The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-10-15
From Longman's Magaznel
L'AFFAIRE SPIN KS
BY BERNARD HASTE.

oPpOol lohCOo h1y oO oS nv: ~ '" -
not really my fault. Besides, the lad.
was old enough to be responsible fo
her own actions, and [ contend tina
she should have been as good judg'
of propriety as myself. AS for Mrs
Grundy and her votaries, can affort
to treat them with the contempt they
deserve; but when ones own wifi
sides with the opposition, and concur:
in the vote of censure, it becomes nee
essary, however much against th'
grain, for the accused to deliver +;
statement Of defense Here, then, il
the true story, and | leave it to you tt
Judge whether, and how far, l am tt
blame
First of all, it was through no faul
Of mine that my wife's cold obliged
me to appear at Mrs. Browns dance
in the character Of bachelor. | pro
tested vainly against being made tc
go, but my wife herself insisted that
considering the dearth of gentlemen
in our neighborhood, it would be toe
bad Of me to absent myself on the
plea of some one else's cold. There
fore, submitting to destiny, and under
protest, | went
Secondly, my introduction to Miss
Spinks was an honor utterly unsollc.
tied, the gratuitous act Of my hostess
kindly intended, no, doubt, as a com.
pliment to us both, Miss Spinks being
like myself, Of literary turn, the au.
thoress of one or two society novels
and of some reams Of sentimental
verse, as yet unpublished. She was
spending a short holiday with hel
friend Mrs. Brown, studying such as
poets of country life and manners as
she could not acquire with equal facil.
ity in the readipg-room of the British
Museum. Her next work was to be E
sporting novel, and she was eager fol
all information on such subjects that
I could give her So much she con.
fided to me in the course of our first
set of lancers, and seeing that she was
interested in my conversation, [ die
perhaps dance with her, and sit in the
conservatory with her, rather more
frequently than would have beer
strictly proper had been a bachelor
and she ten years younger. But OF
this point the husband of my wife anc
father Of my family need not stoop to
defend himself.
Among much varied information
on sporting matters generally, it is by
no means improbable that | mentioned
that the otter-hounds were to meet
next morning at Penton Bridge, ano
I may even have added that [ intend
ed to be there, and that the fixture
was for 7:3O. At all events, Miss
Spinks said that | did so, and | have
no reason to doubt the correctness OF
her statement. But of this | am quite
certain, that neither she nor l said a
single word about her going to Pen.
ton Bridge, nor did [ express any
opinion on the propriety of ladies in
dulging in such pastimes. l may have
said that certain of the fair sex in oul
eighborhood did attend the meets
and even followed the chase, but what.
ever inference Miss Spinks may have
drawn from my remark, the fact re-
mains that I made no suggestion, and
held out no inducement whatever tc
her personally, to take any part in the
sport. This | most mphatically de-
clare.
Consequently, | do no violence to
my conscience by asserting that moth
ing was farther from my thoughts
than rencontre with Miss Spinks
when, after three hours sleep, don
ned my heaviest boots and Oldest
clothes, in preparation for tramp
over meadow and plough in pursuit OF
the anglers bette noi''e. The usual
feeling of doing something very mer-
itorious, which attends feat of early
rising, alone caused the elation which
buoyed me up to shave with cold wa
ter, breakfast off half-cooked viands
and run wildly for half mile to catch
my train, with the certainty of stitch
in the side as first installment of the
days labors. Reaching the station
just as the train was due to start, | OF
course found the engine still uncou-
pied, and the driver indulging in play
full pleasantries with a semi-somnolent
porter, as if time were Of no conse-
quence to the company or its custom
ers. But diving into smoking car
riage, [ was able to find some comfort
and was again in high good humor
when alighted at Penton Road Sta
ton, fifty yards from the appointed
rendezvous.
Again l solemnly protest that
nothing, not even the absence of the
eyer-punctual master himself, could
have caused me greater astonishment
than did the presence on the platform
of my partner Of the previous evening
Any witness of her greeting Of myself
and of my wonderstruck return Of hel
effusiveness must bear me out in what
| say. [ know that Mrs. Darcy Dom.
vile, a notorious gossip and slanderer
who, under escort of Captain Heavi
tree, was nearest to US at the moment
has characterized me as consummate
actor, 'but just the least bit too con.
summate, you know, my dear" But
those who know her propensities
would hardly take her insinuations
against my plain unvarnished tale, and
l am content to be judged by an i'm.
partial jury, reserving the right to
challenge any friend of Mrs. Dom
ville's whose name may appear on the
panel.
But to resume. Alighting from E
frst-class carriage q was modestly
travelling third,) Miss Spinks glanced
round, singled me out, and advancing
towards me, held out her hand. In
my astonishment, I even omitted tt
raise my hat-a fact which learn ha:
been scored against me by the darcy
Domville clique, as implying greater
intimacy than our very short acquain
tance warranted-and, before | coulC
utter word, Miss Spinks was. as.shakine
hands with me warmly, looking con
fidingly in my face, and saying in ;
low tone,-
II knea0 you would be here, ant
wouldn't mind taking charge Of me
You talked so cleverly about otter