The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-07-06
THE TALKING TABLE.

did not love AioArc- / 60 9o' AHoH
why but probably i: was because sne
was Eretty and he ugly. though pretty
women often fall :E love with very
ugly Hen.
Nobody knew anything about Muse
.a.s aLteceGentS. where she came tronn
or what her real name "as. She was
a fortune teller She was probably
between twenty. Eve and thirty. with q
wealth OF golden hair: her eyes were
large. brii.ian, aud deep blue. and her
moth poe; 5 dream OF !1ve!!ness.
Her voice and manners were charming.
md as the people OF our town are |ery
superstitious she soon worked up a
splendid business.
Alitard had met her on steamer
which brought him back 10 France
after a very disastrous tour in South
America He was comedian. but
possessing no talent be had never peen
successful and while abroad be had
been forced 10 exist ever since the
company vas left stranded In Rio d
Jane;ro, on his talent as ventrilo-
cuist. which vas marvellous.
Sine. his return home be bounded
the pretty fortune te!ler's seances. and
as Musora had repeatedly warned him
10 stay away. he had to resort to STRAIT
egy in order to be nea. his beloved,
whose heart be was determined TO con-
luer 1t any cost. as lie was not worth
living without her.
One evening he was presen' at one
OF the beautiful sorceress seances
disguised as al cid lady. and hidden
away in the last row on seats.
After a few preliminary !eats Of
eh!von:ancy and fortune telling from
cards. during which an old colonel
had caused considerable trouble by
his sxepticism. the p.!a:ipal number
Of the proSram-the famous dancing
,able-was announced.
The room was darkened Musora
sat dow: at a small table and placed
Ter Ca Is fat on top OF It, There
were a few moments Of breath'ess
suspense. then the table began to rock
and sway in strange manoer. de-
noting the unIuistakable presence OF
spirits.
Mus,ra asked the sk-pr!c cclone! to
kindly address any question be wanted
10 the spirits. and he did 80 with ,ae
utmost politeness:
Spirit. who are you?
Instead OF the reply that was expect
I'd IN the usual knocking language 20
which all spirits hitherto known have
oeen wont 10 answer. voice coming
rom one end OF the legs OF the table
replied: -Moliere' The audience
~as sill dumtounded when another
voice ;ha, first seemed 70 come from
.ar away bu, gradually drew closer
interrupted: He is not telling the
truth: it IS not Moliere. it is Resnard ;.
The colonel looked At Musora. who
as quite pale as she replied: There
nust be two spirits. Il very often
happens when the audience is sym
pathetic"
Her face remained calm. but she
vas very much perturbed at the phe-
aomeaon OF the talking table. which
had never been heard Of before. neith-
<. at her seances nor anywhere else
n the world.
The colonel. who was now greatly
impressed. asked in his most solemn
voice: Whom Of the two great and
illustrious spirits may be permitted
TO address,
None OF them. came the answer
!. You will please address me
And who are you?"
"Beaumarcha:s
1t seemed then as il the ;hree-!es-
sed table was now inl abi,ed by three
great spirits. one in each leg.
Sir. mis- is indeed an unexpected
Ionor. the colonel stammered.
That is about enough. came
fourth voice. perhaps someone else
may get a chance now.
There came a noise as II number
ot people were Quarrelins. rot onl.
q the room. but on the stairs and ever
n the street The audience began tc
get uneasy and restless
One voice At time-This Eapo
Icon is anbearable-now do not push
20. Beethoven beg your pardon.
IN Frederic Lemaitre-and am
'eople e. Please beha.e like French.
aen. | AN Joan OF Arc. the Maid OF
Orieans-And ! am George Sand
'iuSset. will you please be. quiet-Elias
lowe - Gutenberg Ro5esrierre -
Please wait unit! your turn comes-l
IN smothering."
By this time .he audience vas panic |
stricken. Big dogs were heard bark
nG. cats were meTinE. and the piano |
n the corner Has playing 'Ach du |
'cbrr. AuSustin. though no one
ouched il and not key was moving
Women were faintinS and the col
mel had fed. leaving the door wids
pen behind him. while from the hall
;as heard a chorus OF spirit voices:
You are right. my dea. William
&c Concueror. these people are very
are you here. too. William
ell-After you. Mahommst-This
'ay. please. George Washington.
.'veryone had fed now and in the !
,on were only Mussora. the table and
,e old lady. al, apparently paralyzed
Il an ruined sighed the sorceress
Nobody will come here any more
b. what has happened! What ha,
appened'" i
Nothing re.r serious. replied the {
q lady in alibard's voice You know !
ow dearly love you. and only want. i
to show you that rentriloluism Is c
art O
Now the .wo are married. She calls U
'rSelt Nine. Alibard. asd is making 8 b
rtune with her new spir!tualistic .
talking table. ;.