The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-06-12
The Hard NHd iSHOI.Jl
SteeDJe- Chase.


quested not % read this little tale;
there is an eiOpement in it, which you
know can have no possible interest foI
them. Moreover, all must allow that
elOpemenrs .Tc very shocking affairs,
and no accounts of themsought to be
read. The romantic days of them are
past and gone the blacksmith
OF Gretna Green, for aught /
know, is gathered to his fathers.
AT any rate, although there is
still Gretna, it is of no earthly use
going, for the simple reason that a
meddling and interfering Parliament
settled the worthy blacksmith as a
tyer of cOnnubial knots long ago, and
Gretna is no longer a marrying sta
ton.
Matters have at length been ar
ranged, and the Hard and Sharp Hunt
have decided on their annual ball.
1t is miserably wet night, raining
and blowing, metaphOrically speak
ing, "great guns" The dim gas-lights
flare and tremble in the deserted
streets of fSbarpandfast; it has a mel
anchOly, deserted and miserable look,
yet the glare at the Queens Head Ho-
tel, where the ball is given, has an un-
usually brilliant and imposing appear
ance.
a small knot of idlers are collected
near the entrance, shivering under
their dripping umbrellas, some have
nOne) to see the equality" as they go
in. An imposing array of four rural
policemen guard the entrance, and
keep ''St James" from being contain
mated by "St Giles" or the upper
ten" from coming in contact with the
slower five"
Carriages now arrive quickly and
| deposit their freights.
"Where's the Dock ," asked one.
| His grace nodding in his well-stuffed
arm-chair,by,his snug dining-rOom fire,
and his bottle of fifteen port is as yet
only half finished.
''Here comes the Squire" exclaims
another, as carriage with its gay
lamps, and drawn by spanking pair
of grays, is seen to approach. All
his daughter is well worth looking at
the prettiest girl in these parts by
long odds.
"Then Pll lay shilling,n remarked
the little barber of the place, and who
was also dealer in cigars and birds,
"that the Major won't be far Off"
1t is extraordinary how these coun-
try BARRIERS know everything; but the
barber is right in his surmise-the
Majors well appointed London cab
follows the Squire's carriage. Then
comes Fred Foster in his tandem
cart; a general favorite is Fred; muf-
| fled up in his Ulster and wrappers, one
cannot see that he is an exceedingly
fine and handsome young man-and
so most of the ladies seem to think as
he enters the ball room.
-'Such dear, nice fellow, and so
well dressed" utters one fond mann
ma who has four plain daughters with
doubtful feet and ankles to get off her
hands, and who fondly hopes that
| Fred may take fancy to one of them,
although he has only twelve hundred
a year.
"He dances so beautifully" ex-
claims another who is verging into the
"sere and yellow leaf'-at least her
skin is. She has for some years past
and has had full' opportunities of
Judging of Fred's performance on the
Eight, fantastic toe"
ayes, he is quite too nice" says lit
tie Miss Sinperton. Silly little goose
she enormously imagines that she will
bring him to book this night, and that
he will take her into supper.
"Such an awful jolly chap ~ ejacu-
lates young Sloper, of the Guards,
who has been shooting in the neigh
borhOod and has stopped for the Oc-
casiOn.
''Rides like the devil, and shoots
pigeons A l." says another.
81 don't believe Cook can give him
ten points in hundred at billiards."
remarks youngj Whitespott, who is
home on leave. Billiards and brandy,
pawnee and general dissipation had
wonderfully enfeebled him and played
the deuce with his liver.
"Plays cricket.nearly as well as his
Grace, and makes as good a book on
the safe side as any brick | ever saw"
puts in Captain Punter, while one
young lady crowns all by declaring:
"He is dear, wicked creature, and
quite too awful charming"
The object of all these remarks was
quite unconscious of them, and was
talking and laughing away with one
and the other. The only person who
did not seem to fancy him was the
MajOr-MajOr Hardman, who had
followed so closely in Squire FoXall's
wake; fine, handsome, polished, well
dressed man is the Major. A bruiser
across country, with plenty of means
and first-rate stud to back him up,
still he is not favOrite in the county,
save with the Squire. The old mas
ter of the fox-hOunds liked the Ma
jOr; the Major liked the hounds; he
had fine estate, which the old gem
tleman hOd spotted for his only child,
and which the retired warrior was
quite content and ready to give her.
In fact, he and the Squire had it all
arranged between themselves.
1t need be said of the young lady in
question that she was beautiful, amia-
ble, well connected and accomplished,
and would be rich at her fathers
death. Whether she reciprocated the
Majors passion and undisguised ad-
miration or not will appear in the Sc
quel.
The countenance of the Major was
anything but amiable as ne noticed
Fred Foster write his name down on
Miss Foxall's carl. Upon my soul,
Foxall," " said he, "I do not like your
daughters dancing with that fellow;
l saw him write his name down
three times"
"What the dooce does it matter, my
dear bOy?" returned the Squire;
they have known each other from
children. My poor wife was dOoced
fond Of Fred, l can tell you. All the
girls like dancing with hin-he
dances so dooced well, you know"
"Well, can't say I see anything
wonderful in it,n replied the Major,
"but | don't like it."
"Well, but you must like it, ,nretOrt-
ed the Squire; ''it is enough; you
have my word, Nellie is to be yours.
Let the girl enjoy herself when she is
out; it is not often she gets the
chance. Why don't you propose at
once, when you have my permis-