The sun., 1884-06-19
OPHELlA.

Maine Farmer.
"Now, remember, Lord Grayton,
said the doctor solemnly. call I told you.
You are very welcome to come to our
ball, though as rule, we only ask q
certain set of wise men and maidens
who know our ways and their ways.
Still, you are good looking, humorous
and CHEEKY, and if you are sensible you
can enjoy yourself, and, maybe, do them
| world of good. Ibelieve in electricity
as curative agent-not the quack non
sense of belts and chains and musical
boxes, that only shake the rerve CEN
tres, but the real electricity of animal
| spirits, the tonic of good health"
II shall do exactly as l am bid," said
Lord Grayton, q handsome, fforid, mus
cular young man, strong as horse,
bouyant as balloon, just back after a
self-imposed exhile of five years In In
dia with the big game.
''Are you quite sure of that ?" said the
doctor, grimly; ''the rule is simple. Be
| civil and don't contradict. If old Crack
ton asks you to play chess, play. He's
a good player, and will beat you fairly
if he can; if he can't he'll make false
move and call 'checkmate, and you must
| resign. If poor Snobly thinks you are
the Prince, and 'Sirs' you all over the
place, and throws out hints about being
asked to Sandringham if you are asked
to listen to the Ginning clock in Bakers
interiors, or to avoid some one else be-
cause he's glass and might break, you
must do your best to be courteous to
them all, and on no account laugh at
their fancies"
Sounds rather jumpy. And the
ladies?"
"I'll see to that and introduce you to
the incest, and tell you what to avoid
speaking about. The men will make
the talking for themselves, the women
don't talk much"
"Sign of insanity, I suppose. And
what am to talk about.
Everything save some one thing
the Empress of Austria, or the stage,
or white roses, or Mr.. Mallock, or black
stockings. I'll give you the cue-never
fear; only it may happen that one of
them will ask you to dance, and then
you must steer as best you can-talk
society or art on chance. My own girls
and their friends get on famously with
the male patients, and you must be off
and dress nine sharp, mind, as they all
go to bed at midnight"
Gray had many strange adventures
that evening as he strolled about the
pretty ballroom at the Copswood pri-
vate asylum. He was duly defeated at
chess by the venerable Crackton, who
deliberately slid back captured queen
on the board, and performed progidies
of valor with her. He sympathized with
the gentleman who had swallowed
crocodile, and he noticed the pale,
cadaverous man who amused himself by
counting the lights on each side of the
room and singing softly to himself
Sorry can't admit it, sorry can't adj
NIT it !. He had been an acrostic editor
once upon time. He noticed the fussy
little man with pale-blue shaven face,
who wanted to stage manage the sixteen
Lancers, and who piteollsly entreated
f1r> 10 Eoo Ill l.
again, please, and try and get it crisp |
er;" and the erratic journalist who wrote
paragraphs on his shirt cuffs, and many |
other strange folks that passed by in
the motley pageant of unsettled reason.
"There's King Lear" whispered the
doctor. "as very foolish, fond old man,
fourscore and upwards" passed them
muttering of Brighton A's"; "you
know who he was?" and he whispered |
a name in Grayton's ear that made that |
nobleman whistle softly.
"And are there any Ophelias, whose |
young maids wits should be as mortal |
as an old mans life?" asked Grayton, |
showing that he knew his SHAKESPEARE as
well as the doctor
eyes, but we keep their secrets. Now
y
King Lear off for cup of coffee.
So there were Ophelies here! More
like Audreys, he thought, as he watched
some rather uncouth gamboling IN the |
corner: His eyes wandered round the |
room, and at last rested on face.
It was an exquisite oval face, some
what sad and wistful in expression, of
that rare delicate olive color one sees
in the South, with skin of so fine
texture that the red flush springs up
through the vein tracery at q moments |
excitement; the large brown eyes were
soft and dreamy, the chiselled mouth |
was half parted, and the dark brown
hair, looking black as night, was worn
Greek fashion, close to the head, sweep
ing in undulating lines past the tiny rose
tipped ears. She was seated on low sofa,
carelessly clasping one knee with both |
hands. she wore simple white frock,
just mysteriously frilled round the little
white column of throat, and great |
black red rose nestled in her breast. |
One little higharched foot, in peach-net-
ted silk, kept swinging to the music.
No one seemed to talk to her except the
doctor, who smiled pleasantly as he
passed her and said something to which
she answered with nod.
"Ophelia at last" said Grayton to
himself; and in melancholy vein he
wished he were Hamlet and could lie at
her feet and watch the play
"Poor Ophelia! divided from herself |
and her fair judgment!" 0he quotation
was irresistible). II wonder what sent |
her here-some brute of man, or
soldier lover killed at Kassassin. Gra-
cious! I hope this terrible Meg Mer-
rides is not going to ask me to dance!"
and he moved away, as he saw Wild
eyed woman bearing down upon him, to
a seat somewhat nearer the pale girl |
with the black red rose.
For time he watched her; then he
tried to magnetic her. At last their
eyes met; he stared her full in the face.