Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-09
WITH LITERARY pREDILECTIOHs

L contend that she should have been as
good judge of propriety as myself. As
for Mrs. Grundy and her votaries, l can
afford to treat them with the contempt
they deserve; but when ones own wife
sides with the opposition, and concurs in
the vote of censure, 1t becomes necessary.
however much against the grain, for the
accused to deliver statement of defense
Here, then, is the true story, and I leave
it to you to judge whether and how far
am to blame.
First OF all, it was through no fault of
mine that my wifes cold obliged me to
appear at Mrs. Browns dance in the char
acter of a bachelor. | protested yainly
against being made to go, but my wife her
self insisted that, considering the dearth
of gentlemen in our neighborhood, it
would be too bad for me to absent myself
on the plea Of some ones bad cold. There
fore, submitting to destiny, and under pro-
test, | went
Secondly, my introduction to Miss
Spinks was an honor utterly unsolicited
the gratuitous act of my hostess
kindly intended, no doubt. as a compli-
ment to US both, Miss Spinks being, like
myself, of literary turn, the authoress of
one or two society novels, and of some
reams of sentimental verse, as vet unpub-
lished. She was spending short holiday
with her friend, Mrs. Brown, studying
such aspects of country life and manners
as she could not acquire with equal facil-
ity in the realing-room of the British Mu-
scum. Her next work was to be a SPORT
ing novel, and she was eager for all infor-
nation on such subjects that could give
her. So much she confded to me in the
course of our first set of lancers, and seeing
that she was interested in my converse
ton, did perhaps dance with her and sit
In the conservatory with her, rather more
frequently than would have been strictly
proper had | been a bachelor or she ten
years younger. But on this point the hus-
band of my wife and 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 l mentioned that
the otter hounds were to meet next
morning at Penton bridge, and l may even
have added that | intended to be there.
and that the fixture was for 7:30. At all
events, Miss Spinks says that did so.
and have no reason to doubt the
correctness of her statement. But of
this ] am quite certain, that neither she
nor | said single word about her going
to Penton Bridge, For did l express any
opinion on the propriety of ladies indulg-
ing in such pastimes. may have said
that certain of the fair sex in our neigh
borhood did attend the meets, and even
followed the chase; but whatever infer
ence Miss Spinks may have drawn from
my remark, the fact remains that | made
no suggestion and held out no inducement
whatever to her personally to take any
part in the sport. This | most emphati-
cally declare.
Consequently, do no violence to my
conscience by asserting that nothing was
further from my thoughts than renconter
with Miss Spinks, when, after three hours
sleep donned my heaviest boots and old
est clothes, III preparation for tramp over
meadow and piowed fields in pursuit of the
anglers bette noir. The feeling of doing
something very meritorious which attends
a feat Of early rising alone caused the Ella
ton which buoyed me up to shave with
cold water, breakfast off half-cooked
yiands, and run wildly for half mile to
catch my train, with a certainty of a 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 uncoupled, and the
driver INDUCING in playful pleasantries
with semi-somnolent porter, as if time
were of no consequence to the company or
Its customers. But, diving into smoking
carriage, | was able to find some comfort,
and WAS again in high good humor when |
alighted at Penton Road Station, fifty
yards from the appointed rendezvous.
Again ! solemnly protest that nothing,
not even the absence of the ever-punctual
master himself, could have caused me
greater establishment than did the presence
on the platform of my partner of the
previous evening. Any witness of her
greeting of myself and of my wonder
struck return Of her efiiIsiveness must bear
me out in what | say. know that Mrs.
Darcy Domville, a notorious gossip and
slanderer, who, under escort OF Captain
Heavitree, was nearest to us at the mo-
ment, has since characterized me as a con-
summate actor, "bat Just the least bit too
consummate, you know, my DEAR But
those who know her propensities would
hardly take her insinuations against my
"plain. pnvarnished tale" and / am con-
tent to be judged by an impartial jury, re-
serving the right to challenge any friend
OF Mrs Domville's. whose name may APP
pear on the panel.
To resume. Alighting from a first-class
carriage Il was modestly riding in third J.
Miss Spinks glanced round, singled me out
and having advanced toward me, held out
her hand. In my astonishment, even
I. &. II -
learn has been scored against me by the
Domville clique, as implying greater init
macy than our very short acquaintance
word, Miss Spinks was shaking hands with
me warmly, looking confdingly in my face
and saying in a low tone:
"Iknew you would be here, and wouldn't
mind taking charge Of me. You talked SC
cleverly abou. otter-hunting last night thai
/ could not resist coming, so l have given
Mrs. Brown the slip and am trusting en-
tirely to you"
Ordinary civility would not allow me t.
do less than consent. | could not sugges
that the company of another lady would
have been desirable, and rejecting that
was sober married man, and she certainl,
not on the skittish side of thirty, resolved
to make the best of it. Besides, from hel
costume it was evident that she did no,
mean to do more than see the meet, and
perhaps walk to the bridge TO watch tbs
hounds take the water and then she coult
quite well return alone, leaving me TO joir
the sport. She wore fashionably-mads
walking-dress of some himsy materia
short enough to show a modicum Of scarle
stockings, aud a pair of high-heeled French
shoes, slightly ont of place even ON oul
high roads, and calculated to stamp then
wearer as lunatic had she intended I,
venture INTO the fields with them
| was therefore without misgiyings OF
tint score, and indeed my mind was fol
the moment otherwise occupied n,
doubt, as Miss Spinks said, had ta.ket
cleveriy of otter-hunting at the dance, anS
her abs3iote ignorance Of the subject haf
perhaps tended TO magnify my Knowledge
But it was nevertheless true that hae
never hitherto seen otter hounds at work
and ny wisdom was entirely derived from
reading, and from after-dinner accounts 0
great runs detailed by our neighbour;