Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-04-24
"A WITLESS THING" j."

"A doc Ifnent In madness thoughts and rstnrm-
trance susd. d."-HIztIT, act. ". se.5.
'Now remember, Lord Grsyton, -
said the Doctor, solemnly, "all | told
you. You are very welcome to come to
our ball, though, a. a rule, We only ask
a certain set Of wise men and maidens
who know our ways and their ways.
Still, you are good.looking, humorous,
and CHEEKY, and you are sensible you
can enjoy yourself and, may be, do
hspg a world Of good. I believe in cleo
tricity as a curative agent-not the
dunck nonsense Of belts and chains and
musical boxes, that only shake the
erve-centers, but the real electricity O!
animal spirits, the tonic of good health
II shall do exactly as | am bid said
Lord Grayton, handsome, horid, mus.
cular young man, strong a. a horse,
buoyant as balloon, just back after a
>elfimposed exile of five wears in India
with the big game; but tell me Of all
those confounded cautions again. did
a lot Of dancing Of various kinds year.
ago, before went after the tigers" r.
and he laughed as mingled memories OF
Mayfair aud the Lotus Club swan back
20 him-''and I've tried both the Corro.
t-oree and the Solonga; but pom honor
never danced with lunatic girl yet. -
Are you quite sure of that {? said
the Doctor, grimily they are to be
met with outside Copswood, can tell
you. However, listen; the rule is sim.
pie. Be civil and don't contradict. II
old Cracktoa asks you to play che-s.
play. TIe'sa COOL player, AMI will bea,
YOU fairly if he can; If he can't he'll
make n false move and csll 'checkmate, :
snd you must resign. II poor Snohly
thinks. you are the Prince. and : rs,
YOU all over the place, and throws out
hints about teing asked to Sandring.
ham if you are asked to listen To- the
Ginning clock in Bakers interiors, or to
avoid some one else, because he'- glass
and might break, you must do your
best to be courteous to them all, and
On no account laugh at their fancies."
Sounds rather jumpy. And the
ladies?"
"I'll see to that. aud Introduce you 20
the incest, anil tell you what to avoid
-peaking about the men will make the
talking for Themselves, the women don /
talk much
Sign Of insanity, | suppose. md
,yhat an to talk about
Everything save one thiug-the
Empress Of Austria, or the stage or
white roses, or Mr.. Mollock, or black
stock;ngs. I'll give you the cue-never
fear; only it may happen that one of
them will ask you to dance, and then
you must steer as best you can-talk
society or art or chance. Ny own girls
and their friends get on fsmously with
the male patients, and YOU must do
your best. Come, you are going 10 be
our best tonic tonight, and you must
he off and dress nine sharp, mind, ss
they all 60 to bed at midnight"
Queer thing this, soliloquized Gray.
ton, a. he completed an elaborate dress.
ing, beginning my FIRST season al cr
FIVE years by dancing with lot Of luna.
tics. Hope they won't wear straw in
their hair if they do ! shall bolt to the
Congletons' dance
lie had many strange adventures that
evening as he s'olled about the pretty
ballroom at the Copswood private
asylum. lie was duly defeated at
chess by the venerable Crackton, who
deliberately slid back q captured queen
on the board, and performed prodigies
Of valor with her. lie sympathized with
the gentlemen who had swallowed a
crockodilei ana nc noticed the pale ca.
daverous man who amused himself by
counting the lights on each side of the
room and singing softly to himself.
Sorry / can't admit 1t sir, sorry can't
Admit it He had been an Acroatio
Editor once upon time. lie noticed
the fuzzy little man, with pale blue
shaven face, who wanted to stage. man.
age the sixteen Lancers, and who nat.
eously entreated the dancers to "go
back over all that again, please, and try
and get it cri'per !" and tho erratic
Journalist who wrote paragraphs on hi
shiricufs, and many other strangofjll.s
that passed by in the motley psgans d