The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-02
A LIVELY EXPERIENCE.
The Truth About Fox Hunting bv
Ono Who Has Given It Up.

The Truth About Fox Hunting bv
= Ono Who Has Given It Up.
my dear follow, it's most awfully good
OF you; awfulIy kind. But IL mako it n
rule never to hunt another mans horses
never" sit back in my chair as saw this
to Pudgewood, whose guest am, and as
sumo look which ought to convince him
That am making sacrifice to principle
whico causes me profound regret and dis
appointment; but somehow he Soesn,t
seem to believe it.
"Nonsense, Jonesr' he says. I'll, give
you tho old gray; he's the quietcst hunter
i havo in the stable. Steady As house.
ana as clever on his legs as cat. l defy
you to bring that horse down, sir!" he con-
cludes, with an emphatic thump on the din
ner-table.
Now, strictly between ourselves. it had
never occurred to me that there was tho
least likelihood Of my bringing the horse
uown. Well-founded approximations lest it
should bring cdown prompt my disinclina-
ton to accept Pudsewood's offer; but Of
course 1t isn't necessary to tell him that
u was speaking the truth when told him
mat made it rule never to hunt another
mans horses; l made that rule long ago.
and, never having hitherto met anv one
VINO tempted me to break it, have
found no difficulty in adherinp to t.
When l told Mrs. Jores to accent tho
Pudgewoods' invitation to spend q week at
their place in Stoneshire quite forgot that
Anthony Pudgewoood was one of those few
nunting-men who arc generous enough to
mount their friends. Had I remembered
the TACT, should have come to Barnsdalo
Win spralned wrist or something which
would eifectually prevent man attemptinp
10 ride. 1t is quite obvious that Pudce.
WOOD won't he put oil by my plea of .'prin.
c1ple;' so must try another argument.
Il don't like refusing your offer, Fudge
WOOD" say; ''and should have enjoyed q
day with the hounds immensely, but have
Drought no riding things with me-" That
ought TO be conclusive, I think. But no.
Fu"gc"ood casts critical eye over nv
figure, and says thoughtfully: ''My clothes
wouldn't tit You. Pm afra;d.-But George
you remember my brother George?-left all
MS hunting Kit here, and he is just the same
build as you arc. I'll lend you some of his
things''
Every loophole OF escape seems to be clos
Ing up. cast an appealing look at nv
wife, who is sitting opposite me. She is a
clever woman, Mrs. Jones, though l say it:
wonderfully ready, and of boundless re-
source. give hcr glance which is in
tended to convey Help me out of it," but
she fails to grasp my meaning, and helps me
little further into it,
'When Mr.: Pudgewood is 80 kind as to
oner you mount, Algernon, 1 really think
you ought to take it," she says
'Quite right, Mrs. JONES'" assents Fudge
wood. II shouldn't like your husband to 20
away from Barnsdale without having q
gallop with the Stoneshire hounds. know
how fond Of hunting he is; he has often told
me OF his doings."
Things are growing worse. I'm afraid
must have given Pudgewood wrong i'm
preston when talked to him about hunt
Ing. My experience of the sport Of kings
mas been that OF an onlooker from the seat
OF dog-cart. fused to enjoy that thor
oughly, particularly the lunching part of
the days business, when was STAYING IN
in Yorkshire last winter. l have some
times been for ride along the road: but
never rode to hounds in nv life, and
ought to have mentioned the fact, which
fuogeWOOd does not appear TO be &C
qualnted with. l wish there weren't so
many people present; really have not the
courage to explain how have gained the
knowledge of hunting matters which have
0een airing so freely all dinner time before
such crowd. 1t would look too foolish.
"pm desperately afraid that it's going to
freeze tonight" said young gentleman,
drawing aside the window-blind as soon as
the ladies have left the room; it's looking
horribly clear"
Inc remark is received with chorus of
indignant dissent, in which join feebly.
every body has good reason to believe that
my RN0% k1ok
rising, and the barometer has been steady
all day. There's south wind; and links,
the first whip, said only yesterday that
there wouldn't be frost again for a fort
night. Jinks appears to be an inflllible
authority on the weather, judging from the
manner in which his opinion is quoted and
received. Every body is soothed by the an
nouncement; and we draw in our chairs,
dlrectlng scornful glances at the upstart
who took upon himself to look out OF the
WINDOW, and who now relapses into snubbed
sllence. l breathe an inward prayer tor at
least ten degrees of frost, and try not to
hate the unknown J.nks. That is nv one
hope now; if it freezes I am saved: il it
doesn't
must confess there is something about
nuntlng-gear which gives the wearer feel
ing OF confidence; and as stand before the
mirror in my dressing-room this morning,
rugged out in George Pudgewoods buck
SKINS and top-boots which fit me admirably,
begin quite to look forward to the DAVIS
outing. It didn't freeze last night; on the
contrary, there was little rain 50 the
ground will be tolerably soft if meet with
an accident
4 wish you had a red coat" says my wife
who has come to inspect me; 'sand-I may
be wrong-but think, Algernon, you have
put your spurs on upside down."
Mrs. jones' father was a noted hunting
man in the shires, and she ought to know
something about these matters.
"Dear me! So have. Thanks for MOTTO
ing it. I'll put them right at once"
They are soon readjusted under Mrs.
Jones' directions, and I 20 down stairs
10 the breakfast-room. 1 had no
Idea 1t was 80 difficult to walk
down stairs with spurs on. Twice the
rowels catch in the carpet, and l only save
myself from bad fall by clinging to the
banisters with both hands. Finally, turn
round and walk down backwards, arriving
IN safety on the mat without being seen. l
wonder how other fellows manage, for 1
don't recollect ever having heard any one
complain OF this difficulty before.
Morning, JONES'" said Pudgewood
through stratum Of buttered toast. "Come
along; we haven't much time to spare
Ihe meets at Holly Copse, seven miles
away, at eleven O'Clock; and it's near ten
now: Will you ride out, or take seat in
the dog-cart4'
l could take seat in the cart and
keep 1t, l should select that without hesi%a-
tloa; but little practice in the saddle
wv ~in 90 me good, perhaps, 20 ! say that l will
Jog opt quietly,