The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-10

me greater astonishment than did the presence on the platform of my partnef of the previous evening. Any witness oi her greeting of myself and of my wonder struck return of her effusiveness must bear me out in what say. l know that Mrs. Darcy Domville, notorious gos- sip and slanderer, who, under escort oi Captain Heavitiee, was nearest to us al the moment, has since characterized me as consummate actor, "but just the
 least bit too consummate, you know, my
 dear" But those who know her propen-
 sites would hardly take her insinuations
 against my plain unvarnished tale, and
 am content to be judged by an impartial jury, reserving the right to challenge any
 friend of Mrs. Domville's whose name
 may appear on the panel.
 But to resume. Alighting from first
 class carriage { was modestly travelling third), Miss Spinks glanced round, sim
 gled me out, and advancing toward me,
 held out her hand. In my astonishment,
 even omitted to raise my hat-a fact
 which learn has been scored against me
 by the Darcy Domville clique, as inn plying greater intimacy than our very short acquaintance warranted-and be- fore could utter word, Miss Spinks was shaking hands with me warmly, look ing copfidingly in my face, and saying in low tone:
 "I knew you would be here, and wouldn't mind taking charge of me. You talked so cleverly about otter-hunting last night that could not resist coming, so have given Mrs. Brown the slip and am trusting entirely to you"
 Ordinary civility would not allew me to do less than consent. could not sug- gest that the company of another lady would have been desirable, and reflect ing that was sober married man, and she certainly not on the skittish side of thirty, resolved to make the best of it. Besides, from her costume it was evident that she did not mean to do more than see the meet, and perhaps walk to the bridge to watch the hounds take the water, and then she could quite well return alone, leaving me to join the sport. She wore fashionably made walking dress, of some fiimsy material, short enough to show modicum of scarlet stocking and a pair of high-heeled French shoes, slightly out of place even on our high roads, and calculated to stamp their wearer as a lunatic had she intended to venture into the fields in them. was therefore without misgivings on that score, and indeed my mind was for the moment otherwise occupied. No doubt, as Miss Spinks said, had talked cleverly of otter-hunting at the dance, and her absolute ignorance of the subject had perhaps tended to magnify my kn owledge. But it was nevertheless true that l had never hitherto seen otter-hounds at work, and my wisdom was entirely derived from the pages of the Field, and from after. dinner accounts ofgreat runs detailed by our neighboring 'squires. It was there fore essential that should keep my eyes and memory on the alert, and should manage to remove my fair companion as much as possible beyond ear-shot of our better-informed neighbors, lest she should ask questions calculated to expose my ignorance. This explanation, though hu- initiating, feel compelled to make, so as to answer the charges of isolating Miss Spinks and avoiding the rest of the field, which have, understand, been whispered against me by the Darcy Domville faction.
 There was general move to the cross- roads, where stands the Penton Bridge hotel, a small roadside inn, to which a meet of the otter-hounds brings a wei. come flash of custom and notoriety. Here we fell in with the equestrian con- tingent and score or so of carriage folk who had driven over to attend the meet. l could not help noticing one or two cu- rious glances bestowed by my lady friends on my companion as exchanged greet ings with them. Some of those present had seen her at Mrs. Browns dance, and among these Miss Fortescue, a merry, pleasant girl, and noted pedestrian in our small circle, was pleased to rally me on my appearance in the role of squire of danes. l hastened to explain that to see the hounds, with view to her forthcoming novel, was the sole cause of Miss Spinks' presence, hoping Miss Fortescue would circulate this ex- planation, and withdrew as speedily as possible with my companion to position of comparative security.
 Presently, with rush and a scramble, the pack issued from an out-house, in which they had spent an hour in rest and and as they plunged pell- nell among the crowd, Miss Spinks gave a shriek and clung to my arm.
 "Oh, Mir. Elastic, what horrible crea- lures! Will they bite ?"
 1 hasteued to reessure her, and freeing my arm patted one ot the dogs on the head, and induced her to do the same. She put hand timidly on the animals shaggy ears, instantly withdrawing it again, and exclaiming:
 "What curious dogs Are otter-hounds always like that? Thought hounds were nice, smooth, brown-and-white things, such as one sees in hunting pictures"
 You arc thinking of ox-hounds, !" said l. "Otter'hounds are naturally rough coated to protect them from cold in the water"
 "Oh, do they go into the waterr'
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