Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-06-03
Ny Only Days Hunting.

| III was nv man VINO spoke, anu us he
did SO, he held up for inspection an I'M,
maculate pair OF tops" i'll one hand and
a pair of painfully new breeches IN the
other, while his countenance Wore an ex-
preston of mingled fear and astonish-
ment.
With an inward sinking at my heart
turned from my morning paper and cut
let, and having nodded Il gloomy assent
to his query, said, That will do, James /;
lay them on the sofa.
The above conversation took place III
my bachelor apartments in the Albany,
and the reason for the appearance therein
of the aforesaid top and breeches am
about to explain. | am not hunting
man. | never could see any Joke Ill
humping about on hard piece of pig
skin in pursuit of draggled piece OF
vermin called fox, although some peo-
pie say the fox enjoys the fun. 1t Is all
very well for those who like 1t and Mr..
Jorricks of immortal memory, may call
hunting ''the sport of things-the image
of war without its guilt and only - per
cent of its danger, If he likes, but con-
fess | can't see it i'll that light. 1t was
with feelings the reverse OF pleasant,
therefore, that l received and accepted
an invitation from Sir Harry Bulltinch to
STAY aweek at his .box" III Warwickshire,
and avail myself of his hospitality and
mount with the most renowned pack which
| hunted that country. | was urged TO tins
acceptance of what in my sancr moments
L should have Indignantly treated as
practical joke by slight attack of the
master passion. / met Sir Harry and his
daughter Kate in London, during the
past season. We had frequently met at
various balls and entertainments, and on
several occasions had enjoyed the halmy
fragrance of Bushy park and the still de
lights of a boat on the upper reaches ofthe
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 appear
ed to hold ont promises of quiet tctc-d-
htes, so | electrified my tailor and boot
| maker with orders for the necessary
.'togs' with which TO carry on the cam
paign.
/ 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 him most express IN
siructions to deny me even to 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 n brandy and soda and
couple of boot hooks, to pull on n pair OF
boots which nearly gave me n fit OF apo
plexy and made my corns burn for hours.
Armed with a cutting whip, then mount
ell astridc the strongest char III the
apartment, and continued the exhlllratinS
exercise with the firmness of stole and
martyr, and with only one interval for
luncheon, throughout the entire day.
Nv train left the Great Northern sta
tion at 80, 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 Sir
Harry's mahogany.
Il suppose our dull country pack will
seem quite second rate to you, said
Kate.
1 was mUrmunns something III rcpiv, |
when Sir Harry cut III with
''Ah, I've got splendid mount for you |
tomorrow, my boy! A trltie playful, |
perhaps-hasn't been hunted yet this |
season, but will carry you like bird.
'Oh. yes" said Kate, Gear is such
nice creature"
'Indeed.'' said |. Il am reioiced to
hear it. Of course yGu accompany us to
the mcet?'
"Yes," she replied, 'and papa has said
that as you are going out L might even
follow the hounds little way. You'll
look after me, wont you, Mr.. De Boots
The following morning at breakfast
the horses were brought round-a sturdy,
thick-set, quiet looking weight carrier, a
neat-looking gray and bright iidgety
chestnut. The last gave his attendant
groom some trouble, and he insisted on
waltzing around ON his hind legs good
deal more than appeared TO me TO be nee
essarv.
Il am afraid your papa will find that
animal rather troublesome, i remarked
to Kate
That" she answered, "oh, that's not
papa as-thats the one You are gong to
ride-Czar."
NV appetite left me, and us | rose and
walked, III as unconcerned manner as l
could assume, to the window, ! saw that
the Gar had reversed the order OF things |
by putting his head between his fore legs
and lashing ont with his heels in very
vicious-looking and anything but play
full" manner
A general move was now made to the
front door. Kate looked at me and evi-
IDENTIFY expected me TO put her up, but
knew better than to attempt 1t, and pre-
tended to be intent on buckling strap
of the pair of spurs Sir Harry had lent
me until she was safe III the saddle. Gar
was then brought up for me to mount,
which, after several abortive attempts on
nv part, affected, and we all logged on
towards the meet. Contrary TO my ex-
pectation Gar behaved III most exem- |
plary manner, and / even vcntured 10
swing my whip with n jaunty air without
his taking the slightest notice. But II
was too good to last Presently red
coat popped out on us from by-lane,
and the Cars ears began to twitch. Two
or three more horsemen overlook us, anu
his tail began to describe circles, and he
proceeded on his way with crab like
movement, which was anything but ele
giant and emincntly disconcerting.
Almost before | could realize the posi-
ton, stern voice shouted, "Now, you
sir, mind the hounds, will you?' and a
muttered oath accompanied by an express
sion which sounded very much like tail
or" drew my attention to the fact that We
had arrived in n field by the side of
wood. i'll which was gathered some seven
| ty or eighty horsemcn and a pack OF
hounds Luckily for myself, and also
for the hounds, on whom CZar seemed to
think it great fun to dance, the master at
tins moment gave the signal tc throw
off. 1t nearly became prophetic III my
case. In less time than IT takes to write,
Il fox was started ] lost my hat and my
| head at one and the same moment, and
nearly my seat, and the next thing that
remember with any degree of distlnctness
IL clinging with the blind energy of a
drowning man to the pnmmel of the sad
die, and regarding with despair Il huge
fence which seemed TO approach me at 81
terrific rate There was II sudden rush, a
tremendous spring seem 10 have left
the lower part of nay waistc"at and ITS
contents on the other side of the obstacle
and, with JOLT which pitched me
somewhere III the vicinity of Care ears,
we were over.
The field VT landed ia was stiilish inl-
low, but Gar still urged ou his wild
career" with undated speed. shook
back into the saddle, and a passing re-
gret that | had neglected TO insure my
life against accidents fitted through my
mind | continued to cling to the pom
mel, and III this manner we negotiated
three more fences, and got into quiet
lane, when, much to my astonlslncnt
Gar stopped dead short We had, Ia my
sincere delight, lost the hounds pat,
ted Gar gently ON the meek, and quickly