The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-12-08

sBut there is a Hunt club" Smlf's
tone was shocked, and Stone smiled
without mirth.
There spoke the Virginianl / know.
There's nothing you can tell me that !
don't know now about the Hoxt0n
Hunt. It was established before the
Revolution If not before the Flood!
George Washington rode with It So
did Jefferson! It's the pet and pride
. Of half dozen counties and their
magnates! At that time I was
entirely ignorant Of all this, and when
got letter from man I had never
heard Of telling me rather stiffly that
the Hoxton Hunt regarded my private
hunt as undesirable, simply tore It
up and paid no attention to 1t. It
seemed to me too silly for words"
but you should havew cried Smif.
Stone offered no reply.
II was next accosted In the main
street Of the town by not very tidy
and very obese man chow I hate fat
peoplei) who asked me II my name
was Nesbit. Something about him put
my hackles up at once.
II answered In no very conciliatory
mood that I was not ashamed Of my
name.
Then you ought to be, SIR he
fumed at me, a bloody Englishman
coming here and trying to run things.
Aside from anything else. this country
can't afford to support two packs
"'Oh,' said l, If moneys your real
interest, I'll send you a check tomor-
row. And left him, standing In the
middle of the street. purple in the
face and sputtering."
Smif could not help laughing. The
scene was clear before her eyes and
she recognized the other actor.
'That must have been Cousin Kit"
she said. II wonder he didn't ex-
plode."
"He looked as If he might" Stone
confessed. "Well. sent check to
the Hunt club. but I couldn't bring
myself to write a civil letter to go
with it. so enclosed it in an en-
velope with sheet Of blank paper and
let 1t go at that. About four days
later / was told that three gentlemen
wished to see me. I took it for
friendly call from some Of my neigh
bors, those kind people upon whom /
had counted. It didn't take long for
me to learn better.
zone of them held out my check.
"'We have come to return this the
gentleman said.
II looked at 1t without taking 1t.
WAS so much ceremony necessary?
asked him. You only had to tear It
up. It was sent because was given
to understand that you needed money
Not your money, you young whip
persnapperP the second man cut in,
very hot under the collar. The third
man, the one liked best, whose name
I believe was Lamberton, put hand
on his arm.
"'Steady, Jim. steady. Pm still in hope
there's some Misunderstanding, he said
pleasantly. Under the circumstances,
am sure Mr.. Nesbit will be ready to
give up the thought of establishing
hunt in this vicinity II they'd
been really friendly, Smif, II they'd re-
membered that I was young lad
alone in strange country, things
might have been different. might
have been disappointed. but feel sure
would have explained that knew
nothing Of the Hoxton Hunt when I
came there and had no intention of
setting up an opposition to it. AS 1t
was, / was young, I was sore, I was
doubly disappointed In that there was
no friendliness In their gesture. and
simply said:
"Tm sorry. gentlemen. see no
reason to deprive myself Of such a
simple pleasure. II you do not want
my check, there is a waste basket be-
side the desk. wish you very good
morning. I turned my back on them
and walked out Of the room. You sec.
Smif, was bent on playing the man
and I was afraid they might see tears
In my eyes.
'aThey left at once and later found
the check under a glass paperweight
with snow scene inside the glass, on
top of my desk. It has reminded me
Of them ever since, 1t looks so chilly
and whatever else gets broken. 1t never
does
Naturally I kept on hunting. and
there were people who Joined me; but
had sense enough to see they were
not the sort Of people had looked
forward to knowing and I did not
make friends among them.
II was doing great deal Of work
on the place, building a track and SO
on: was looking into the breeding Of
thoroughbreds with special thought
given to steeplechasers and hunters,
and was not having bad time. al
though was lonely. OF course I was
lonely.