Life — January 14, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

other times, and at hours when order-loving bugs were sound asleep, he would join a gang of drunken revellers and make night hideous with his pranks. All this was very hard for Scarabella. She pleaded with him and beseeched him to mend his ways, but in vain. He became sullen and irritable when at home, and his beetle brows would darken at any suggestion of reform and early hours. One night, after sitting up for him unul long after twelve o'clock, she went forth, as she had often done before, in the wild hope that she might find him and lead him home. A long time she wandered, and in vain, for the night was dark, Weary and the world was wide, and Lotzofun was wily. sad, she at last crawled under a strawberry leaf to rest her wings and have a gentle cry. The gentle ery had a sooth- ing effect, for she soon fell asleep. Her nap was short, for a very few moments had passed before she was awakened by the sound of voices coming from the upper side of the leaf ahove her head. From the words that reached her ear, it together two lovers were there ve evident th and very close Poor Scarabella recalled the happy hours that she and her once faithful adorer had spooned away in similar fashion. But it seemed unfair to be overhearing such a con- versation, and shad just resolved to steal silently away, unusually when the lover above raised his voice in an passionate declaration of lov She listened and it sent a cold shiver up and down her little spine ain, and then was sure. Darting out from beneath the leaf she turned about and faced them. In the dim light they seemed like one be- ing, so close were they together. But there he was, the faithless Lotzofun ! It was a lively and painful scene that followed. The lady on the leafy shocked to find her lover already married Lotzofun was naturally embarrassed, \ PAINFUL SCENE, As for Scarabella, she had suddenly developed into a dif- ferent creature. All gentleness and forbearance seemed to have gone forever. The explanations and promises of Lotzofun were naturally of little value and. produced no im- ->LIFE-: pression whatever. After a few emphatie remarks, all short and directly to the point, she turned he back and flew quickly away. She did not go home, but made straight for the spacious crack un- der the Corinthian porch, where her father resided. nd gave him all the facts. oe The next morning there : was a meeting of leading beetles. at which it was almost unanimously resolved that Lotzofun should be formally drowned. He had long been looked upon as a danger to the morals of the community, and every father of a winsome daughter voted promptly for his death. At this dread- ful sentence, however, Scarabella softened and begged piteously for his life. She entreated so earnestly and her grief was so heartrending that this wish was finally granted but they caused his wings to be treated by a neighboring wizard in such a manner that whenever he flew about after dark he shed a brilliant light. This was a happy idea, as it warned everybody of his approach and at the same enabled Scarabella to hunt him up with less difficulty, He reformed after this and they lived happily together, and had innumerable children, all of whom inherited the illuminating time qualities of their father. So when you see them darting about of a summer's night, you will easily recognize them as the descendants of So A. Mitchell. Lotzofun. AT A CHICAGO “AFTERNOON” GIVEN FOR SIR EDWIN ARNOLD. H OSTESS (fat, fair, and ——?): Ab, Sir Edwin, well do I remember, when a little child, seated on my dear mother’s knee, listening as she read the * Light of Asia.” Its wondrous beauty made its impress on my childish mind and has never been effaced. SIR EDWIN (zstbly astonished): Madame, you surprise I had no idea women matured so rapidly in the West. me. comicbooks.com