The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-22
THE FALL OF UTE.
A Representative BIadensburg Du
BY GEORGE ALFRED TOWNSEND.

The reception at Secretary Flakes was
at its height. Bland Van, the President
of the nation, had departed with his boys
the punch-bowl had been emptied nine
times; and still the cry from our republic
can society was, "Fill upl"
A pair of young men, unacquainted
with each other, pressed at the same time
to the punch bowl, and Jack, the chief
Ladder, turning from the younger, a clerk
In civil dress, helped the elder, tall naval
officer, to a couple Of glasses. The clerk,
young Ute, who was somewhat flushed,
addressed the chief Ladder, and remarked !:
"You dam niger, didn't you see my
glass 2"
"See it, sab Yes I've seen 1t seval
times afo, dis evening""
Black Jack then received the current al
lowance of curses for his coler and his i'm
pudence, all of which he took meekly, till
the officer, Lieutenant Dibdo, inter-
rupted on the negro's behalf:
ats none O 20 affair, IIreckon |" cried
Ute sullenly. '
"The man had no intention of sighting
you" said Dibdo. "You have been drink
ing too much, boy, and your coarseness is
coming out"
A fresh crowd of thirsty people press
tunity to cry: "Room around de punch
bowie
And the disputants were separated and
squeezed by the promenadng tides into
different rooms.
The officer presently forgot all about it,
but not SO young Ute, who was partly
drunk, entirely vain, not gentleman by
nature, and outraged that anybody had
dubbed him "a.boy" He sought the side
of fine young girl, the daughter of the
chief of the bureau where he was en-
ployed, and with whom he was in love-
She was attired in the free costume of re-
publican receptions bare arms, low
dress, giving ample display to the whitest
shoulders 10 the room, and fine natural
hair dressed with flowers. Every gentle
man who passed her during the evening
lad looked his homage freely-old beaux,
dignitaries, officers, foreign deputies, roues
land as she had been two or three winters
in that kind of society, nothing dscom-
posed her.
"Robert," she said, with part Of
glance, as Ute rejoined her, ''you go to
the punch-bowl too much. You reflect up
on me, sir. Besides, / heard you quarrel
ing with that handsome officer. am dy-
ing to know him. Who is he ?"
Ute looked viciously up, anger and
jealously infaming bis heated face, for,
although he had no engagement with Miss
Rideau, be conceived himself her future
sutton. But some rash words that he said
against the officer were scarcely heard by |
the self-possessed beauty of official society, |
because just then the young officer and
friend were approaching them. She drop
ped her eyes when she met Lieutenant |
Dibdo's bold glance Of admiration, perhaps
in order not to be privy to the more search
ing look with which, like a gentleman of the
world, he ran over the fine points of her
plump body as be passed. But young
Ute, seeing the offender of moment ago |
taking such ardent and leisurely survey of |
the girl under his care, turned pale with
hate. The officer did not notice him at
all, absorbed 10 the fine colors, eyes, and
proportions of Miss Ridesu, and this fur
Their outraged Ute, who,-to his credit be
it said,-had only modest thoughts for her.
When he saw, however, that she looked
after the manly figure and naval gilt of
him Of the profane eyes, as if to return his
admiration, the intoxicated boy dropped
an oath.
II will horsewhip that powder monkey"
he said.
"Robert," said the girl, placidly, "you
won't. You have no horse and no horse
whip, but you have been drinking. Go
from me, sir ! Some one else shall see me
home tonight"
~ will kill the man who takes nv
placed Do you dare to speak that way to
ne 2"
He had raised his voice, in his rage. so
that some others heard it. There was a
little pause of pressing people, for that ,
was chivalrous age as to the manner of !
men to women, and the young officer, just t
hen returning, availed himself of pretty !
,irPs dilemma to say: a
"May assist you, Miss ? l presume 4
'ou are not 10 very agreeable company" n
Thank you, SIR" answered Miss r
sideau. II would be obliged to have i
ONE one find my aunt for me she is here i
omewhere."
"Will you accept strangers arm ?" t.
"In this misfortune, will"
Dibdo took off the pretty girl, and one a
4 bis naval companions, looking after O
i'm, exclaimed, "What genius DID is T
nth the ladies !" But the companion. 7
selling trembling, unsteady hand upop n
Is arm, turned about and met Young 4
ties desperate face. 81 want to know "
be name of that fellow !" said Ute. N
"That is Charles Dibdo," said the naval n
lieutenant of the u. s. II
igate Foo and recommend you, my
oy, to address him in civil tone. n
or me, never mind drunken man. N
Thoroughly denounced now, young o.
ebert Ute turned blindly about for some 4;
nplement of revenge. He found it in
lltock, fellow clerk, novtiate, and a 70
my, who was visible in the crowd. q
"Tiltock. are you a man of honor ?" II,
HI hona an Rob ~