The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-06

other day, l found the following; Which is n
strange account of stange fate, and present IL
just as found it.
THOMAS SHIRLFY.
In the evening of the last day of the year
ofour Lord, l779 four gentlemen were play
ing whist in the drawiug-room Of Il sumptu-
Gus mansion in what is now the lower part
of the city of New York Ii is needless to
specify the precise house, though | could
easily do that, fer was Que of the four per-
sons mentioned. We were quietly PLAYING
our favorite game, no one being in the room
besides ourselves. The lady Of the house
where for some reason her husband had left
her and had prevailed on two other friends
and myself to accompany him home about
40 o'clock to play whist
Mr.. Laycomc, (as shall call him though
that was not his real namcl at whose house
we were, WAS most intimate friend Of nnc
nni OF the others of the party, for We had
lived on terms of close friendship since our
strange in his invitation to US, and desire that
we should leave the party for his house, nor
was it peculiar that he should leave Mrs.
Iaycome; yet to me there seemed ncr-
vousness and mental agitation about nv
friend when he came up To me at the party,
and when ] said that twelve o'clock would
he soon enough TO leave he turned ghastly
pale, and stamncrcd forth something about
not liking parties. winch rs he had been ex.
ceedingly gay from boyhood. appeared cx
trrmclJ anomalous. This, however, did not
irprrss itself on me at tho time; /; il was re-
called afterwards. Thus We wore playing
,at whist about eleven O'Clock on the. nieht'
of ihe tltr'S'ilr-t-ef pcyen1tyJs III s5hprtast
year OF 'he eighteenth century.
tha's ihe last trump said my partner
aS ne 'hrewaway ne8rd on aqueen oftrumps
Ard 10y i"yr"He.
"N"' thlnk not said iAycome, "Gaspar
YOU mn 1t have the knar" Ms the oth.rs have
thrown away, and the knavc has not been
played,
No. said !. IL have not and if 7 mistake
not my partner took the fourth trick with
it,"
1t cannot he possible" said Lavcome. in
fenrfuly rgititcd state; "look back and be
certain for heavens sake!" he repeated, in
thrilling earnest whisper.
The tricks we've referred TO and my p1rt-
ner had the knayc at the bottom Of his Soc
"nd trlck.
"Then I've lost the gamc!" almost yelled
l.aycomc, ms in quick succession he played
the last rounds-"rve lost the game"
.'Ycs," said "but don't bc ANNOYED ; you
were nine, and We only escaped by the hon.
ors."
"fou know not the staSc played for, the
stake have lost" Laycome franiicaIly cx-
claimed, starting out Of his seat.
now noticed the unusual appearance Of
my friend, for his eyes were wildly bright,
his complexion as pale as marble, and his
whole body t~itehing nerrously.
Iayeome," said ], "what can affect you
thus, sure not the few dollars that we played
ior ,
NO. no, no!idiot that have bcen' what n
'"'e nave Drought on myself! groaned ont
my lrleh''
:" nat can you mean iHyeome you are
~, sa'a We '"ge'her; ana sprung up to
'" "'''' LOT "c seemed ABOUT 10 iaIi'
w. no. nc S''h '''oueh me n"'' ! am nc
Fu''eu, ana "c s'''uhN IRON US. YET nc
ea'pe' ."se'Y' se' 20" may devise some
' % escape nave heard OF cheating
'"o ue'" ;" us "ne--"''d ! VIII tell yopa
's''o'e S'o''' !" the nope 'hHt 20" may rs
'''s, a,,s' me-
'' ~ha' can you mean We ex-
.s aI'a,p