The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-09

hair that flowed down over her shoulders.
DO you live here 7? asked she.
Il stay here, said the girl, until he
comes after me-
Until who comes?
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Don't
you know said she impatiently, i am
Ophelia Oh, you may well look sur.
prised. People think l am dead, but
here l am you see. And Hamlet loves
me through it all. He will come am
sure he will come. You have arrived
from the world, she cried suddenly,
Perhaps you have seen him-my Ham
let {?
A cold thrill Of terror shot along Myr.
tie Folliott's nerves. Was the fair young
girl crazy?
At the same minute servant, in a
mob cap and plain gray stuff gown. enter.
ed.
Miss Opheia.' cried she, how ever
came you here? Come away directly,
Miss or I'll call the DOCTOR
The girl shrugged her shoulders impa.
tiently.
Il am not afraid of the DOCTOR said
she, He is always kind to me Besides
he knows that his position as court pbysi-
clan depends entirely upon my good word
with the king
Come away, Miss, dear coaxed the
woman. You must get to bed early,y
know, or you won't be fresh when he
comes, as may be he'll do tomorrow
morning
That is true, said the girl, her dark
sleepy eyes lighting up Yes, Hester,
yes; | will come
And kissing her hand to Myrtle, with
gesture of farewell, she skipped away
after the maid.
Myrtle followed her to the door and
there pacing up and down the wide hail.
by the light of swinging lamp,was u sill.
ver-haired woman, with large wax doll
in her arms, over which she bent her head
making an inarticulate cooling sound as
she walked.
who is that p she asked of the woman
WIN was loading the passive 'Ophelia
away.
Its Mrs. Jessup. Poor thing she
added, in an undertone. 'shc thinks that's
her baby as died and was buried thirteen
good year ago. There comes the doctor
now.'
AS DIR. Campinton entered, Myrtle
Folliott confronted him with pale face
Sir, said she wildly, what place is
this you have brought me to? A-mad.
house? p
lie sat quietly down, bcckoning her to
an opposite chair, with an air of quiet au.
thority that she found it impossible to re.
sist.
You are quite right said he. 1T is
what the world calls mad house, but We
who are wiser in the history Of moral and
mental disease term it sanitary retreat.
But you have deceived me. You ad.
vertised for a companion to an invalid
Have we not many invalids here ?
DR.. Campington asked, with smile. Il
put it to your own reason and good sense
how many answers we should get to an
advertisement worded thus, 'Wanted-A
Keeper in a Mad-House.' Now, Miss
Folliot, see protest and refusal in your
eyes. But take time to reflect Your
duties will be light, merely the supervi-
sion and companionship of the :wo or
three refined delicate invalids who cannot
be entrusted to the coarse and uncultured
attention Of menials-your salary double
what was mentioned in the advertisement.
will await your decision tomorrow
morning in this apartment. Betsey, Ito
the little maid who had brought the tea)
r show Miss Folliott to her ROOM
And in large and airy apartment
with easements which overlooked the
mountain slopes, Myrtle Folliott sat down
to decide.
There was something in Dr. Camping.
ingtons calm eye and calmer words that
reassured her-the 'mad-housc seeming
no longer to possess the terror in hel
sight.
I'VE bave outgrown the superstitiou'
stage of the world she told herself, 'and
l, in particular, have always prided my
sell on my strength Of mind. have-a
mission-a thousand dollars year With
that sum | could give dear mamma ever
, luxuries. Yes-I will stay
We'll, which is it to be-Yes or No !?
! DR.. Campington asked on the morrow
when Myrtle met him with clear, vioe
eyes and looks of quiet resolve
o Yes
Il thought SO, i'll fact / knew it, h
.. said laughing. For | am rather ply
siognomist in my way, and | read you
face yesterday
And Myrtle stayed at Campingtol
Hall, but she never wrote to her mothe
=, that she was in mad.house
? At the end of the quarter DR.. Camp
f ington paid her two hundred and fit.
dollars.
Well said he, have you found it yer
hard work p
Myrtle smilingly shook her head.
On the contrary said she, Il like it
'Ophelia' is one Of the incest girls an
r. best companions | ever knew, when sh
!. can forget her one delusion, and
v Yes said DR.. Campington, and the
: all like you. So do L.
n Myrtle smiled and confessed. Dl
, Compington watched her face intently,
Miss Folliott,' said he, you have ne'
er asked me what nearly every one els
m does-why do not marry
Because said Myrtle, Il can imagir
ii the reason Your standard is high-yo
70 never yet have met the woman to realii
a it
n You arc wrong, then MYRTLE hay
"a met her. She stands before me no,
N Myrtle, | may as well confess the tru
m i havs allowed myself to fall in lo'
with you. hard hearted man Of medicil
4 though | am. Will you become II
II; wile?'
ed And Myrtle answered,
Yes. | will