The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-23
Both Weird and Jolly.

Both Weird and jolly.
1--WE had just finished dinner said the
-ounder." and had adjourned 10 the par
lor. IL was a very gay party, ana tnor
oughly Bohemian, and so we men smoked
our cigars while the ladies gossiped.
paid special attention 20 my hostess, win
whom / was not yet Thoroughly acqualht-
ed, although she had married my former
chum. | had met her about half dozen
times. but there were always so many
other persons present that | had not had
a really good opportunity to talk with her.
"She was a tall. healthy blonde, WIN
strong love for the good things OF III"
combined with considerable sentiment.
She dotted on pretty things, good eating
good wine, too, for that natter, ana,
above all, a good frolic. She was lull OF
vivacity and love Of fun-one OF the Wo-
men that would walk five miles any Tune
for a jolly dance. She was an inNeterdte
gossip, and her conversation was usually
devoted 10 the little frothy happenings OF
life that are so interesting TO the average
healthy woman.
I'VE had enjoyed an excellent dinner.
with plenty of appetizers wine and
liqueurs and naturally we all felt unusu-
ally bright and jolly. My lady outdid her
self In vlvaciOus talk, and as l listened 10
her | felt extremely amused.
by slow degrees. however, a change
came over us all [ do not know what
change in the weather. 1t had been warm
and clear. but with the approach OF night
a rather chilling wind had arisen. making
ii necessary 10 close the windows, anu
the sky was full Of ominous clouds. the
gas had not been liz, and the outlook from
the windows on ele wild and rocky north
west end of Central Park was not at all
cheerful. | first became aware that our
gayety had vanished when our host said:
q" You would not think that madame is
n hxrgf would
- am quite SUR "" All Smued incredu-
lousy. know l did Before he could
explain further she had taken the cue,
however. and proceeded 10 tell us all
about her other nature. | must say l was
amazed at the change in her as she talk
ed. She seemed almost weird, and | have
never had any desire. although 1 am not
inclined to superstition. 10 sit In dark
e-ed room with her since then. | watched
her as she ratified on. and as she sat
between me and the light l could see the
color die out Of her face. which became
ashy pale Her vivacity disappeared. too,
and her voice sounded strained.
4" L believe | have second sight she
said. with a grave. hollow laugh, and the
spirits. or whatever they are have
special fOndness for me. They speak 10
me, when / am sitting idly alone In my
room, startling me out OF my wits ire
quently Then they always warn me II
anything tragical is going to happen 10
my relatives or friends. The night my
brother died IN Richmond I saw his body
IN a winding sheet. and aroused the house
with my shrieks. | was then in Cincin-
natl, and did not even know my brother
was I'll. Another night l thought | saw my
sister sitting in a chair In my ROOM | sat
up In bed TO speak to her and was hor-
rihed 10 see that II was dear friend l
had not seen in long time Two days
later | received word she had died the
night and the hour l saw her. Those are
only a few instances and | really wish
! wouldn't have such experiences, for
they brighten the life out Of me-
1T was not so much what she said as
the manner in which she said it. that sent
cold chills through the most skeptical Of
us. II seemed as though she was I'M
bOsOmng herself against some strong in
fiuence, for her voice sounded more and
more strained and far away as she pro-
ceeded. 1t seemed impossible that she
could be the gay, happy woman that had
kept us laughing over her yiyaciOus frivo-
lily a few minutes before. The women
were all white and nervous. and We men
hltched In our chairs uneasly. | know |
was fascinated by the strange light In her
eyes. and felt queer lump in my throat.
There was silepce for n little while after
she had concluded. and then one Of the
men tried 10 revive our spirits and con-
ceal his own impressions by saying, with
an affectation Of sarcastic gayety
Perhaps, II your powers OF divination
are so great, you can foresee the result
Of the big race tomorrow. / am going
down., and would be grateful to your SUI
pernatural informant IL he or she would
tell me the winner
She made TO reply Immediately. but
rested her head YEARLY on her hand and
half closed her eyes. Suddenly she sat up
straight and her eyes seemed full of an
uncanny light.
y feel in the mood for experiment.
she said, and will try to name the win
ming horse for you. l never attended a
horse race in my life. and do not know
one horse from another. but II you will
give me the list will try to make the Sc
lection.
Immediately we were all excitement.
One Of the men produced evening
newspaper containing the entries for the
next day Qt was the day OF the Brooklyn
Handicap. and by the dim light of the
window he opened the paper at the page
which contained the list He handed the
paper TO her, and she called for pin.
She let her hands rest in her lap for
a moment, and then. without looking at
the paper at all. she held IL I'm her left
hand, while the right, which contained
the pin. wandered slowly over It, Her
face seemed lifeless and her movements
mechanical SuddcaS her right hand
became fixed. and the pin was driven
through the paper.
There! she exclaimed, i have obeyed
my impulse. What is it?'
grabbed the paper and hurried TO
the "ihuOW with IL. Inc PIN was stuck
In the name. DR.. Rice / announced the
fact She reached out her hand and
said:
Take out the pin and let me try
again
Il removed the pin and handed it 10
her, together with the paper but pur-
posely turned the latter upside down.
She went through the same performance.
and when the paper was carried to the
window the pin was again thrust through
the same name Twice more was this
repeated although turned over an
other page each time. She could not
have felt the pinhole through the extra
thickness. and. anyhow. her fingers did
not touch the paper until the pin was
stuck In.
After that the light was turned on
and the shadows vanished, but all our
gayety was gone, and we left soon after.
/. for one. was glad 10 get out OF the
influence OF those eyes. and took sew
eral drinks before / went home. | think
a great deal Of my old chum, but really.
/ do not/call at his home as often as /
had expected TO. OF course, DR.. Rice
won."-New York Sun.
Printers PeculIarities.