The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-01-15

cOuth gamboling in corner. His eyes
wandered round the room and rested at
last on face.
1t was an exquisite oval face, somewhat
sad and wistful in expression, Of that rare
delicate olive color one sees in the South,
with the skin of so fine texture that the
red flush springs up through the vein
tracery at 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, sweeping in undulating lines
past the tiny rose-tipped ears. She was
seated on low sofa, carclessly clasping
one knee with both hands She wore a
simple white frock, just mysteriously
frilled round the little white column OF
throat, and a great black-rcd rose nest led
in her breast. One little high-arched foot,
in peach h-colorcd netted silk, kept swing
ing to the music No one seemed to talk
to her except the doctor, who smiled pleas
antly as he passed and said something to
which she answered with nod
"Ophelia at last" said Grayton to him
self and in melancholy vein he wished
Hc WcIo IldLllCt COuIt lie dL ntT IcHt
and watch the play.
{" Poor Ophelia ! divided from herself
and her fair judgment >" Ohe quotation
was irresistible) 81 wonder what sent
her here-some brute of a man, or sol
dier-lovcr killed at Kassassin Gracious
| hope this terrible Meg Merrilics is not
going to ask me to dance - and he moved
away, as he saw 4 wild-eyed woman bear
ing down upon him, to 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 She
never shrank from his look, only a sort of
plying light seemed to glow in the sor
rowlul eyes. A moment passed, and then
she rose quickly and with perfect self
possessed grace walked over to him--to
his intense establishment sat down quietly
by his side, and said III a soft musical
voice
You seem sad tonight; am sorry
For a moment he was tongue tied then
he recellected his Instructions and pulled
himself together.
"Wcll, think | was sad because you
were looking sad
"WasI? suppose always do, then.
OF course, being here naturally makes
one feel sad. But we won't talk of that"
she added quickly "Do you care for
dancing: Pll dance with you, if you
like"
Dance! with YOU
ooh, yes, if you like; many of the 9th
ers dance, you know
How calmly she seems to recognize
her sad state" thought Grayton, Az he
stood up and passed his arm round poor
Ophelia's slender waist, wondering how
she would Jig and amblc." They We're
playing the "Dream Faces,' and as they
swung in undulating rhythm to the pretty
song he felt that few slips of sane seven
teen could come up to her.
"That's right" said the Doctor encour-
aglngly, set good example, Means
Pm to be tonic, | suppose" thought
Grayton; so he carried off Ophelia for an
ice
You dance beautifully" she said
"No, You sit down and I'll get you the
ice there now, there's spoon and a
wafer; now you feel comfortable, don't
YOU ASII CIILC "a loNClJ NhlSt
Yes, Pm fond of dream faces ; the
people one meets in dreams are generally
vastly nicer than the real folk. have
many dream friends"
Have you - she said, looking
amused; "tcll me of them"
"Well, you know, think Pm married
to dream wite-just like Gilbcrt's Prin-
cess Toto, you know, with her dream
husband. And she comes to me some
times and scOlds me if I've done any
thing wrong i'll the day; and sometimes
she's very loving, and sometimes she's
cross and doesn't come near 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
| like ?"
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 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 a pretty pic
ture! Where did you get your beautiful
thoughts about marriage ?"
81 suppose my dream girl taught
me"
" Is she pretty %
Grayton wondered if deliberate bare
faced compliment would be good tonic
for lunatic. &" Yes, beautiful. She has
large brown eyes; wonderful hair, a low
voice, an olive oval face, she dances su-
perbly, and she wears black-red rose in
her white dress"
Ophelia looked little frightened.
"Forgive me, didn't mean to be rude,
but she is-really, you are not angry
with me % and he laid his hand gently
on her.
90 no." then there was a pause.
"Come and let me show you some pic
lures Pm something of an artist my
self,' and she led him into long gallery,
and talked art so sensibly and sympa-
thetically that here, at all events, he felt
there was very pleasant method in her
madness
"Talking art " is recognized method
of intcrchanging 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