The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-09-11

screen, cmcring covered with pcacocks
feathers, blood and glory, to be led
away 10y papa for repairs
| was awfully angry. | knew per
fcctly well he simply acted so outra.
gcOusly because he thought we "Ameri-
cans would be delighted with any
thing he did. "Noblcssc obligc' is
my motto, and If ! ever go TO England
or Xuuand | intend to behave quite
as well as do home.
When Mr. Fox returned, radiant
and eager to take hand in the next
savage rite we performed he found Us
quietly discussing horses mamma hav-
ing vetoed anything more exciting than
conversation and tea while he remained.
He is a charming young man, my
dc0rs, she said. VERY like his dear
cousin But he is too volatile for my
bric-a brac.
All" Mr.. Fox joined in alTahly, you
ought to sec my hunters. Not that
they'd do you much service. You
haven't the game, you know
True, Mr. Fox, ~ replied Tom, with
great suavity "Thereforc, instead of
sending us donkcys, you should supply
US with foxes.
DO We send you donkcys?" said
the obtusc creature II didn't know
II. Why what use do you make of
thcmY'
1--WE make game Of them, said the
audacious Tom.
ooh, Mr.. Fox, do you like plain rd-
ing?' interrupted in terror.
"Why, that's my fad, Miss IRE
maine. ~ he cried, 81 should say did.
AT home they call me Ccntaur you
know"
"Do they? What shame. He only
had one eye, while you have two, |
said sympathctically, gazing at him
with affected admiration.
Smiling a sckly smile he thought
perhaps mcnt Cyclops.'
"Ah Thanks. | did. How stupid
you must think me Centaur; why,
certainly, he's the one who invented
the linimcnt | saw picture of him
on a rock in the Catskills-haif man,
half donkey"
had the satisfaction of seeing him
wilt.
My astounding ignorance knocked
him out. lie was silenccd. The rest
of us drifted into discussion on the
superiority of ancient over modern
poetry, and when backed up my side
| by translating some of lloraces odes
felt his google eyes fastened on me in u
surprise. He was evidently trying to
understand a little Inconsistency he OBJ
served in me.
All the summer he became n sort of
semi-detatched fixture of mine. always
joining me at chops" and tennis
trays" and spending every evening at
our house. am sure ! gave him no
encouragement, because Tom took it
into his head to be violently jealous of
him, and so had to be very careful.
Men are such geese. Now, when Tom
said he loved me | believed him, and
have never been in the least jealous
since. But Tom had to get me out on
the piazza twice week to ask me "why
if | loved him, let that 'beastly cad
hang around me-" Was not he too
absurd?
Finally the climax came. One cool
afternoon Mr. Fox appeared with
horses and proposed ride appeal
10 you. Could | help myself OF
course not | flew upstairs got into
my habit and descended to enjoy les
son in the English style of riding from
the "Ccntaur."
How shall | ever describe the alb.
surd ride 1t was too funny. Imag
inc, in the first place, my cavalier lcav
ing the groom to enjoy the pleasure
of putting me into my saddle, while
he brcathcd in his horses ears and nose
ITO subduc the brute, you know"
Slightly surprised at this original be
ginning, drew Off to the other side t.
await developments, and in moment
saw the "Ccntaur" tearing up the road
knees out, head down on the horses
neck, yelling: whoa, mare o
whoa you beast.
Away went Gilpin Away wen
he; and, being quick to take Il hint,
followed. The English style of riding
seems little eccentric, but promised
to be exciting, | pursued him hotly
half q mile or so, chccrcd on by the
plaudits of my friends as they cam,
from the o'clock train, and caugh
him as he stopped to mop his heatcC
brow under tree,
| meekly suggested as | rode up tina
it would have less the air of "Stop
thief chase" if he We're to keep with
in quarter of mile of me.
"Well, | dunno" he said, "if thi
brute of a horse will let me. neve
saw such fool of horse; the tightc
/ hold him the faster he goes.
IF you didn't rub his mouth raw
with the curb he'd be all right"
frankly said.
II did not come to this side TO lcarl
how to ride" he haughtily observed
and doubtless | should have been quit
crushed by his sarcasms if 9Th
bloody brute had not shot off agaii
with him.
ooh p said l, "a southcrly win
and cloudy sky proclaim n huntin!
morning" and OF went after.
Never before or since have | rul
after any man as did after that En-
glishman. My excuse must be that
was the only hunt ever joined whcr
there was real Fox" 1t was hart
hunt. Two long miles | chased tina
unluclly man, and everywhere w
commanded the most iattering atten
ton. The crews flew out of the boat
house to swell our triumph, an
passers-by stood petrifiod with ADM
ration as we tore by. 1t was i'm
mense-just like being in a circus
My hat floated gayly over hedge
my hair fell down and my side ache
with laughing, but | determined to b
in at the death. | knew my nobl
game must take to cover before long
as knees and elbows were EVIDENT
giving out.
Sure enough, by the kind interior
cnce of Providcnce--ccrtainly he ha
nothing to do with it-hc stopped Il
our stable door and fell, "a dem
moist, unpleasant body" into the arm
Of our grinning groom while |, dis
graceful rs ii was, sat on Il bundle q
hay and shouted. couldn't help il
he was such funny mixture Of die
nifty and misery, rs he moppcd hi
heated brow and tried to explain VIII
| mud I,,,s q bnpn.p.I