The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-15


faces" and as they swung in undulating
rhythm 10 the pretty song he felt that few
slips of sane seventeen could come up to
her.
That's right" said the Doctor eucourag-
ingly; 'set good example" means I'm to
be tonic, l suppose" thought Grayton; so
he carried off Ophelia for an ice.
"You dance beautifully" she said. mo,
you sit down, and I'll get you the ice; there,
now; there's spoon and wafer; now you
feel comfortable, don't you? Isn't that a
lovely valse?"
Yes, I'm fond of Dream faces The peo-
pie one meets in dreams are generally vastly
nicer than the real folk. l have many dream
friends"
Have your she said, looking amused;
"tell me of them"
well, You know, 7 think Pm married to
-wife-just like Gibert's Princess Toto,
you know with her dream-husband. And
she comes to me sometimes and sColds me il
I've done anything wrong in the day; and
sometimes she's very loving, and some times
she's cross and doesn't come near me for
weeks
''How charming Do tell me more of her.
Is she beautiful? What is she like?'
The fanciful conceit seemed to amuse her,
SO he went on drawing pretty pictures OF an
ideal woman; then growing unconsclously
eloquent he burst out, "Ah, if one could
only meet her alive, what a wife she would
n
thizing, helping, loving-at once the cheer
lest of chums and the most idolized of idols"
She had flushed a little as he spoke, but
she went on: "What a pretty picture
Where did you get your beautiful thoughts
about marriage?
Il suppose my dream-grl taught me-"
SIS she pretty?'
Gray ton wondered if deliberate, bare-faced
compliment would be a good tonic for a lu-
matte. Eyes, beautiful. She has large brown
eyes, wonderful hair, a low voice an olive
oval face; she dances superbly, and she wears
black-red rose in her white dress"
Ophelia looked little frigh tened.
Forgive me, l didn't mean to be rude, but
she is-really, you are not angry with me"'
and he laid his hand gently on hers
20, no." then there was a pause. Come
and let me show you some pictures. Pm
something of an artist myself" and she led
him into a long gallery, and talked art so
sensibly and sympathetically that here, at
all events, he felt there was very pleasant
method in her madness.
Talking art" is a recognized method of
interehanging sympathies.
He was NO bad judge of a picture, but he
preferred to affect ignorance and asked the
stupidest questions simply for the pleasure
of hearing her talk. There was kind of in
nocent dignity about her that fascinated him.
She was more like vestal virgin than
Bacchante So the evening passed all too
quickly, till he suddenly bethought himself
that there was an important division in the
Lords that night, and that he was bound TO
be mot content" before the clock struck
IL, and after that he was due at Lady Con-
gleton's dance.
Must you go away?' she said. "Why?"
''Well, you see, L M one of those much
abused people that the Radicals call heredi-
tary legislators, and l am not abolished yet;
I must be in our House at H."
OF course she could not have understood
word he said, for she murmured to herself
Poor fellow! So young, tool"
He rose and held his hand out. GOOD
night; thank you for very charming even
ing"
Good night" said ophelia, tenderly.
II should like little memory of this meet
ing. Will you give me that rose? we been
longing for it all the evening""
"Of course l will. Why didn't you ask
for it before?" and she took it from her dress
and fastened it in his coat. II shall see you
again. There will be another dance here
soon. How is it that 1 never saw you before
at one?7
This is my first dance here" he said
Why it was that Ophelia's eyes suddenly
filled with tears he couldn't understand, but
she left him with quiet bow and went back
to the dancing-room.
you've been enjoying yourself, see"
said the Doctor, as Grayton came to say
good bye, though must say it was rather
selfish of both of you"
Selfish Why, did all could for her,
poor dear girl"
"Poorl Why, my dear Lord Grayton, she
has six thousand year of her own!"
Dear mel and what is done with it?''
"She does what she likes with it; she helps
all the big charities and she helps me and
Copswood in particular, and she generally
does lot of good to our poor people-picks
up some one she takes fancy to and cheers
him up bit. She's one of my best tonics
and this is the first time 1 have noticed that
she never danced once with patient; that
was your fault you know"
Good gracious! then she-isn't-a pa
tent HERSELF"
The Doctor laughed till the tears rolled
down his jolly face. "Bless my heart no!
That's Lady Mary Pettigrew, daughter of old
Lord Polonius, and she's Just one of the
cleverest and sweetest girls in the world. 1
thought you knew her."
Not II She came over and spoke to me
and"
II see it all-took you for a PATIENT O.
this is too lovely!" AID the Doctor was pos
itively boisterous in his merriment.
Grayton bolted to the House, and having
duly recorded his vote against the bill, sent
up from the Commons, for chloroforming
grouse instead of shooting them, betook him
self in strange state of bewilderment to
Lady Congleton's. His hostess welcomed
him warmly. like the returned prodigal that
he was. and insisted upon Introducing him
to some one in whom she seemed to have a
special interest.
Really delightful girl, Lord Grayton,
quite after your own heart-devoted to art
and philanthropy, you know"
Grayton was too full of thought to protest,
so submitted meekly What were girls to
him just then? He was thinking over Cops
wood as his hostess took his arm and they
set out on pilgrimage.
"Ah, here she isl Lady Mary Pettigrew,
along capitally;" and her iadvship was off,
leaving Grayton staring vaguely at his fasci-
mating lunatic.
Lady Mary could hardly suppress a scream
rhn "a horh nil nd Ii I,shnl