The Portland daily press., 1884-06-09
did you get your pretty thoughts about mar

did you get your pretty thoughts about mar
II suppose my dream-girl taught me-"
SIS she pretty%
Grayton wondered if deliberate bare-1aced
compliment would be tonic for a iunatlc.
"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 a little frightened.
"Forgive me, didn't mean to be rude,
but she is-really, you are not angry with
me9" and he laid his hand gently on hers.
"Oh, no." and then there was pause.
"Come, let nae show you some pictures; Pm
something of an artist myself and she led
him into long gallery, and talked art SO
sensibly and sympatheticaly that here, at all
events he felt there was very pleasant
method in her madness.
''Talking art'' is recognized method of
interchanging sympathies.
He was no bad judge of picture; but he
preferred to affect ignorance, and asked the
stupidest questions simply for the pleasure
of hearing her talk. There was a kind of in
nocent dignity about her that fascinated him.
She was more like Vestal virgin than a
Bacchante. So the evening passed all too
quickly till he suddenly bethought himself
that there was an important division i'll the
Lords that night, and that he was bound to
be a ''not content before the clock struck
eleven, and after that he was due at Lady
Congleton's dance.
"Must you go away? she said, "why?'
"Well, you see, Pm one of those much
abused people that the Radicals call heredl-
tary legislators, and am not abolished yet f;
I must be in our House at eleven"
OF course she could not have understood
word he said, for she murmule ed to herself,
"Poor fellowi SO young tooW
He rose and held out his hand. "Good
night; thank you for very charming even
ing"
"Good night" said Ophelia tenderly.
ST should like a 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. 81 shall see you
again; there will be another dance here
soon. How is it that l never saw you before
at oner"
''This is my first dance here" he said
gravely.
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
by, Though 1 must say it was rather selfish
of both of you"
''Selishl why, 1 did all could for her,
poor dear grip
''Poorl why, my dear Lord Grayton, she
has six thousand a year of her oWnP
"Dear me! and what is done with it?''
''She does what she likes with it; she
helps all the charities, and she helps me and
and Copswood in particular, and she gener-
ally does a lot of good to our poor people
picks up some one she takes fancy to, and
cheers him up a bit. She's one of my best
tonics and this is the first time ! have no.
ticed that she never danced once with pa
tient; that was your fault, you know"
"Good graciousl then she-isn't-a-a pa
tient herself?"
The doctor laughed till the tears rolled
down his jolly face. "Bless my heart, mol
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"
81 see it all-took you for patient? o
this is too lovely" and the doctor was posi-
lively boisterous in his merriment.
Grayton bolted to the House, and having
duly recorded his vote against the bill sent
from the commons, for chloroforming grouse
instead of shooting them, betook himself in
a 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.
Greatly a 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 thep? 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,
Lord Grayton. Pm sure you two will get
along capitally;" and her ladyship was of,
leaving Grayton staring vaguely at his fasci-
mating lUnatic.
Lady Mary could hardly suppress scream
as she turned her head and blushed as deep
as the rose he still wore in his button hole.
"How-how did you get outF' she asked
awkwardly.
81 never was in, Lady Mary, the fact is,
Pm afraid there has been little mistake on
both sides. only found out from the doc
tor as left that you weren't a."
She put her feathery fan up with a warn
ing "Hushp' then said, "What brought you
there?"
"Curiosity; and you?'
ST often 60 there and try to do some good.
l cheer them sometimes, but tonight! O,
how wrong and stupid of mep'
There was little pause as he looked at
her with his frank, kindly eyes.
"Let us forget and forgive, Lady Mary
after all you were very good to poor Ham,
let"
'tAnd you were very nice and kind to fool
ish Ophelia. Listen! there's the Dream
Faces again; let us see if we can dance ii
in our right minds" she said, as she rose
with nervous smile quivering in the cor
ners of her lips.
And it so happened that in month they
both came to their right minds, and the doc
| tor was at the wedding.