Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-06-06

best could find were some dirty ones, piled
away IN one corner, which Mrs. s. is
washing for the purpose. While she is pro-
ducing them, we may as well make choice Of
good position, Miss H
Sir! said Miss H, pertly.
You can hold your countenance, be-
lieve?
Il rather think can.
well, you must, or l cannot put you to
sleep lfyou laugh the charm is broken.-
The company may laugh at The oddity of my
motions, and l presume they will, but you
must not, for if you do, shall not consider
myself under obligation 10 produce the oys-
ters.'
Miss H, thinking the whole trick con-
sisted in this, and supposing Charley felt
sure of making her laugh by the ludicrous-
ness of the scene, readily entered into the
arrangement
Charley then placed two chairs facing each
his seat in one of them, and requested Miss
H TO occupy the other.
According TO my improved method of
mesmerising,' said Charley with imperturba-
bic gravity, you will be required to look me
intentIy in the eye and to initiate my motion
invariably
Yes, SIR said Miss H.
Charley then took hold of her wrists, and
looked her in the eye, while the ladies' and
gentlemen present gathered about them, ca
ger for the fun.
The pIa,esn echoed Miss IL, with
equal gravity.
Mrs. s. came forward with pair Of
the required articles. Charley took one and
held il on his hands in his lap. Miss H
made similar use Of the other, still looking
Charley in the eye.
After pause, Charley withdrew his right
hand from beneath the plate, and with mys-
tical motion, passed his fingers across his
face.
Miss H-gravely initiated the movement.
As she drew her delicate fingers from her
brow 10 her chin, yell of laughter burst
from the spectators. Without smiling, Char
ley placed his righ: hand under the plate,
and rubbed Tie left over his face. Miss H.
as gravely followed his example, and another
burst of laughter followed. Charley then
turned the plate around in his hands, and
with his fingers made passes across his
brow, and crosses on his chin, long line
down the middle of his nose, circles about
his eyes, and all sorts of imaginary grotesque
figures on his cheek, changing his hands
occasionally, rs if to invest the ceremony
wife additional mystery. Miss H imi-
lated him with scrupulous exactirude and
imperurbable gravity, while the mrth oftbe
spectators became more and more excited,
and it seemed that some Of them would die
with laughter. Some rolled upon the sofa,
some hung powerless over the chairs, almost
dead with mirth, and others fell upon the
floor and held their sides.
Charley continued to make the mysterious
passes across his face, and Miss H to
initiate his movmen,s, until the mirth rose
TO such pitch that the poor girl began to
suspect that it was occasioned by something
besides the N ere oddity of Charley's motions.
She grew uleasy. She feared some trick
played upon herself The mirth increased.
She could endure it no longer. She resolved
to forfeit the oysters. Amid roars of laugh
ter from the spectators, she cried out
'Theren I've withstood this long enough
Now I'm going TO know what there is you
find to laugh at
Look 10 the glass Look in the glass
cried the mirth-suflocated spectators.
Miss H was before mirror in q mo-
ment. A cry of despair and shame burst
from her lips. Her face! her pretty, be
witching face! il was covered with black
streaks of every imaginative character
Over her nose, around her eyes, across her
forehead up and down, diagonaly, and cross
wise, OH every portion OF her face, were the
marks of her own fingers, just as she had
touched them on her delicate skin.
The bottom of her plate had been smoked
While Miss H, covering her features
with her handkerchief, retreated TO another
room. and while the company was near CIV
ing up the ghost in a perfect ecstacy Of
laughter, Charley said without smile,
Il won this time; but think can afford
the oysters at any raIe.'
The oysters were brought 10 ut Charley's
expense. Charley said he could not think of
tasting his until Miss H-re-appeared, and
sent committee Of The girls to bring her in.
These reported that the fair victim had not
yet succeeded in getting the smoke off her
face, upon which Charley bade them return
and bring her in at any rate.
In few minutes the committee once more
returned, accompanied by Miss H The
smoke still showed itself upon her face in
spots, and her eyes gIislened with tears but
she advanced with admirable frankness and
a cheerful smile, and taking Charley by the
hand, she acknowledged the fairness of the
joke, and complimented his ingenuity and
skill.
The merry company then sat down to the
oysters, which none enjoyed with keener
relish than she who had contributed SO much
10 the entertainment Of the guests that night.