The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-03-26
MY FIRST AND LAST FOX HUNT.

y
Please, sir, are these for you
1t was my man who spoke, and as he
did 50, he held up for inspection an i'm
II maculate pair Of "tops" IN one hand and
II 4 PAIR Of painfully new breeches in the
i other, while his countenance wore an ex-
Il preston OF mingled fear and astonish-
Il ment.
With an inward sinking at my heart I
turned from my morning paper and cut
\ let, and having nodded gloomy assent
70 his query, said, That will do, James:
ID lay them on the sofa.
The above conversation took place in
my bachelor apartments IN the Albany,
and the reason for the appearance there
i'll Of the aforesaid tops and breeches /
i ann now about to explain. / am not a
hunting man. | never could see any
Joke in humping about on a hard piece
Il Of pigskin IN pursuit of draggled piece
4 II yermin called a fox, although some
4 people say the fox enjoys the fun. 1t is
u all very well for those who like it; and
u Mr. Jorrlcs OF immortal memory may
4 call hunting the sport of things-the
image Of war without its guilt and only
II - per cent of its danger" if he like,
81 but / conf ss | can't see it in that light.
1t was with feelings the reverse of pleas
ant, therefore, that | received and ac-
q cepted an invitation from Sir Harry Bull
III finch to stay a week at his "box in
@ Warwlckshlre, and avail myself of his
hospitality and a mount with the re-
q nounel pack which hunted that country.
q | pas urged to this acceptance of what
n II my saner moments / should have in
dlgnantly treated as practical joke by
u slight attack of the master passion.
| met Sir Harry and his daughter Kate
III London, during the past season. We
had frequently met ut various balls and
entertainments, and on several occasions
had enjoyed the balmy fragrance of
Bushy park and the still delights of
boat on theupper reaches Of the Thames.
but with my natural timidity had never
ventured to ask the question which was
forever on the tip of my tongue, but
never got farther. The invitation held
out promises of quiet tcte-a-tetes, so I
electrified my tailor and bootmaker with
orders for the necessary "togs with
winch to carry on the campaign.
remembered having somewhere
heard or read that in order to acquire an
easy and graceful seat on horseback, sit
ting astrlde on a chair and holding ON by
the back was excellent practice, so, hav-
ing called James and given him most ex-
press instructions to deny me even my
most intimate friends, | proceeded to
struggle into perhaps the tightest pair
Of cords that were ever made for mortal
man, and, with the aid of brandy and
soda and a couple of boot hooks, to pull
on pair OF boots which nearly gave me
a tit OF apoplexy and made my corns
burn for hours. Armed with cutting
Whlp, then mounted astride the strong
est char IN the apartment, and con-
tmued the celebrating exercise with the
hrmness OF stole and martyr, and
with only one interval for luncheon,
throughout the entire day.
My train left the Great Northern sta
ton Mt 4:30, and landed me safely at my
destination. In due course ] found my
self seated next to the fair Kate, with my
legs comfortably stretched under Sin
Harry's mahogany.
| suppose our dull country pack viii
seem quite a seeond-rate affair to YOU,
said Kate.
was mumuring something in reply
when Sir Harry cut in With:
Ahi I've got IA splendid mount foI
You tomorrow, my boy! 4 trihe playful
perhaps-hasn't been hunted vet this
season, but will carry you like bird.
''Oh, yes, said Kate, Gar is such g
nice creature
Indeed said l. Il am reioiced t.
hear it. OF course you accompany us Il
the meet 2"
4 Vas " sbe ra,,I;ol .s,,l ,,,,, L..
said that, rs you were going out, / might
even follow the hounds a little wav,
You'll look after me, won't you Mr.. d.
Boots?'
| promised to do my devoirs, but il
my heart of hearts thought | should re
quIre some one to look after me.
The following morning at breakfast
which was early on account of our hay
ing to go some distance TO the meet, tn,
horses were brought round-a sturdy
thlck-set, duiet-lOoking weight-car rier
neat-looking gray mare, and bright
tdgetY chestnut. The latter gave hi
attendant groom some trouble. and IN
sisted on waltzing around on his hind leg.
good deal more than appeared to me Il
be necessary.
: I'm afraid your papa viii find tina,
amman fatnef troublesome, L remarked
TO Kate.
THAT" she answered, ooh. that!
not papa's-that's the one you are going
to ride-Czar"
My appetite left me, and as | rose an(
walked IN as unconcerned a manner as
could assume to the window, saw tha
Gar had reversed the order of things 10y
putting his head between his fore leg
and lashing out with his heels in a yer,
vicious-looking and anything but 'play
al manner
A general move was now made to tht
front door. Kate looked at me and evi
IDENTIFY expected me to "put her up,
but / knew better than TO attempt it
and pretended to be intent on buckling
strap of pair of spurs Sir Harry hat
lent me until she was safe IN the saddle