The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-17
EMBRACE AND RELEASED.

EMBRACE AND RELEASED.
Paresseuse was white with frozen per-
SEPARATION, and asleep At Samant ha's
coming. however, she woke up, turned
her head round, and whinnied a well
come.
ITS really kind of you, dad" said
Samantha, ito bring the dear old rig
out for me. like La Paresseuse much
better than the trotter."
''Seein' she was an old friend Saman-
thy" her father observed. as he la bori-
ously slowed away Saman tha's belong
ings-' 'seein' the quadruped was an old
friend, 1 brought her along to mako
things kind of nat'ral just to take
the edge off, SO to speak"
He la boriously undid the halter with
which, as a co ncession to appearances,
he had fasten ed La Paresseuse. That
gifted animal submitted to the farce
with humorous twinkle in her one
eye She had been working all her
life, and hadn't the slightest intention
OF moving unless compelled to- do 30 by
force majeure.
When Samantha had entered the
sleigh, Old Man led the pony down the
bank with an elaborate affection of
being una BILE to cope with her natur-
ally fiery disposition. La Paresseuse
rolled and wa billed about all over the
track, and as Old Man prepared to get
into the sleigh, again promptly closed
her one eye in restful slum ber
When they had crossed the river, in
stead of turning off in the direction of
the Four Corners to Buck board Springs,
Old Man kept straight on over the
Ange Guardienne bridge until he came
to the edge of the Bush. Then he
pulled up 81 sorter lowed" he said
alphabetically; q sorter lowed,
Samanthy, you'd like to picnic up here
bought it off him"
Tim Der Jake's! Samantha at once
OWNED this was Old Mans character
istic method of breaking the news to
her Now she understood why they
had turned off from the Mile Square
House, and passed beneath these SOM
bre branches through which no moon
light came Only the labored breath
ing of La Paressuse broke the stiffness
as that phlegmatic animal kept to the
narrow track and ambled slowly along
in the darkness Samanthas heart
smote her. She thrust out her hand
and affectionately grasped Old Mans
That worthy nervously put it aside,
and oncentrated his attention on La
Paresseuse until they emerged into
clearing and the moonlight fell upon
his face.
''Tain't high-toned," said Old Man
apologetically, but" he added, with
the air OF one who is making strik-
ingly original remark, sit air a roof,
Saman thy, it air roof"
To Samantha's bewildered eyes,
Timber Jake's former residence APP
peared to be a roof and little else. The
hut itself stood in the centre Of a SOM
bre circle of bush
"Sorter quiet an gentlemanlike,
amt it?" Old Man quericd. as he helped
Samantha to alight Without waiting
for an answer, he took key from his
pocket and fitted 1t in the door, which,
after several vigorous shoves from his
shoulder, suddenly gave way. precipi-
tating Old Man into the middle of the
floor.
Old Man picked himself up, lit lamp
and motioned Samantha to enter.
'"Tain't the Governor -Gin'rars nor
Parliament House." he said, with ILL
timed POPULARITY, "but there's n cheer
or two, an I've sorter fixed it up real
pretty"
Samantha came gaily in. She saw
at a glance that the stove burnt
brightly. Beside the stove stood
comfortable rocking chair The room
itself, though homely and rough. was
,rf Go, tnI III
the two bedrooms, she noticed a snowy
bed On the wall above it hung a
gaily -gilded text God bless our home"
Old Man came in and shut the door
II had Mrs. Wright from the Corners
to fix IL for you" he said, with ill-con-
cealed pride. "You sot down bit;
I'll git supper, Samanthy."
Samantha was too tired to help Old
Man, but watched with an amused
smile his efforts to make the best of
every thing. Beyond up-se ting the
biscuits on the floor and burning his
fingers with the stove lid, Old Man ap-
peared to be rather expert in his do
Inestic arrangements When the hot
stew, which had Icen simmering in the
pot for hours, was poured out into a
yellow dish, Samantha felt very
hungry, and drew her chair eagerly to
the rough pine-table.
Old Man watched her eat but
scarcely touched anything himself.
Seems playin' it low down on yer,
Samanthy," he said when she had fin
isbed. Guess I'll clear away"
He went out to the sta BILE TO minister
to the wants of La Parasseuse first.
Samantha heard him turn the corner,
and hastily carried her things into the
bedroom. When her father came back,
she pushed him gently into the rock
!Eg.ehasr, and stood by his side. Now,