The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-10-15

uGT COSLuIu0 III Was eNlueuG GudG SuC
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 flmsy material, short
enough to show a modicum of scarlet
stocking and a pair of high-heeled
French shoes, slightly out OF place
even on our highroads, and calculated
to stamp their wearer as a lunatlc had
she intended to venture into the fields
IN them. | was therefore without
misgIv1ngs on that score, and Indeed
my mind Was for the moment other
wise occupied. No doubt, as Miss
Splnks said, | had talked cleverly OF
otter-huntlng at the dance, and her
absolute ignorance OF the subject had
perhaps tended to magnify my knowl-
edge. But it Was nevertheless true
that |. 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
OF great runs detailed by our neigh
boring squires. 1t was therefore es-
sential that | should keep my eyes and
memory on the alert, and should man.
age to remove my fair companion as
much as possible beyond ear-shot OF
our better-informed neighbors, lest she
should ask questions calculated to ex-
| pose my ignorance. This explanation
though humiliatlng, | feel compelled
to make, so as to answer the charges
of isolating Miss Spinks and avoiding
the rest Of the field, which have, | un-
derstand, been whispered against me
by the Darcy Domville faction.
There was a general move to the
crossroads, where stands the Penton
Bridge Hotel, small roadside inn, to
| which a meet Of the otter-hounds
brings welcome flash Of notorlety
and custom. Here we fell in with the
equestrian contingent and score or
SO Of carriage folk, who had driven
over to attend the meet. [ could not
| help noticing one or two curious
glances bestowed by my lady friends
on my companion as L exchanged
greetings with them. Some Of those
present had seen her at Mrs. Brown $
dance, and among these Miss .Fortes-
cue, a merry, pleasant girl and noted
| pedestrian III our small circle, Was
pleased to rally me on my appearance
IN the role Of squire of danes. [ hast
ened to explain that curiosity to see
the hounds, with view to her forth
coming novel, was the sole cause of
Miss Spinks's presence. hoping that
Miss Fortescue would circulate this
explanation, and withdrew as speedily
as possible to a position of compara-
tive obscurity.
Presently, with rush and scram-
BILE, the pack issued from an clubhouse,
in which they had spent an hour i'll
rest and refreshment, and as they
plunged pell-mell among the crowd,
Miss Spinks gave a little shrek and
cIung to my arm.
"Oh, Mr.. Hastie! what horrible
creatures! Will they bite?'
[ FASTENED to reassure her, and free
ing my arm patted one of the dogs on
the head, and induced her to do the
same She put hand timldly on the
ANIMALS shaggy ears, Instantly with
drawing it again, and exclaimlng,-
What curious dogs! Are otter
hounds always like that? | though
hounds were nice, smooth, brown-and
white things, such as one sees IN hunt
ing pictures, :,
"You are thinking Of fox-hounds, p"
said [. ''Otter-hounds are naturally
rough-coated to protect them from
cold IN the water
"Oh! do they go into the water?"
Certainly" L. replied gravely.
''That is their business in life" )"
And where is the otter.?" she ask
ed, glancing round her.
''In the river, | hope," | answered.
"But don't they bring it in a cart,
like the deer at Windsol?"
| saw Miss Fortescue looking on
with twinkling eyes, just near enough
to catch the drift of this catechism,
and hastened to save myself from fur
ther questions by giving a low-vOiced
lecture on the habitat of the wild OF
ter, so far as my recollections of nat
ural history would help me. Then to
my great relief the whips called their
pocks together and led the way to the
bridge. The whole posse followed, we
bringing up the rear. Five minutes
walking brought US to the spot where
the Penn rushes swiftly through a
single span of masonry, to widen out
again a few yards lower down into IA
sober, well-conducted trout stream,
with pools and stickles sufficient to
satisfy the keenest angler.
The word was given, up stream,
and the red coats of the master and
his satellites vanished through a gate
way on the left-hand side of the road.
A moment more, and a series of
splashes announced that the pack had
taken the water, and a general exodus
Of pedestrians followed. | fingered
till only the carriage folk remained
on the bridge to watch the hounds out
of sight. Then turning to Miss
Spinks, said, holding out my hand:
you will not have long to wait for
a train, and when the hounds disap-
pear you have only few yards to
walk to the station, SO you will excuse
my not waiting to escort you.
She looked at me with an air OF as
tonishment, and replied
| L InOuSnG yOu'Were going W loA-
low the hounds"
$50 I am,' | answered.:
"But I'm going too. You said you
would take charge of me-
"But, Miss Spinks," [ demonstrated
"you don't intend to 60 in that dress?
You will be wet through in five min
utes."
"Of course | mean to CO." she re-
torted half tearfully. What does my
dress matter?"
"But your Shoes" I added. "Thev
would not last through half mile of
wet grass and ploughed fields"
"You don't want to take me-" she
exclaimed petulantlY. "and you re