Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-08-26
THE TABLES TURNED.
CHAPTER I.

Tables turned, indeed p" cried Mr..
Bounce, with an air of ineffable disdain.-
mo. no, Mr.. Silvertree, | have not lived
in the world upwards Of fif;y years to be
cheated by an old womaB's tale at last %
Don't trust TOO much 10 your own in
credulity, sir" said Mark Silvertree, grave
ly; tables now a-days play odd sort If
pranks, 20 for instance"
"Don't tell me, don't tell me 20 cried
Mr.. Bounce, waving his hand with dignity:
Il don't want to hear it! | shoult not be-
lievs it if | saw the table spin arcuud ike
a te-totun."
"0h, Mr.. Bounce. how can you'll" sim
pered the eldest of the three Misses Pop
lewood, lost in admiration of his brave
ry.
How can I?' returned Mr.. Bounce.
spreading himself out on the hearthrug,
until his porily person seemed almost e.
cover it; "how can II Why, because |
am al f ,elishman, and not to be humbug-
ged. In these days, am'am, peot lie will
be bumbugged-they like it. But am
not Of the number, thank heaven! No
one shall hum ug mel"
'Bu'," said Mark Si'veit ee, as If un-
willing to drop the subject, making al
lnwance tor sundry pieces of mischief,
there are still wonderful stories told of
these same tables. One might almost fan.
cy them to lie links between US and the
world of spirits"
Nonsense ~ cried MIR Bounce, angri-
ly; don't be putting such absurd notions
into peoples beads. There is my friend
Sinclair turning as rale as ghost"
Mr. Archibald Sinclair was the owner
of large handsome country house, now
well filled with guests. lie was middle
aged, with q small withered face, restless
eyes, and an uncomfortable expression
about his mouth. M one could say his
app earance was prepussessiDg. OF bis stiff
restrained manner agreeable. Yet, If the
eye wanders through the apartment, it will
/ rest on fair haired girl in the first bloom
! of her youth and beauty. Thi, il Mr. Sin
/ clair's ward, and she has gisen her word
to become On the following morning, Mr.
! SInclair's bride.
! Poor Lucy Dove, though she looks sc
! bright and happy, has had her dreary pas
sages in life. Mr.. Sinclair, her guardian
with whom she had resided from childhood
had nephew Frank called by his uncle
Prank meier do-well !" But in spite o
this ominous title, Frank was favnrit,
with every body. He was an open hearted
! generous fellow, a little too reckless, bu
with plenty of good stuff in him. He fel
in love with his uucle's pretty ward, as
matter of course, and asked her to MARI,
him. Lucy returned his affection, and
little romance was acted out between them
1t lasted six months. and then was broker
up by bis uncle sending Frank to sea-
Frank could not help himself, as it hap
pened. for his fortune was 10 his uncle
bands and the young pe-grace was still
minor. But he was soothed by tn
promise that on his return Lucy should b
his wife. So, though the parting was ful
of bitterness, as such parting must be,
was not devoted of hope and consolation.
Lucy corresponded with her lover, writ
ing him long letters, warm from her hear
and blotted with tears, as she thought Q
the cruel sea that hao him at it's mercy
The wiater come, and the sea was unusu
ally outrageous, and strewed the coast wi;
wrecks. Then came Lucy's second 40
COMPLETE bereavement. Her guardia
broke it to her gently and, Cor him tender
Iy. Franks vessel had gone down, and a
on board had persisted. This tragedy ba
taken place six months ago, and now. mar
the fickeuess Of woman Lucy's teal
are dry, and tomorrow is to be her wed
ding day! Mr.. Sinclair does not look 8
light.hearted as his bride elect, by many
degree. He is more restless than usual
he has an absent way Of answering, and
queer habit Of teemirg always to be lister
ing. Every one knows that he is marry
ing Lucy for her fortune but what be
motive can be in marrying him, no on
has yet OWNED. tits the oldest affair ths
has happened for many day.
But ell this time Mark Silvertree is pu
suing with great ardOr the subject Of th
table.
Look" said he. "at that great, oldfasl
toned piece of furniture. Its legs are ce
tainly not made for walking. 1t has n
powers of locomotion; and yet. let US br
Join hands round it, and the electric chat
will pass like ar invisible current. Th
table cannot long Withstand it. 1t wi
move, at first slowly. aud with effort. The
faster and faster, till it spins round wit
astonishing velocity"
"Dear me ! how extraordinary e!
claimed the three Misses Popplewood in
breath, and drawing nearer to Mark, as
for protection.
81 assure you it is fact" said Mari
dogmaticallv "and il our host has no oil
lection, / should just like to try it, for th
fun of the thing-thst is, if no ore will B
frightened" be added, looking at NJ
Bounce.
What frightened at the table !" erie
MIR. Bounce, laughing in derision Will
few strong minded women of the part