Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-03-29

themos delicate return that could be
offered for their hospitality. |, myself,
invariably sported the fancy dress in
question. .aau- .a a..- ee '.e a ii
| On the eventful day have mentioned,
it happened that [ had been detained
at chambers later than usual, and on
reaching honehad barely time to dress.
| While doing SOL received an anxious
message from a fTiend 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 seat next my own.
| With increased expedition / finished
my toilet, and the dining hall being but
five minutes walk from my residence,I
| quickly buttoned ION a pair of rough
ovefalls, threw on my cloak, and hurried
| to the spot. -saus ~..s .-f-'
To my astonishment, crowd, dense
| and augmenting, was gathered about
| the door. It was only through the aid
of friendly policeman that l was en-
abled to make my way. "What was
the matter? 2" | inquired of Number
Nineteen B. The answer, half drowned
in the @clatter of arriving carriages
sounded something like furrin SWELL"
Who?" Number Nineteen forebore
| to trust his lips with the name; but it
| were him as kills the wild beastesses out
in Afrikey. 1t was a more intelligent
porter who presently announced to me
that the French lion-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 q change. Not only had
little reinforcement of q hundred and
twenty guests been hastily invited, but
dense mass of spectators lined the
hall, the passages, and the ante-cham-
Der, and even frothed over into the ban
queting-room itself, the spacious gallery
of which was already filled with ladies,
whon the chivalrous guild had found it
impossible to dream Of excluding.
was late; but dinner had been de-,
ferred half an hour. There would be
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 former matter was quietly ar
ranged, and was darting back, when |
was met by a rush and pressure that 81
most forced me behind an adjacent
screen. The Baron de Bete-FauVe had
arrived, and was being triumphantly
marched into the hall. t1=s:sas
The Baron Bobadil de Bete-Fauve,
when visible, proved to be q remarkably
small gentleman, with intensely black
eyes and moustaches, the latter curling
ticrcely up almost into the former but
my own situation demanded all my at
tention. Withdraw | could not. To
sit down in that highly -attired society
in light brown overalls, such as might
be worn by q 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, | drew him with me
into that friendly shelter.
"Here, help, my man. Can't get
back. Just let me slip off these con-
fotlnded-hurry, now-" | gasped,
and tore the buttons loose with light
ming speed.
"All right, SIR"
The waiter was as quick as I, 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 hillol stop, you Good hea--
no-it's 4impossiblel And yet-mercy
on us-what shall do? ?"
A horrible fact had revealed itself.
In making my hurried toilet, l had
actually buttoned on my overalls-
emitting my black dress -pantaloons
What was to become of me? Gar
ments, indeed, were there-garments
even too ample and obtrusive. had
worn while dressing 81 pair Of wide but
shortish trousers once used in Chinese
burlesque, written by my friend Skelton
for the delectation of q private circle,
and which, being intended for that oc-
casion only, were adorned with devices
grotesque and terrorstriking. repre-
sented in colors crimson, green, and
blue. And these abomi0able trousers | |
had brought with me to Lumpeter's
Hall ........ -..... --sr
A chill shot through me as | realized
the full extent of the misadventure. /
staggered back family against the wall,
and endeavored to collect myself.
Glancing round the corner of the screen,
[ observed, with a shudder, that the
company were taking their places, while
the ladies in the gallery had risen en-
nadsSe, and were directing SO concen-
trated fire of eyes upon the entrance,
where the valiant lien-queller had
paused to return the salute that greeted
him, that to escape had become impos-
sible. | must remain where | was, till
able to concert with some compassionate
attendant a plan of escape.
There was the settling murmur and
buzz, the Gentlemen, pray silence.
For grace p and the &" Stand still, wait
ers ~ in voice Of authority. Grace fol-
lowed, and the noise of feasting; but
tho next ineligible words froze my
very soul. r. - y.
"Remove that screen p
Instinctively | clutched and held it
back. There came a violent tug but
there was too much at stake for a fee
BILE defense, and held on with desper-
ate tenacity. y Ill ID r0
"Quick, now, with that screen p said
the voice of authority. 90 What's the
matter?"
"There's a gent, behind a-'olding of it
back said some officious BOBBY.
:. Here-you!I II gasped. " Five shil-
hngsl Ten! Twenty ! Five pounds
Fetch-brown oyeralls! Forgot trou-
Let the screen alone, can't ye? ~
" Bless my cart, sir Ere is go,''
SAID waiter, grinning, but compass.
sionate, Tor 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
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