The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-08-20
THE TABLES TVRNEO.

Kiss the before you goi
THE TABLES TURNeD.
BY the Author of "Livi"x or Dead ~ a~a
"lhe Desborouxhs."
CnAPTKRI.
Tables turned. indeed. :" cried Mr.. Bosucs.
uitn aa Air Of inefsbe disdsin. k'No, no, Mr.. SiL
vertree, have not lived in the world upwards
Of Sity years to be cheated by an old woman's
tale at last"
Don't trust too much tn your own incredui.
ty, sir" said Mark Silvertree, gravely 'tabIes
nova DAYS play odd sort Of pranks, a. for in.
stance"
"Don't tell me, don't tell met" cried Mr..
Bounce, waving his hand With dignity 81 dou's
want to hear il! | should not believe il f saw
the table spin rosnd like teetotuu"
''Oh, MIR. Bounce, how can you!" sapereA
the eldest Of the three Misses Popple wood. lost
in adnra,iop Of his bravery.
How can ly' returned Mr.. Bounce, spread
lug himself out on the besrihrug until his psrtly
person seemed almost TO cover it; ''how can -
Why, because l am Engshman, and not -
be humbugged. la these days, masm, people
viii be humbugged-th~y like il. But am sot
Of the nunbee, thank heaven! No one shall
hsnbug mel"
But" said Mark Silvertree, as il nwillug 10
drop the subject, making allowance for sundry
pieces OF mischief, there are still wonderful STE
ries told Of these same tables. One might a.
most fancy them TO be links between us and the
world Of spirits"
Nonsense" cried Mr.. Bounce, angrily;
don't De putting such absurd notions into peo-
Plies heads. There j. NV friend Sinclair turning
as pale ss a ghost"
| Mr.. Archibald Sinclair was the o~n-r Of q
large handsome country house, nos we'll flied
with guests. lie middle aged, with q email
~ithercd face, restless ey IS, aud uncc,nfctta.
BILE expression about his mouth. No one could
say his appearance Vas pr.possessng, or his
sth, restrained manner agreeable. Yet, II the
eye wsLders through the apartment, il ~,l rest
on fair haired girl in the first bloom of her
youth and beauty. This 10 Mr Sinclair's ward,
and she has given her word to become, On the
following morning. Mr. Sinclair bride.
Poor Lucy Dove, though she looks ~ bright
and happy, has had her dreary Passaces im life
Ar. Sinclair, her guardian, With ~bom she he's
resided from childhood, had nephew Frank.
called by his uncle, Frank ne'erdo- we'll" But
iu spite of this smiuous title, Frank Was favor.
ito ~ith everybody. He was an open.heasted,
generous fellow, little too reckless, but With
plenty Of good stuff in him. lie fell in lsve
with his uncle's pretty ward. 40 . matter Of
course, and s.ked her to marry him. Lucy 70.
turned his affection, and little vas act.
ed out between them. IL lasted six months. and
then was broken up by his uncle sending Frask
to sea.
Frank could not help himself a. il happened,
for his fortune Was in his uncie's hande, and the
young scapegrace was still minor. But he vas
.oothed by the promise that his return Lucy
, should be his wife. So though the parting wss
full Of bitterness, ~ such par,ings must be, il
, was not devoid OF hope and consolation.
II, k.s l.v.
|. him long letters, warm from her heart, and blot
ted WITH tears. a. she thought OF the cruel sea
! that had him at it, mercy. The winter came.
aud the sea was unusually outrageous, aud sirew-
, ed the coast with wrecks. Then came Luey's
, second and complete bereavement. Her guar
dian broke il to her gently, and, for him. tender
iy. Frank's Vessel had gone down aud Ill on
BOARD had perished.
, This tragedy had taken place six months ago !;
|, ard nov, mark the fckleness Of woman! Lucy's
tears are dry, and tomorrow ia to be her ved.
] ding day!
\ Mr. Sinclair does not look no light hearted -
E his bride elect, by many degree. He 10 more
D restless than usual; he has an absent way q n.
swering. and queer habit Of seeming alsays 70
he iist~ning. kvery Que knows that he 10 mar
~ ag Lucy for her fortune, but What her motive
e can be ia marrying him, no one has vet OWNED.
IL il the oddest affair that has happened for ns.
ny day.
81 Bat oil this time Mark Slvertree is psrsuing
With great ardor the subject Of the table.
4 "Leok," said he, AT that great, old fashioned
4 piece Of furniture. Its legs are certainly not
made for walking Ii has no powers Of IocomO.
ton; and yet, let but join hands round IL, and
= the electric chain vii move like invisible cor.
e reut. The table cannot long Withstand IT, IL
~ill msve, At first slo~l and With effort Then
faster and faster till il spins round with astonish
ing velocity"
"Dear ne! ho~ extraordinary" exclaimed
the three Mi.ses Popp!ewOoj iu q breath, and
8 drawing nearer 70 Marx, a. il for protection.
l. IL sssure you il is q fact said Marx, dog0at
e ically; "and il our host has no objectioo,
sbosId just like 70 try il for the fuo Of the shinl
-thst il. il no one will be frightened" be ID
ded, looking At Mr. Bounce.
"What! frightened st the tablet" cried nr
Bsunce, laughing in derision; while a few serosl
minded women of the party pressed forward u
n ready 70 aefy every danger.
u Mark nev turned to his host for permission.
"You are quite welcome 10 take What hbertie,
yos please With my table" said ur. Sinclair
q With his uncomfortable smile "all stipslase fo
is, that am not to believe in an absurdi:y."
swell, then" said Mark, skiIliully forming
h circle around the table, Il hsve just word o
70 tvo mere TO add This matter OF the tsbe-tsrn
~ 10G, ne eu0c0, very graveiv, Tatoer y UESs
n Gus business Tables are, ! said before, link
in between Us and the world Of spirits-medisns
AZ a they are called. | could, il / chose, sddres
At some one whose voice We never expected 70 bea
10 again; yes. and be answered"
~ The three Misses Poppiesood uttered . fainl
,e shrek, Nr. Bou0ce clustered loudly, Lucy Qui
re- ety vithdsev to the fsrshest Of the room
,e While Mr. Sinclair scosled at Mark Silvertfe'
viIh - evil q look a. one human being couls
cast 1t snosher.
;. Soil, popular curiosity vas aroused. NO oo<
" believed q word about il, and vet everybody
. would hike TO try.
r. Mark vas Just the man for the occason-sel
" posseseed and sdroit. There vas . seatness n
alI his actions. he Darshaied the guests int
their places. Lucy forming one Of the circle.
e Then, when all had joined hsnds asd YER
lg looking into the mahogany as If il we're mag
:, mirror, Mark said, quietly:
NJ "The medium OF CONTAMINATION 70 perSecs
IN Who shall I speak TO y
ngl There was Q pause; then Q nsme sas whisper
ed that sounded rather oddly q that idsatiea
epoch; bat the whisper gathered ssreasth sa'
at length dared 70 say aloud:
T. Prank Sinclair"
4" Oar best STATED from bis seat: Lscy eurse<
We pale, and leaned upon the eldest Hi1 roPpse
y vood. while Mr.. Bounce stared ss Aark' .
petri6ed At bis audscity. :,
But Mark gave 10 one time 70 interfere cxl
L., ~ = IHn.AA AR.&A