The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-04-14
MY ONLY DAYS HUNTING.
Please. sir. are these for your"

MY ONLY Days HUNTING.
''Please, sir, are these for you?'
It was my man who spoke, and as he did
so, he held up for inspection an immaculate
pair of "tops" in one hand and pair Of
painfully new breeches in the other, while
his countenance wore an expression of
mingled fear and establishment.
With TN inward sinking at my heart
turned from nay morning paper and outlet,
and having nodded gloomy assent to his
query, said, ''That will do, James; lay them
on the sofa"
The above conversation took place in nv
bachelor apartments in the Albany, and the
reason for the appearance therein Of the
aforesaid tops and breaches 1 am about to
explain. lam not hunting man. l never
could see any joke in humping about on
hard piece of a pigskin in pursuit of a drag
gled piece Of vernlin called fox, although
some people say the fox enjoys the fun. It
! is all very we'll for those that like it; and
Mr.. Jorricks of immortal memory, NAV
call hunting ''the sport of things-the i'm
age of war without it's guilt and only Is pei
cent. of it's danger" if he likes, but con-
fess I can't see it in that light. It was with
feelings the reverse of pleasant. therefore,
that l received and acceptedan invitation
from Sir Harry Bullfnch to stay week at his
box" in Warwickshire, and avail myself of
his hospitality and ::mount with the renown
| pack which hunted the country. I was
| urged to this acceptance Of What in my
| saner moments should have Indignantly
treated as a practical joke by slight attack
! of the master passion. I met Sir Harry
| and his daughter Kate in London, during
| the past season. We had frequently met at
various balls and entertainments, and Oh
! several occasions had enjoyed the fragrance
of Bushy park and the still delights OF a
boat on the upper searches of the Thames,
but with my natural timidity had never
ventured to ask the question which was for
! farther. The invitation appeared to hold
out promises of quiet tete-a- tetes, so
electrified my tailor and boot maker with
orders for the necessary ''togs' with viii Oh
| 10 carry on the campaign.
remember having somewhere heard or
read that in order to acquire an easy and
graceful seat on horseback, sitting astride
| on chair and holding on by the back was
excellent practice, SO, having called James
and given MIN most express instructions to
deny me even to my most intimate friends,
| proceeded to struggle into perhaps the
! highest pair of cords that were ever made
| for mortal men, and, with the aid of a bran
dy and soda and couple of boot hooks, to
| pull on pair of boots which nearly gave
me a fit of appolexy and made my eorns
burn for hours, Armed with cutting
whip, then mounted astride the strongest
chair in the apartment, and continued the
exhilarating exercise with the firmness of a
stole and martyr, and with only one in
teryal for luncheon, throughout the entire
day.
My train left the Great Northern station
at 4:30, and landed me sefely at my dis.
tination. In due course found myself
seated next to the fair Kate, with my
legs comfortably stretched under Sir Harry S
mahogany.
Il suppose our dull country pack will
seem quite second rate to you" said Kate.
was murmuring something in reply,
when Sir Harry cut in with:
"Ah! I've gotta splendid mount for you
Tomorrow, my boy! A trife playful, per-
haps-hasn't been hunted yet this season,
but will carry you like "a bird. !"
ooh, yes, said Kate, "Czar is such nice
creature"
"Indeed!" said I. Il am rejoiced to hear
it. OF course you accompany us to the
meet?"
"Yes, she replied, land papa has said
that as you are going out might even fol-
low the hounds a little way. You'll look
after me, won't you, Mr.. De Boot?"
promised to do my devoirse, but in my
heart of hearts thoug ht I should require
some one to look after me.
The following morning at breakfast,
which was early on account of our having to
go some distance to the meet, the horses
were brought round-a sturdy, thick set,
quiet-looking weight carrier, a neat-look-
ing gray mare, and bright, fdgety chest
nut. The latter gave his attendant groom
some trouble, and insisted on waltzing
around on his hind legs good deal more
than appeared to me to be necessary.
II am afraid your papa will find that an
imal rather troublesome" / remarked tc
Kate.
"That," she answered, ooh, that's not
papa's-that's the one you are going to ride
Gar"
My appetite left me, and as rose and
walked, in as unconcerned a manner as
could assume, to the window, I saw that
Gear had reversed the order of things b!
putting his head.between his fore legs an6
lashing out with his heels in very vicious
looking and anything but playful" man
ner.
A general move was now made to the
front door. Kate looked at me and evi.
IDENTITY expected me to ''put her up" but
knew better than to attempt it, and pretend
ed to be intent on buckling a strap Of the
pair OF spurs Sir Harry had lent me unit
she was safe in the saddle. Gar was Their
brought up for me to mount, which, ate,
several abortive attempts on my part,
effected. and we all logged along toward