Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-03-28

| COobuI1lO OAA EI11 Y VI UhCIl SOOoO
would be interpreted by Lumpeters a.
the most delicate return that could bt
offered for their hospitality. I, myself
invariably sported the fancy dress il
question.
On the eventful day have mentioned
it happened that l had been detained
at chambers later than usual, and or
reaching home had barely time to dress
While doing so, l received an anxious
message from friend who was to have
accompanied me to the banquet, but
who, being late, and himself stranger
to the guild, begged me to secure for
him a seat next my own.
With increased expedition / finished
my toilet and the dining hall being but
five minutes walk from my residence, /
quickly buttoned on a pair of rough
overalls, threw on my cloak, and hurried
to the spot.
To my astonishment, a crowd, dense
and augmenting, was gathered about
the door. 1t was only through the aid
of friendly policeman that | was en-
the matter ?" l inquired of Number
Nineteen B. The answer, half drowned
in the clatter of arriving carriages
sounded something like "fuTrin swell -
Who?" Number Nineteen forebore
to trust his lips with the name; but it
were him as kills the wild beastesses out
in Afrikey. It was more intelligent
porter who presently announced to me
that the French hon-slayer, the Baron
Bobadil de Bete-Fauve, had, at the last
moment, accepted an invitation to dine
at Lumpeters' Hall.
The character of the assembly had
undergone change. Not only had
little reinforcement of hundred and
twenty guests been hastily invited, but
a dense mass of spectators lined the
hall, the passages, and the ante-cham-
Der, and even frothed over into the ban
quetingroom itself, the spacious gallery
of which was already filed with ladies,
whom the chivalrous guild had found it
impossible to dream of excluding.
/ was late; but dinner had been de-
| just time to rush into the room, secure
my friends seat, and then deposit my
cloak and overalls in the room devoted
to such purposes.
The iormer matter was quietly ar
ranged, and was darting back, when 1
was met by rush and pressure that al
most forced me behind an adjacent
screen. The Baron de Bette Fauve had
arrived, and was being triumphantly
marched into the hall.
The Baron Bobadil de Bete-Fauve,
when visible, proved to be a remarkably
small gentleman, with intensely black
eyes and moustaches, the latter curling
fercely up almost into the former but
my own situation demanded all my at
| tention. Withdraw l could net. To
sit down in that highly-attired society
| in light brown overalIs, such as might
be worn by a stableman, was not to be
| thought of. All | an idea. Just within
the door, near the wall, but with space
to get behind it, stood the large screen
against which had been pressed. Cap.
turing the waiter, I drew him with me
into that friendly shelter.
back. Just leo me slip off these con-
founded-hurry, now" 1 gasped,
and tore the buttons loose with light
ming speed.
"All right, sir.n
The waiter was as quick as 1, and
scarcely gave me time to disengage the
last button, before he caught away the
garment, and bundling it up, vanished
in the crowd.
"Eh hillo stop, you Good hea-
no-it's impossiblel And yet-mercy
on us-what shall do ?"
A horrible fact had revealed ITSELF |
In making my hurried toilet, 1 had |
actually buttoned on my oVeralls-l
omitting my black dress-pantaloons
What was to become of me? Gar
ments, indeed, were there-garments |
even too ample and obtrusive. I had |
worn while dressing a pair of wide but |
shortish trousers once used in Chinese |
burlesque, written by my friend Shelton
for the delectation of a private circle, |
and which, being intended for that oc- |
casion only, were adorned with devices |
grotesque and terror-striking. repre-
sented in colors crimson. green, and |
blue. And these abominable trousers |
had brought with me to Lumpeter's |
HALL
A chill shot through me as I realized |
the full extent of the misadventure. 1 |
staggered back family against the wall, |
and endeavored to collect myself. |
Glancing round the corner of the screen,
L observed, with a shudder, that the |
company were taking their places, while |
the ladies in the gallery had risen e11 I
naasSe, and were directing SO concen-
trated fire of eyes upon the entrance,
where the valiant ion-queller had |
paused to return the salute that greeted
him, that to escape had become impos-
sible. L must remain where 1 was, till |
able to concert with some compassionate
attendant plan of escape.
There was the settling murmur and
buzz, the "Gentlemen, pray silence. |
For gracel" and the Stand still, wait
ers p' in voice of authority. Grace fol-
lowed, and the noise of feasting; but
the next Ineligible words froze my
very soul.
Remove that screen p
Instinctively 1 clutched and held it
back. There came violent tug; but
there was too much at stake for fee
BILE defense, and held on with desper-
ate tenacity.
"Quick, now, with that screen l'' said
the voice of authority. whats the
matter ?'
There's a gent, behind a-'olding of it
back" said some officious BOBBY.
"Here-you r' gasped. " Five shil-
lingsI Tenl Twenty Five pounds
Fetch-brown overalls Forgot trou-
Let the screen alone, can't YEP"
"Bless my 'eart, sir! Ere is a go,''
said a waiter, grinning, but compass.
slonate, for he had recognized me, even
thus.
" Take that thing out of the way"
roared the voice of authority.
Must do it, SIR" explained the wait
er. The heatables can't come by.
Stop There's vacant seat. 'Taint
three steps off,
G. That's