Smyrna times., 1878-08-28
The Weird Lady of Saratoga.

No doubt many guests have heard of the
"Weird Lady" though few have seen her.
Those who have encountered her tell
strange tales. She never appears except as
a prophecies of good omen-so that there
is nothing of terror about her, but much of
wonder. The Weird Lady-who is beauti-
full and always beautifully arrayed in
black fabric, soft and dense, yet light as if
it were composed of folds of the finest lace
delights in surprises, not too startling
but sufficiently impressive. One of her
favorite effects was to amaze some wealthy
bachelor (she usually selected very young
men) by allowing herself to be discovered
by him in his room. There seated, veiled
and non-chalent, she enjoyed his dicomfit.
ure as he opened the door and stared at
her. Since she did not stir some such dia.
logue as the following was had:
"Your pardon, madame"
Certainly, SIR"
81 perceive you are not aware"
"Of what?'
"That you have mistaken the ROOM"
80, no, sir; l think l am not mistaken.
This room is yours, is it not?''
at is"
"That is precisely the reason why l am
in it."
MADAME, L"
"Oh, sir, be not alarmed rather close
the door and be seated"
| "To whom have the honor, then"
| 81 repeat, sir, be not in the least dis
! turbed. | haven't come to eat you. Nay,
l haven't come even to make love to you.
Your aspect observing a shade of pique on
the brow of the victim) has small promise
of gallantry. But have something of
interest to say to you. Pray shut the door
and sit down."
Having subdued her prey thus far, she
would proceed, in mild voice that never
varied from its sweet serenity, to recount
to him some of the most intimate secrets
of his life; nor did any feminine scruple
deter her from the recital of particular:
that made each particular hair Of the audi
tors head to stand on end like quills upor
, the fretful porcupine. Merciless in con
vincing him of her knowledge of facts, She
was invariably merciful in her application
of it.
"Now," she would resume, "you see tina
l am perfectly advised of the situation il
which you find yourself. 1t is in my powe
to exercise an influence for your good il
; every way. If you adopt my counsel, | will
/, insure your escape from all your difficulties
and you shall win what you seek. But
mark me" there she would arise), 81 if yo
disregard my advice, or if having acted upo
it, you fail on the day written on this slip @
!, paper to send to the address here write
the sum of money also written under il
4 you shall be accursed and ruined as cel
: tainly as there is GodP
1t is said by the narrator, from whom W
y obtain the legend of this strange personag'
. among many other queer legends of Sar'
:. toga life, that once a woman who wa
II accosted i'll much the same way by tn
y Weird Lady undertook to grasp and detail
! ! her, and tear off her veil. The wrists
= = the woman who made this attempt wei
II grasped in two vice-like hands, and 81
e was hurled back into her seat this wi
y y during a late concert in the park) wit
81 strength that impressed her as somethir
II more than feminine. In the next momel
!, she thought she saw the muzzle of pistc
IS and the "Weird" one whispered: 81
:. still do as l have told you you know
~ ~ is for the best; raise an alarm here if W
u dare"
II AS the Weird Lady had really done h
y no injury beyond showing her that h
~ actions had been espied, she took h
IS advice, and did not regret it afterward.