The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-17
THE SELLING OF MARMADUKE
BY FOX RUSSELL.

fc.onvrfeht 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles)
 How brightly the wintry sun shone out as I watched the retraintng Of my horse at Mudbury! Hunting in strange country delights me; new scenes, other faces. everything fresh, I was tired of the old pack-no go. no dash; above all. no pretty races there. 50 I thought a run down into the Blazineton country might brighten me LID. Tn the train I sat opposite divin- fty in black--must admit that dfvinity rather scowled when I tried to open conversation by offering her my paper to read--who thrilled my too suscepti- ble heart to such an extent tnat--put really. this has nothing to do With my story.
 Before had gone mile on the road to the meet was overtaken by Htxon. a man I knew living nthe Blazinston country.
 aoh. delighted to see you'" he ex- claimed But how comes that you've deserted your own pack? Good a very pretty girl trotted gently past. yavorinr Hixon with the sweetest or smffes. Hfxon is rather an old fooi about women. I don't like to see It In him A man of a certain age; he Is at least year older than I am.
 sswho's ffe lady. Hixon?' l asked In indifferent tones.
 That. Miss Clare of BrouRnton, vou must take care not to-" But just Al that moment the lady pulled up and looked back at Hixon. Really, 1t was nafhfn9 to be conceited about: bue he became positively insufferable when he .aw inc glance. determined then and there to save him from making an ass of himself, if I could, so said: =.
 sHixon, you must introduce mel and he had to do it.
 aMisa Glare allow me to introduce my friend, Mrs. Marmaduke Armor.
 Miss Clare bowed. Oh, what bow! what sracer what abandon! what-but never mind I at once attached myseii to her. and commenced thinking out some scheme for shaking" Hixon. :. Arrived at the meet, he fortunately be- gan talking to friend, and MISS clare and I edged away together.
 Are you quite a stranger here. MT :. Armor?" she said so archly, so--but never mind.
 "ouite." I answered. "but I'm not sure that shall be in future
 have a way of expressing great deal with my eye. and turned n run on to her glorious face as l spoke
 Now. will you. my dear Miss Clare take pity on me, and act as my guide philosopher and friend today?
 She replied that she should be de- lighted. Most fascinating girl this; quite eclipsed divinity in train.
 Whilst hounds were drawing the nrst covert. Hixon. in his usual lnterierlns manner, ranged up alongside, and whispered to me--awfully rude of the man to whisper
 T say, my boy, take carei The lady knows a thing or two. and" but merely nodded distaatly, and resumed my tete-a-tete with Miss Clare
 We had been talking for about ten minutes. when some one rooe rouho the covert, and said, rather pointedly ~ wish you gentlemen would be little uuieter, or we shall never get fox to break this way
 'Now, ! don't know how to sheer, bu did my best: and then that idiot HiX' an asked me what I was making faces" for.
 away streamed the pack out or th' wood and across the lower end of oul meadow. "Toot. toot!" on the horn and eff we went"
 We jumped a two-foot high rail ant across the heavy arabIe we pounded slowly on, my charming companion al my side. Hounds had got wei through a fair-sized post and rails as we began gathering our horses to- gether for the jump. Then Miss Glare turned bewitchingly to me. and ex caiimed;
 My horse will be so disappointed he loves jumping. but I'm really tot great a coward to ride at this. Woulc you mind coming with me to that gate and opening it?'
 would I mind, Ask Lancelot If h' would mind riding alone with Guine' were!
 The gate was some distance left handed of the line which hounds were running. and the divergence lost us (