The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-12
NUMBER AZ.

IN hve m nutes, and I will guarantee to
land you at your house before the cap
tain reaches his dock"
Mrs. Roundabout's bundles all fell in
to Freeman's arms, as if by magic, and
walk Of two minutes brought them 10
the Office attached to his livery-stable,
the largest and best-appointed establish
ment of the kind in the city. By the
time she had comfortably seated herself
in large armchair, the proprietor
poked his smiling face through the
doorway and saId,
"All ready, Mrs. Roundabout"
What splendid equipage met her
gaze! 1t was not one of the comm1n
vehicles kept for general hire, but a gay
little buggy which Freeman reserved
exclusively for his own pleasure; and be-
fore it stood span of the sleekest and
proudest steeds to be found in the States.
"Duroc will take you to the town of
F-before the Queen Of The Wares
reaches her dock, although she now has
twenty minutes the start" exclaimed
the stable-keeper, helping Mrs. Round
about into the carriage with something
of his whilom gallantry. What magic
there was in that manly grasp Of his
handl 1t carried her thoughts back to
her youthful days, when she used to en-
courage Freeman's attentions, just be-
cause 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 succuessful.
''Shall 1 drive to the house Mrs.
Roundabout" inquired Freeman, who
seemed 10 take a peculiar pleasure in
pronouncing her name at the end Of
every sentence, refining his horse into a
walk as they reached Main street.
"No; ! think we had better go to the
dock and meet the captain" returned
the lady, with a smile of prospective
triumph in her eyes.
Freeman looked as il he had rather
not, beard the lion in his den;" but
feeling that he ought to show az much
courage as a woman, he drove rapidly
to the river.
The FIRST object that attracted Round
about's 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 closely by his
side, chatting gaily. Like a meteor his
thoughts shot back to certain scenes of
the past, and he for moment imagined
that he must be in a dream. But the
truth Of the matter soon forced itself
upon his mind, and he advanced to ac-
knowledge to his wife that for once she
had been too smart for him.
"How do you do, Captain Round
about?" exclaimed the lady, with much
"This is Mr.. Freeman,
Captain Roundabout" (The gentle
men both bowed stifIiy.) "He has a
little bill against you for horse-hire."
"All right, I'm ready to pay it; what
is the amount OF your demand, Mr..
Freeman"
The captain unhesitatingly passed the
a five dollar bank note,
adding, as he proudly waved his hand
toward the Queen Of the Wares,
"Pd rather pay three times that
amount than delay my boat one minute
over her advertised time for sailing"
Captain Roundabout and his little
wife had quite lively discussion over
their tea that evening, which finally re-
suited in n acompromise between them,
that he would always wait his boat at
least two minutes for her il she would
never again ride with that "horrid
Freeman"