The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-05-09

wafer; now you feel comfortable, don't
you? Isnt that 4 lowelx i, valse :"
Yes, I'm fond of sDream Faces! the
people one meets in dreams are general
" vastly nicer than the real folk.
have many dream-friends."
Have you?"' she said, looking
amused; "tell me of Them"
'"Well, you know, think I'm married
to dream-wife-just like Gilbert's
Princess Toto, you know, with her
dream husband. And she comes to me
and scolds me il I've done anything
wrong in the day; and sometimes she's
very loving, and sometimes she's cross
and doesn't come neer me for weeks"
He felt as if he was telling fairy tale
to child.
Glow charming! Do tell me more Of
her. Is she beautiful? What is she
ike?"
The fanciful conceit seemed to amuse
her, so he went on drawing pretty pic
lures of an ideal woman; then growing
unconsciously eloquent, he burst out,
"Ah, if one could only meet her alive
what q wife she would make! A very
second self, aiding, sympathizing. help.
ing, loving-at once the cheeriest Of
chums, and the most idolized of idols.
She had flushed little as he spoke,
but she went on, "What pretty pic.
tire! Where did you get your beautiful
thoughts about nlarriage?"
II suppose my dream girl taught
me-"
"Is she pretty?"
Grayton wondered il deliberate bare
faced compliment would be good tonic
for lunatic. "Yes, beautiful. She
has large brown eyes, wonderful hair
low voice, an olive oval face, she dances
superbly, and she wears black red
rose in her white dress.
Ophelia looked little frightened.
Forgive me, l didn't mean to be rude,
but she is-really, you are not angry
with me?" and lie laid his hand gently
OH her.
30 no;" then there was pause.
"Come, and let me show you some pic
lures; Pm something of an artist my
self" and she led him into long gal
lery, and talked art so sensibly and
sy,npathctically that here, at all events
he felt that there was very pleasant
method in her madness.
Talking art" is recognized method
OF interchaning sympathies.
He was no bad Judge of O picture
but he preferred to effect ignorance, and
asked the stupidest questions simply for
the pleasure Of hearing gNher talk. There
was u kind of innocent dignity about
her that facinated him. She was more
like Vestal virgin than Bacchante.
So the evening passed all to quickly,
till lie suddenly bethought himself that
there was an important division in
the Lords that night, and that he
was boundto he "not content" be-
fore the clock struck eleven, and af-
ter that lie was due at Lady
Congleton's dance.
Must you go away?" she said
"why?"
"Well, you see, I'm one of those
much abused people that the Radicals
call Hereditary Legislators, and I am
not abolished yet; I must he in our
house at eleven"
OF course she could not have under
stood word he said, orshe murmured
to herself, "Poor fellow! SO young, too!'
He rose and. held his hand out.
Good night; thank You for very
charming evening"
"Good night" said Ophelia tenderly.
II should like little memory of this
meeting; will you give me that rose
I've been longing for it all the evening.
"Of course 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 on
other dance here soon. How is it that
I never saw you before at one?"
",This is my first dance here" he said
grayely."
Why it was that Ophelia's eyes sud-
denly filled with tears he couldn't un-
derstand, but she left him with a quiet
bow and went back to the dancing-ro
you've been enjoying yourself, I
see, said the Doctor, as Grayton came
to soy good-by, "though must say it
was rather selfish of both of YOU"
"Selfsh! why, I did all I could for
her, poor dear grill"
"Poor! why, my dear Lord Grayton,
she has six thou sand year of her own! I"
''Dear me! and what's done with it 2"
''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 o lot Of good to
our poor people-picks up some one
she takes fancy to, and cheers hlm up
q bit. She's one of my best tonics and
this is the first time have noticed that
she never danced once with q patient; /;
that was your fault, you know"
GOOD gracious! then she-isnt-a
"a patient lerself?"
The Doctor laughed till the tears
rolled down his jolly face. "Bless my
heart. no! That's Lady Mary Petit
grew, daughter of old Lord Polonius,
and she's just one Of the cleverest and
sweetest girls in the world. I thought
you knew her."
"Not I! She came over and spoke to
me, and"
II see it all-took you for patient!
o, this is too lovelv!" and the doctor
was positively boisterous in his merri-
ment.
Grayton bolted to the house, and hav.
ing duly recorded his vote against the
bill, sent up from the commons, for
chloroforming grouse instead of shoot
ing them, betook himself IN strange
state of bewilderment to Lady Congle-
toms. His hostess welcomed him warm
ly, 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 q delightful girl, Lord Gray
ton, quite after your own heart-devo-
voted 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 Of Copswood as his hostess
took his arm and they set ont on pill
grimage.
"Ah, here she is! Lady Mary Petit
grew, Lord Grayton. I'm sure you
two will get along capitally;" and her
la.lyship was of leaving Grayton staring
vaguely ct his fascinating lunstic.
Lady Mary oonld hardly suppress q
scream ~ abe turned her head and
blushed q deep a. the rose he still wore
in his sbntton-hcle. 81
sHow how did yoa get outY she
asksd avi1asdly lys SSesS
II nsv1s NAaiin, Lady llazy;fhs fasl
.a,sisa -