The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-06-12

his name down on her card now,
You won't allow thzt, will you ~
"Of course ] will, my boy: she must
he civil TO all. You must remember
| hold q responsible situation in the
county. / should like 20 know how
the subscriptions 10 the hounds would
come If | did not do the polite
Most Of the gentlemen are still in
the supper room, but presently some
Of tha younger ones come in, and stand
talking in whispers.
Her Grace j. determined 10 know
what it al means her quick eye, III
spite Of her suOrt-sighteduess, has de-
tccted that something has taken place.
"NOw tell me, Mr.. Salmon - she said,
beckOning the young man up 10 her
something i wrong, or something
has been done what j. il ? ! must
know, - sit by me and tell me all
about it
"Well, your Grace,' said the fiat
tered young gentleman, "Major Hard
man and Mr.. Foster have had high
words-sOmething about riding and
horses. The Major commenced il, and
ii has ended in a stceple-chase match
between them for five hundred each,
half forfeit but We are all to join in
il, at five and twenty pounds each
there are seventeen OF Us already en-
tered it is to take place next week
on the Dukes home farm it will be
grand affair and the Duke most
kindly gives 4 luncheon before it
takes place-sO good of him."
The matter soon OoZed out the
ladies We're in ecstacies. a steeple-
chase Was ever anything more de-
lightful ? And the cOlors What did
so and so intend to ride in ? Black,
green, red, white, blue-Or what
Foster has chosen the hunt colors-
red and black The Major, blue and
white. Mr.. Salmon, salmon of course.
Mr.. Greenaway, green, and so on.
The ladies were enchanted,
talked of dress, and the gentlemen of
horses. At any rate, it was decided
that next week there would be
steeple-chase on the Dukes ground
and all went home pleased with the
| prospect of something more in view
to break the mOnOtony of country
| life.
! All the next week horses might be
| seen about the country clothed and
| exercised, gentlemen taking long
walks in huge top-coats and muffled
up to the eyes, to reduce their weight.
Ladies made mysterious visits to the
neighboring towns, and also to town
! fond husbands and indulgent paterfa
milias soon discovered that the Hard
and Sharp Steeple-chase cost consider
able sums, even to those who were
not engaged in it.
The only ones who who seemed less
excited about it than any one else were
Fred Foster and Major Hardman-
both took it very quietly.
The day at last arrives, bright beau
| tiful and calm not cloud or a drop
of rain to mar the coming sport.
The company is arriving fast at
the Dukes, and the stately attendant
ushering them in as fast as he can.
The Duchess is all smiles and cOrdi-
ality, the Duke all confederation and
| urbanity.
"Where can the Squire be ~ asked !
the Duchess, as she perceived he was |
not in the room. "Ah, here he comes. |
declare, Squire, how is it you are
alOne-where is your daughter ,"
Il am sorry to say, your grace, /
left her very unwell. / waited till the |
last moment. l suppose the excite
ment of the thing has has been too |
much for her"
ooh, am so grieved," said the no.
BILE hostess poor, dear girl what
pity ~
So the Major and Others thought
however, there was no help for it. /
Miss FOXall was indispOsed, and |
could not come.
The lunch was at last finished and a |
general move was made for the scene
of action.
A first-rate course had been chosen
and tagged out by the Squire and his
huntsman. There were timber, wa
ter-ditches, banks, and and 4 wall
built up in the Galway fashion.
1t was circular course of about |
two miles and had to be done twice.
Carriages from all parts of the coun-
try were densely packed betting
men, with their metallics and books,
were hard at work and grOOms and
trainers looked anxious. 1t was
stiff course, that all allowed, and none
but a tiptop animal could hope to get
over it.
1--WE don't want a flat race" re-
marked the Squire ''we want fenc-
ing and good jumps, such as Beechers
and Valentines and BrOOkSeS were
years ago, not such as they are now.
| want to see the hest cross country
horse win and it will be dOoced odd
to me if the men of my huUt cannot
ride this country"
A cheer answered the popular old
gentleman.
The weighing was commenced
there have been other entries and
instead of the original seventeen, there
areAnOw twenty.nine.
The Major is mounted, and well he
looks in his blue and white, and be-
strides a noble looking animal-a
flyer from head to heel.
Mr.. Salmon, too, is up to the mark
on Dog-fish, and his straw-cOlOred
jacket and cap looks a perfect gentle
man-jack. One after the other the
competitors appear and take their
gallOps.
"Where the doose is Foster ?' asks
the Squire "his horse is ready and
waiting to be saddled. Some one tell
him to make haste /; it is not fair to
keep the field waiting he is general
ly punctual to a secOnd.'
A man now goes up to the Major.
can yeZ plaise, yer HONOR" said he,
touching his cap, and speaking with
an unmistakable Irish accent, "the
master desired me to give yer this"
handing him note.
"What the devil is it ? who gave it
to you ? who are you ?"
"Pm Mister Fosters man, yer hon
or" replied he.
''Here, catch hold of the horses
head, them" and he opened the note
without getting off. 'By George !"
he said, as he glanced hurriedly over
it "here, FoXall, here is go. FOs-
ter has been called away on the instant
on business of the utmost Importance;
he can't start, and he's paid forfeit.
Here is a check for ESQ. / never was
so disappointed in my life"
The disappointment was great and
general when it was known Foster
had paid forfeit, and various were the
surmises.
"NOw, gentlemen, get ready and in
line,n said the Squire, cantering up
on his cob. II hope 1 shall be able to
start you all fair. May the best hOsre
win. Don't pump your cattle; and
let me see you all make good race of
it. Iwish with all my heart every |
one of you could win"
'lneY'Te Oh - Is SnOul6u 1T liSL a. L
4 body of gay-colored horsemen are
seen cantering down a large grass
field.
"What beautiful start ~
"There goes green to the 'front.'"
''Well jumped, black"
"Ah, there is one down. Never |
mind, he is up again"
The Duchess, for her, is really ex-
cited, and keeps her Opera-glass firm
ly fixed to her eye. "Oh, it is beauti-
fulu' she exclaims.
81 do so hope SlOper will win,"
says Lady Flirtington. az have back
ed him for three dozen pairs Of gloves"
The bets in gloves are something
tremendous : Houbigant's whole shop
could hardly supply them.
"The Major is holding hard" re-
marks the Squire "he will be there
or Whereabouts"
The field now looked like little
specks in the distance, and to the