FROM THE RANK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 434, 5 October 1869, Page 3

FROM THE RANK.

. . «(,. (.From Chambers' Journal.) [Concluded.] "Then she paid me, saying, . with a sad smile ; ' I am afraid I have baen very troublesome,' and wished me ' good-day.' And then the station-bell rung. " I had the curiosity to pee > through the door when the train came in. and watch her. She ran down the platform, looking earnestly into every individual carriage, and would have been left behind altogether but for the guard, who opened the door an 1 popped her in at the very last moment. I was sorry to leave her, for I never took a fare who was a more perfect lady ; but I was somehow glad, too, to get her out of my keb. There was something very queer about her, that you may depend ; and if she were mad (which, however, I don't think as'she was), sho must ha' been druv and dm v, by some wus-hearted chap than me, until she was druv out of her wits. • "Perhaps he is sorry for what he lias done by this time, says I to myself, and this here party will be advertwe</, and I took great count of her dress and appearance in case she should. Hut, curiously enough, nothing came of it all ; and yet, even as it stands, it seems 'to me as one of the queerest starts as over I came across since I ha' been ou the rank." • " It was undoubtedly very, queer/ said I. | " But you hinted something, my friend, of a certain terrible adventure that had once happened to you , I should like to hear that too, please." " Why, this is what Peall reg'lar sucking a cove's bruins," responded my cabman, looking up at me with a cunning leer. "If I did | not see as you was a family man, with luggage and that, I should a'most be inclined to believe as you was some literary carakter. There's a many on 'em about ; Maida '111 way ; only, when they rides at all, they takes a 'Ansom." Itemembering what Mr Pickwick had suffered at a cabmau's hsnds, from using a notebook, I hastened to clear my character from this imputation, anil to assure my companion that I had no other idea in questioning him beyond that of increasing my knowledge of human natare, for observing which he must have had so many and exceptional opportunities. " Well, that's true," said he, greatly mollified. '• Considering the various parties as uses four-wheels, I knows of nobody (excep' perhaps * some as keep' a public) who is so likely to know a thing or two as one of us, Deary me ; the games as has been agoing on in this here very keb I" " Games ?" said I. " What, games can people play in a cab ?"' " Why, bless yer, lots of games. I don't meau cards and that— though I have known 'em play cards, with my 'hid cusluouon their laps for a table, but all sorts of schemes and devices, played by all classes of folks. I have druv marquishes, and I have druv parties as you would not have thought could ever stand a shillin' fare. T have druv the perlice, and I have druv thieves. I dou't care who it is, so long as they dou't want to be druv to the Eever 'Ospital." " Was the horrible case you spoke of a case of infection ? " inquired I. "No: it was a deuced sight worse than that, sir. It was summut as sends a cold chill to my inarrer whenever I tlrnks about it. And yet it began so cheerful. Just after I first began to be a kebman, I was 'ailed in the Kilburn lioad by a couple of fares: two middle-aged comfortable ladies, small tradesy men's wi lows, as I should set 'eui dowu as, and they asked me how much' 'it was to Blackfriars. ' Half a-crowu,' says I. " ' Werry good, young man,' says the fattest of 'em: 'then drive away, and just stop at the first public-house, will ye ? ' " Well, I pulled up, willing enough, at the first public, and they gave me a shilling, and had some gin and beer, and ' Never mind the change, young man,' says the fattest; 'but drive along sharp, and stop at the next public-house.' " Well, between Kilburn and Clack friars, I should think they stopped at a matter of four-and- twenty public-houses. The lady with the chemists was nothing to them; moreover, unlike her, they never failed to get what they wanted at each, until they had took a great deal more than was good for them, and I must say as they had made me a little 'fresh' myself. And every time it was: " You may keep the change, young man;' so that I had at last more than five-and-twenty shillings of it (mostly in coppers). This is all werry nice, thought I, as long as it lasts; bat sooner or later these here parties "will be a dozing off, and expee' me to see 'em home, which maybe will be the perlice station, for they had not told me their address yet, but only Black friars. The}' must ha' been very much accustomed to strong liquors, for unless it was sobbin' and eryin' a bit, which the one as was not the fattest did coutiuual, they showed no signs of bein' overcome. What a middle-aged female of the respectable class can take, and yet sit in a keb, is only known to us drivers; but these two, they beat all as ever I see. Well, at Blackfriars, they gave their address at last. It was a queer little street, but very respectable-looking, and I druv 'em up to their house, which I noticed had all the blinds down. They got out without much help; and the one as was not the fattest, she speaks to me for the first time, and says; ' Young man,' says she, 'you have druv us well and safe, and over and above your fare, you shall see my dear daughter." ' " Well," thought I, "here is a queer start.

This stout party has taken such a fancy to Dick Braddle (which was me), that she wants him to become her son-in-law;" and I larfed aloud. " ' Don't larf,' said she, quite solemn like, and pointing to the drawn-down blinds; 'but come in.' Well, I went in. Not into the parlour, as I expected, but up-stairs, the two ladies leading the way. At the first-floor, I stopped. I did not like it— the house was so dark and still ; but then, thinks I : 'Lor, I'm only a. poor kebman, and its' their own money I've got in my pocket after all. Why should they want to rob me ?' So I went on, into the second-floor front, which was a sittin'-room. Here the old lady as was not the fattest began to moan and cry, and pointing to the sofy, on which lay soinethin' covered with a sheet, she says : ' There is my poor daughter.' " And the other one, she turned the sheet back a little, and there was the face of a dead 3-oung laHy, very -white and quiet, but looking to me, as had never seen anyone dead before, most awful. Cominjr, as it did, so sudden and unexpected, and just after I had been larfing down below, it gave me, I. do assure you, an uncommon turn." " Indeed, I can quite believe it, Mr Braddle," said I, " if the thing' happened as you state :- but did it really, happen ? " "As true as I sit here, sir. Why, who would ever have invented such a story ? " " Then, what is your explanation of the two women's conduct ? " " That ain't my business, sir. My business was only to drive 'eru ; and you may be sure I did not stop a minnit moi'c in that 'ere house to ask any questions. It is, however, my opinion that the old lady as was not the fattest was really the poor girl's mother, and that sorrow had made her take to drink for comfort : and as for the other, she was glad enough to sympathise with her friend so far a3 uriuking the liquor went. But, at the time, it seemed to me a most terrible start, Ido assure you. It's the worst thing as has ever happened to me yet, since I ha' been on the rank ; aud I wouldn't have it happen again for twice twenty-five shillings. — Here's the station, sir ; and see, you've got fifteen mm nits to spare, all along of my good horse, which I hope 3 r ou will take into account in the fare, according."