Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-02-02
she said it seemed hardly decent, but

she said it seemed hardly decent, but
there was no keeping her out.
She turned up with him at picnics
and Christmas parties. Nobody heard
her speak to him, but it seemed neces-
sary for him to reply to her aloud; and
to see him suddenly get up from his
chair and slip away to talk earnestly to
nothing in corner disturbed the fes-
tlvities.
81 should really be glad, ;" he once con-
fessed to me, "to get little time to
myself. She means kindly, but it is
strain And then the others don't
like it, 1t makes them nervous. can
see it does"
One evening she caused quite a scene
at the club. whitley had been play
ing whist with the major for a part
ner At the end of a game, the major,
leaning across the table toward him,
asked in tone of deadly calm:
MAY inquire, sir, whether there
was any earthly reason" Che empha-
sized 'earthly") "for your following
my lead of spades with your only
trump"
&"I-I-am very sorry, major" re-
piled whitley, apologetically. Il
somehow felt I-I--ought to lead that
Queen"
Entirely your own inspiration, or
suggested" persisted the major, who
had, of course, heard of maria"
whitley admitted the play had been
suggested to him. The major rose
from the table.
Then, sir" said he, with concen-
trated indignation, 81 decline to con
tinue this game. A human fool can
tolerate for partner, but if ] am tc
be hampered by spirit"
You've no right to say that" cried
whitley, hotly.
81 apologize" returned the major,
coldly; 1--WE will say the blessed spirit
l decline to play whist with spirits Of
any kind; and would advise you, sir
if you intend giving many exhibitions
with the lady, first to teach her the ru
diments of the game"
Saying which the major put on hi
hat and left the club, and mad,
whitley drink stiff glass of brandy
and water and sent him and Maria
home in a cab
whitley got rid of maria" at last
1t cost him in round figures eight thou
sand pounds, but his family said it wa
worth it.
A Spanish count hired furnished
house few doors from Whibley's, ant
one evening he was introduced t.
whitley, and came home and had
chat with him. whitley told hin
about Maria" and he quite fell in Low
with her. He said that if only he hat
had such spirit to help and advis
him it might have altered his who'll
life.
He was the Iirst man who had eve
said kind word about the spirit, an,
whitley loved him for it, He seeme
as though he could never see enough
of him after that evening" and tn
three of them-Whibley, the count an
"Maria" would sit up half the nigh
talking together
The precise particulars never heard
whitley was always very reticent O
the matter. Whether maria" reall
did exist, and the count" deliberatel
set to work to bamboozle her (she wa
fool enough for anything); or whethe
} she was mere hallucination Of Whit
, ley's, and the man tricked whitley b
hypnotic suggestion" las l believe
is called, | am not prepared to say
The only thing certain is that the coun
/ had discovered secret gold mine i
Peru. She said she knew all about
and counseled whitley to beg the coun
) to let him put few thousands into tn
t working of it. Maria" it appeared
had known the count from his boy
hood, and could answer for it that h
, was the most honest man in all Sout
America. Possibly enough he was.)
. The count was astonished to fin
5 that whitley knew all about his min'
Eight thousand pounds was needed
: start the workings, but he had NJ
S mentioned it to anyone, as he wante
S to keep the whole thing to himself an
thought he could save the money o
@ his estates in Portugal. However,
oblige "Maria," he would let Whiblc
- supply the money. whitley supple
g it in cash, and no one has ever seen II
i count since.
That broke up Whibley's faith i
t Maria" and sensible doctor, gettin
:: hold of him and threatening to pr
= scribe a lunatic asylum for him il ev,
he found him carrying on with an
: spirits again, completed the cure.-
Jerome K. jerome, in Datroi, Ere
Press.