' asked the magistrate.

41 \ ell, I don't know,' replied the man, dubiously. 41 Vou see, I made sure it was him, specially when I saw that black btuff on his face; but, p'raps, arter all, it was some one else. Now I come to think of it," he add"d, 44 the fare as cut away was cross-eyed." 44 Was what ?" asked the magistrate.

41 Cross eyed," replied the other in a louder tone, under the impression that the magistrate was >lightlv deaf. 44 Do you mean that he squinted ? " 44 In course 1 do, your worship " 44 Kindly look at me, sir," said the magistrate to me.

Hear Eugenia used always to say ihat my eyes were so expressive ; so I turned them with confidence on the magistrate.

41 This gentleman does not squint," he said.

The cabman was again at fault, ami could only scratch his head, at:d siy nothing. " You have c learly made a mistake," said the magistrate, severely, turning to the cabman; "and 1 consider the gentleman has just cause to complain of the slight grounds on which you have based the charge against him. It appears to me that the sole proof of identity that you had wag the stick-ing-plaster." " Well, and wot does he goasticking the stutl' about his face, a-deceiving of folks, for?" asked the cabmaD, in injured tones. "The case is dismissed," said the magistrate, curtly.

Casting a look of mingled rage and reproach at the cabman, 1 hurried from the court. I did not venture to take another cab, but sped on foot by the shortest route to the church. When I arrived there it was only to see the verger closing the door?. 41 Be you the gentleman as was to have been married to day P " I replied in agony that I was.

"Then the party left five minute* ago," he said. 44 They thought you wasn't coming," I thought at first of going in pursuit, but I found it was too lato to be married then. Besides which, 1 was in such a state of excitement that 1 could not make up my mind to encounter the wedding party ; so J rushed off home, and sent a note of ex

planation to Eugenia. She sent back a cutting reply, refusing to have anything to say to me, and concluding by saying that she would never consent to be l«d to the altar by one who had stood in the felon's dock.