Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-01-18

fail to see, (and which caused him to vol
UNFAIRLY quail for the moment,) she took
her eyes from the now fast-iecedng steam
er to let them fall square ON Chris Free
man, gay bachelor who had once been
the rival of Roundabout for her hand.
Quick as flash, plan for revenge shot
through her mind. In the days Of their
courtship, Chris had often excited Oziels
alousy to almost boiling heat, and even
at this late day, he could not bear the
mention of Freeman's name, much less
his society. Mrs Roundabout's plan was
founded upon her husbands known antipi-
thy for Freeman.
Freeman kept livery-stable. At the
age of twenty Lis father had left him
large property which he soon run through
with fast living, when he felt he must do
something for livelihood, and having
always been horse-fancier, he chose this
as being the most in conformity with his
tastes.
Mrs. Roundabout at once resolved to
employ him to drive her home by land.
So, in few hurried words, she gave the
smiling man TO understand how matters
stood, and he replied,
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Roundabout. Happy
to accommodate you, Mrs. Roundabout.
Will not send one of my men as usually
do, but will 60 myself. b. ready in five
minutes, and l will guarantee to land you
at your house before the captain reaches
his DOCK
Mrs. Roundabou,'s bundles all fell into
Freeman's arms, as If by magic, and a
walk of two minutes brought them to the
office attached to his lvery-stable, the lar
gest and best-appointed establishment of
the kind in the city. By the time she
had comfortably seated herself in large
armchair, the proprietor poked his smil-
ing face through the doorway, and said
"All ready, Mrs. Roundabout
What splendid equipage met her
gaze 1t was not one of the common ve-
hicles kept for general hire, but gay
little buggy which Freeman reserved ex-
clusively for his own pleasure and before
it stood span of the sleekest and proud
est steeds to be found in the States.
!" "Duroc will take you TO the town Of
F-before the Queen of the Wave;
reaches her dock, although she now ha.
twenty minutes the start" exclaimed the
z stable keeper, helping Mrs. Roundabou
into the carriage with something of hi
whilom gallantry. What magic there wa.
in that manly grasp of his hand 1t car.
ried her thoughts back to her youthful
days. when she used to encourage Free
mans attentions, just because he always
kept splendid horses and delighted to give
her frequent and pleasant drives and
she could not help recalling more than
one instance of how they met Roundabout
in the street while on these excursions,
and how his eyes flashed with Jealousy
as he gave them hasty glance in passing.
What would he say now
As they entered the town they saw the
steamer in the distance putting steadily up
the channel. Thus far the race had been
successful.
"Shall | drive TO the house, Mrs.
Roundabout? ?" inquired Freeman, who
seemed to take peculiar pleasure in pro-
nouncing her name at the end of every
sentence, refining his horses into a walk as
they reached Main street.
"No; l think we had better 90 to the
dock and meet the captain" returned the
lady, with a smile of prospective triumph
in her eyes.
Freeman looked as if he had rather not
I" beard the lion in his den;" but feeling
that he ought to show as much courage as
woman, he drove rapidly to the river.
The first object that attracted Rounda-
bouts attention after the steamer struck
the dock, was the equipage Of Freeman,
and the next moment his eyes fell square
upon its owner, with Mrs. Roundabout
sitting costly by his side. chatting gaily.
Like meteor his thoughts shot back to
certain scenes of the past, and he for a
moment imagined that he must be in a
dream. But the truth of the matter soon
forced itself upon his mind, and he ad-
vanced TO acknowledge to his wife that for
once she had been too smart for him.
i" How doyou do, Captain Roundabout"
exclaimed the lady, with much obssqui-
business. "This is Mr.. Freeman, Captain
Roundabout" (The gentlemen bowed
stiffiy.) He has little bill against you
for horse-hire."
AN right, I'm ready to pay it; what
is the amount of your demand, Mr.. Free
man ?"
The captain unhesitatingly passed the
siable-keeper five-dollar bsnk-note, add
ing, as he proudly waved his hand towards
the Queen of the Waves,