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


ear-shot of or better-inforIned neighbors
lest she should ask questions calculated 9,
expose my Ignorance. This explanation
though humiliating, 1 feel compelled t.
make, SO as to answer the charges of isolat
ing Miss Spinks and avoiding the rest O
the field, which have, I understand, beer
| whispered against me by the Domvills
faction
There was a general move to The
crossroads, where stands the Pentor
| Bridge hotel, small roadside inn, t.
| which meet of the otter hounds brings
| welcome flash of custom and notoriety
Here we fell in with the equestrian con.
tiDgent, 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. Browns dance, among
these Miss Fortescue, merry, pleasant
girl and noted pedestrian in our circle,
who was pleased to rally me on my APP
pearance in the role of squire of danes. !
hastened to explain that curiosity to see
the hounds, with a view to her forthcom-
ing novel, was the sole cause of Miss
Spinks' presence, hoping that Miss For
tescue would circulate this explanation,
and withdrew as speedily as possible with
my companion to position of compare
tive security.
Presently, with rush and scramble,
the pack issued from an clubhouse, IN
which they had spent an hour in rest and
refreshment, and as they plunged pellmell
among the crowd, Miss Spinks gave a
shrek and chung to my arm.
"Oh, Mr.. HASTE, what horrible Great
ures Will they bite ~
l fastened to reassure her, and freeing
my arm, patted one of the dogs on the
head, and induced her to do the same.
She put hand timidly on the animals
shaggy ears, instantly withdrawing it
again, exclaiming-
"What curious dogs. Are otter hounds
always like that ? l thought hounds were
nice, smooth, brown-and-white things,
such as one sees in hunting pictures"
"You are thinking of fox-hounds," said
/. "Otter hounds are naturally rough
coated to protect them from cold in the
water"
"Ohl Do they go into the water?"
Certainly" l replied gravely. ''That
is their business in life"
"And where is the otter ?" she asked,
glancing round her.
''In the river, hope" l answered.
"But don't they bring it in cart, like
the deer at Windsor ?"
/ saw Miss Fortescue looking on with
twinkling eyes, inst near enough to catch
the drift of this catechism, and fastened
to save myself from further questions by
giving low-voiced lecture on the habitat
of the wild otter, so far as my recollections
of natural history would help me. Then
to my great relief the whips called their
pack together and led the way to the
bridge. The whole posse followed, we
bringing up in the rear. Five minutes
walking brought us TO the spot where the
Penn rushes swiftly through single span
of masonry, to widen out again few Yards
lower down into sober, well-conducted
trout stream, with pools and stickles suf-
ficient to satisfy the keenest angler
The word was given, Up streamw and
the red coats of the master and his satel-
lites vanished through gateway on the
left-hand side of the road. A moment
more and series of heavy splashes an
nounced that the pack had taken the
water, and general exodus of pedestrians
followed. fingered till only the carriage
folks remained on the bridge to watch the
hounds out of sight Then turning to
Miss Spinks, l said, holding out my hand
You will not have long to wait for a
train, and when the hounds disappear you
have only few yards to walk to the sta
ton, so you will excuse my not waiting to
escort you"
She looked at me with an air of aston
ishment. and replied:
thought you were going to follow the
hounds
$50 | am" answered.
But | am going, too. You said you
would take charge of me-"
"But, Miss Spinks," l demonstrated,
"you don't intend to go in that dress ?
You will be wet through in FIVE minutes"
'Of course mean to CO." she retorted,
half-tearfully. "What does my dress
matterr'
"But your Shoes" / added. "They
would not last through half mile of wet
grass and plowed fields.'
You don't want 20 take me-" she ex-
claimed, "and you are making excuses to
get rid of me-
well, if you are bent on going, / will
not withdraw my promise" | replied, I'M
willing to have scene. 'But remember
that | warned you of the inconvenience
you might expect"
She said no more, but followed me
through the gate into a pasture knee-deep
,ai,
heavy, and at every step my boots and
CATERS brushed glittering shower Of
drops from the heritage. The first half
dozen yards must have soaked the scarlet
stockings and Partisan shoes; but Miss
Spinks made no sign, and plodded reso-
lutely on. The hounds had got long
start, and we had to walk too briskly to
allow of conversation; but after crossing a
couple of fields we got sight of the sports
men grouped in the far corner of the
meadow, while chorus of deep notes
from the stream betokened the discovery OF
scent. | dropped into a more leisurely
pace, and Miss Spinks, coming up with
me, looked up in my face, saying in plain
tive accents:
Are yon very angry with me? Aren't
you going to talk to me ?"
"Angry? Not in the least" | replied
"Why should bew
+" j thought perhaps you didn't want my
company, she murmured.
"lf you are not afraid to risk a wet
skirt or a sprained ankle, cannot but be
pleased to escort you"
But my ankles are very strong, said
she. Don't YOU think so. ("
They were, unquestionably; but
thought perhaps had better not say so
so changed the subject.
There must be scent down yonder
You see they are watching the hounds
and one or two of the pack are giving
tongue.
"Giving tongue, she echoed. "What
nice sporting expressions you use YOU
must be quite an authority on sport
aren't your"
Well, hardly an authority" / replied
deprecatingly. But one cannot live il
the country, as do, without knowing
something OF such matters.
How wish i lived in the countryi'
said she, with sigh. "Then, perhaps
you would help me with my new novel;
] shall be happy to do that if can b
/, of any use, !" / replied calamity.
Oh, viii your" she cried. "Will vol
| help me while / write? and tell me what t,
say? and let me read what have writer