Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-02-22
THE HUNT BALL.

quite a function in it's way. 1t usu-
ally took place during the height OF
the hunting season when the country
houses around Meadowhurst were
filled to the overlooking with good
cheer, good fellowship and good So
ciety.
1t was the one fixture Of the season
which brought them all together-the
hard riders, the non-riders and the
road brigade" However mild the
enthusiasm and diluted the joys OF the
latter class during fast run with the
hounds. they shone as brilliantly as
any at the Hunt Ball.
In fact there were not few VINO
donned the pink on that occasion
and wore it with far more grace than
they displayed on the hunting field
and it was a notorious fact that the
members of the first fight'-the men
who rode straightest to hounds-were,
as a rule, very bad dancers indeed.
Taking it altogether, however the
Meadowhurst Hunt Ball was always
delightful affair and the cOtillion as
jolly as possible, a sporting flavor be
ing impaired to it by the favors which
spurs. hunting pins, etc; as well as by
the singing of hunting songs, an ac-
complshment, by the way in which
the non-riders and the road brigade
were especially adept
These features, and other details OF
the seasons ball to be given shortly
were being discussed by the commit
tee of the Meadowhurst Hunt club,
w xuac in pbarpp Of the arrange
ments, one rainy afternoon at the Club
House.
The committee-which consisted of
Fred Galloway, the NJ. F. H., Dick
Weatherbee of Oak Lodge, and old
Major Barclay, who had seen more
hunting seasons than he cared to con
fess to-were endeavoring, with the
aid and inspiration to be derived from
tobacco and a soothing connection Of
Scotch whiskey and water, to devise
some means by which this seasons
Hunt Ball should surpass in brilliancy
any of the previous efforts of the Club
in that direction.
"Of course, it will be the same old
story" growled Galloway. "A lot Of
dudes will come down from the city,
and they and the softies from around
here will have things their own way
with'the girls"
Galloway's efforts at dancing re-
minded one of the performing ele-
plants at the circus. while Ruth Nor
ris was the best and most enthusiast
tic dancer in the Meadowhurst set
And Galloway was head over ears in
love with Ruth.
Yes" added Weatherbee, and
suppose as usual we will have to i'm
port some curled darling to lead the
CotilliOn."
Weatherbee was thought to have
ambitions in this direction himself
but if such was the case he received
no encouragement.
Old Barclay was inclined to view the
situation more ChecTfully. In fact
the old beau was equally at home in
the ballroom and the hunting field.
He only laughed and said: why don't
you fellows learn to dance? And,
anyway, the buffers ought to have
some chance to show off
But Galloway was in no mood TO be
generous. Besides. his brain was
busy with an idea which had Just oc-
CURED to him.
by Jupiter" he shouted, bringing
his fist down so hard on the table that
the glasses ratified. I'm fix EN-. We
will get rom Martiudalc to lead the
coti!lion, and Wen have one figure
that will open their eyes,
There was a fresh lighting of pipes
ana cigars, ana a fresh mixture OF
Scotch and water, and all the details
of the MeadoWhurst Hunt Bail We're
speedily arranged and completed
But. although it soon became known
that the bail that year would be dis
tinguishod by some strikingly original
feature. no hint of its mysterious ma
turc escaped the lips of the four con
spirators who We're in the seCret-the
three members of the Ball Committee
and Tom Martindale. who was to
lead the cotillion.
but although the curiosity Of the
ta" ~.> remained ungratified. their
M the ball was in no way di-
mH bod thereby. and preparations
were made ON a larger scale by them
for the occasion. Numerous trips
We're made to town. innumerable box
es containing elaborate creations by
fashionable modistes were continually
arriving, and in some cases even the
local talent was pressed into. service.
Even Galloway would not tell Ruth
Morris.
Each of the country houses in the
neighborhood had its own house-party
of young people, and among them
We're quite number of dancing men.
In short, never before had the pros.
pect for a successful dance seemed
more favorable. To crown all. the
night of the ball proved to be a beau.
tlful one, full moon and clear as pos
sible.
Greatly to Galloway's digust. Ruth
Morris had positively refused to dance
the cotillion with him. True, she had
not gone so far as to carry ont n
threat of not speaking to him again.
but, in view of the fact that he was
Withholding a secret from her in con
nection with that very cotillion. she
felt perfectly justified in refusing TO
dance it with him, and moreover. she
promised to dance it with Harvey vii.
llkens, whom Galloway hated.
While not exactly a member of the
road brigade Willikens would prob
ably have been classified by Galloway
among the "softes." He had plenty
OF money, and could afford to buy
good horses, and he always cut a great
inquire at the coveTt-side before rho
hounds went away When hounds
were running he usually chose a line
OF his own, preferring to get across
country by cautious and devious WAYS
known only to himself for no one
ever saw him again until the finish
unless there was a considerable check
when he would Suddanlv orr,,,, =, -