The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-05

and portly looking person, and gen
orally wore yellow small clothes and
yellow kid-glove; and though his
voice was rather husky, you have no
idea what soft and beautiful things
he could say.
The eventful evening at length
arrived, and such brilliant and de-
lightful scene my youthful eyes never
beheld. l was ushered into the room
with great ceremony by the Colonel;
and my entrance produced no little
sensation, and many were the whis-
pers of admiration or of envy that
reached my ear.
Soon after I was seated the dane
ing commenced, when l was led to
the head of the figure by the Colonel,
while nv friend Miss Anna Letitia
Butterfly and her partner, the elegant
General Hornbug, took the second
place. You would have been charmed
to have seen how elegantly the com
pany appeared, and how gracefully
they danced. To be sure, there were
some exceptions. There was one Mr..
DEVILS Darning Needle that sprawled
about sadly, and made much annoy
ance in one of the cotillions; and Old
Father Long Legs, after one unfortu-
nate attempt, was content to show up
his legs in a corner, where he spent
most of the evening in chatting with
old Miss Spider.
Young DIR. Grasshopper was very
much admired for his graceful and
sprightly dancing, as were also the
two Misses Fly, particularly Miss
Emmeline Horse Fly. But there
were two little fellows dressed in
black, that made great amusement
for us. They were the most nimble,
active dancers l ever saw; one could
scarcely catch glimpse of them, for,
as Paddy says, when you put your
hand on him, he's not there" They
were the two Mr.. Fleas, who after
ward learned were resident gradu-
ates in an adjacent university. Pro
lessor Lightning Bug, of the same
institution, also honored us with his
presence, and l had the pleasure of
dancing with him. There was one
clergyman there, whom every one
seemed to think was decidedly out of
his place; it was the Rev. Mr.. Beetle.
He looked very much interested in all
that was going on, but out of respect
to his cloth, declined dancing.
But now comes the most painful
part of my story. As we were in the
midst of our enjoyment, I noticed the
entrance of stranger. He seemed
to find several acquaintance, and
very soon one of them presented him
to me as Mr.. Katy Didn't. Shortly
after, I heard him making some i'll
natured remarks respecting me, and
finally he observed, that though
cousin of his, Katy didn't treat him
with even common civility when in.
troducel to her." Without thinking
where ] was, / instantly retorted,
''Katy did," He facet full about,
and staring me in the face, repeated,
Katy didn't "She did," said l.
"She didn't" said he. By this time
my friends were all around me; great
uproar ensued; Col. Bundle B
drew his dirk, and had it not been for
the interference of friends, blood
would have been shed ON the spot.
AS it was, such high words ensued
among the gentlemen, that the ball
was broken up, and we all returned
home with vexation and chagrin.
The next day, the friends of the
conflicting gentlemen had meeting,
and it was universally agreed that it
was an extremely proper occasion for
getting up duel, and as one had SO
recently occurred among the states
men in the American Con gress, the
gentlemen concluded that they
should find a model for doing up the
thing in the most approved style
of chivalry. A committee was APP
pointed to examine the various news
paper accounts of the recent con-
gressionaI duel, and to report as to
the most suitable method of proceed
ing. But these documents relating
to the method of proceeding adopted
by American statesmen, not little
puzzled the insects. For, contrary to
ali other proceedings of the kind,
they found that the gentleman who
felt his honor insulted was not the
challenger, and had nothing to co
with the affair. After bordering ov, r
the affair for some time, they finally
oonoIudad that accordinp tn this