The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-07-11

titterlngs and every sort Of reassuran.
ces, although they had no fellow-ieel.
ing in their bosoms IN fhe height OF
the excitement. In little while the
young ladies had all retired to their
rooms. Peals OF laughter escaped
from their chambers every few min
ntes while Jack looked like hc had
been caught robbing a hen.roust.
AS tho house was crowded with
dodgers that night pallet was made
down in the psrlor for Jack and
another man. Jack had undresse,l
and had stretched out his splendid
physilne on the show white sheet
when the same ominons droning an
nounced the arrival Of another night
rover. The bug. attracted by the
glare of the snow-whitc sheets and
the spotless under garments of the re
clining Jack, tipped down on his
body.
"Oh, the devil here hc is again"
yelled Jack leaplng up and rushing
to the door. The Young ladies' in
their chamber heard the scared yell
and thrust their heals ont OF the doors
and looked down the long stairway
Just as Jack anil lis companion
rushed out into the hall. The men
were as badly agitated asthe girls,
but as soon as they heard the snp-
pressed giggling overhead. they fled
back into the parlor, and proceeded to
dispatch the bug with the aid Of
brooms and the old gentleman's gold
headed cane. Aud then all slept
sounAly aftcrwurd, except Jack and
Mary. 1.
The next morning, after eating a
sumptuous breakfast Of fresh eggs,
broiled spring chickens. luscious
breakfast cakes. coffee, Alderny milk
and butter and fresh fragrant. juicy
grapes, the buggics and horses were
brought to the door, and each young
gentleman paired off with his favorit
young lady to take ride over the
smooth turnpike. But Miss Darling
complained Of a headache, and de-
clined to ride. Jack concluded he
would stay within doors, too, and
wait for the morning mail.
After the riding party had all left,
Mary and Jack proceeded to seat
themselves upon rustic lounge, just
under the parlor window. Jack was
silent and sbstracted; Mary was list.
less and rather nervous. At las, she
observed the remains oi the slaught-
cred bug, that had been swept out ol
the house, lying at her feet. She
hastily meved further OF, and, un.
fortunately, drew nearer toward Jack
"Wliy, there's that bng again; he
seems to follow me wherever CO."
she sai,l. "Oh, Mr.. Walton, l had
forgotten, or rather neglected, to
thank you Tor your heroic conduct last
night in rescuing me from that horrid
bug. You were real hero, and did
not mean to call you fool or an idiot
did not know what ! was saying
Mr.. Walton, will you forgive me?''
And she began to whlmper Just 1
little.
Jacks a'thy face was crimson II
an instant. He ielt relieved that sh'
did net feel angry at him for his bolC
behavior. Amid the volaminous pro.
teslations Of innocence and assurance
Of devotion to her cause, Jack mad,
an avowal Of his love, and before tn,
riding party had returned the two
lovers were engaged to be married a
an early day,
blessed be that bug" SAID ,JacF,
IL would like to give him decent bur
ial. don't blame the old Egyptian
for dciiying and worshiping the beetle
don't believe that l would ever hav
had the courage to tell my love bu
for that beetle last night. Blessed b
that bug, now and forever more
Give the Cesar crowns and arches
but / will present Mary with o Bra
zllian beetle with diamond eyes on m
wedding day"
And they were finally married
> They decorated their house with dric
} specimens ofthe Scarabaeides, Egyr
: tian, Brazilian. and African; with I'll
, splendid lncanus cervus; with til
zylophili, with their monstrons pre-
jections IRON the head; the melitophil
or Goliath beetle, down to the ros
, beetle and the rare arenicoli. and en-
, bracing every variety Of coleoptcrou
| camellicerncs known to the science {
; entomology. Many Of these wer
} done in bronze, terra Gotta and scag
lola, but the preference was alway
given by Mary aud Jack to real drie
specimens, aud are regarded with a
fectlon and veneration to this day
| Their ebony bric-a-brac stand is a
!, chronological musedm, ami who ca
1 blame them? They attribute all the
0 happiness to the intrusion of beet
: into their presence that night Of IL
y adventure, and although they do ne
coincide with Gnostics and some ,
: !, the fathers who inclined to the Egyl
!. tian belief as regards Christ and Il
' Scarabaeides, they almost worship Il
j. pinching-bug as the author Of all u
9 blessings that have fallen upon Il
j house OF Jack and Mary. They a
i not afraid any longer Of those brigh
y winged, bright-hued bugs, and a
irm believers in their perfect inn
I cence and harinlessness. Every wei
: appointed young lady may scream
: the sight Of bug, but l esseveraI
. That these pinching.bugg are as harm
|, less as caterpillars. whether th'
. mcnds the matter or not,