The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-17
ELLA.

said the doctor solemnly, ''all told
you. You are very welcome to come
to our ball, though, as rule, we only
ask a certain set Of wise men and NAL
dens who know. our ways and their
ways. Still, you are good-looking, hu
norous and CHEEKY, and if you are sen
sible you cln enjoy yourself, and, may
be. do them world of good. l believe
in the electricity as curative agent
not the quack nonsense Of belts and
chains and musical boxes, that only
shake the nerve-centres, but the real
electricity OF animal spirits, the tonic
of good health"
81 shall do exactly as l am bid, "
said Lord Grayton, handsome, florid,
muscular young man, strong as horse,
buoyant as a balloon, Just back after
self-imposed exile of five years in India
with the big game"
"Are you quite sure of that p' said
the doctor, grimly "the rule is simple.
Be civil and don't contradict. If old
Crackton asks you to play chess, play.
He's good player, and will beat you
fairly if he can if he can't he'll make
a 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 il
YOU are asked to listen to the Ginning
clock in Bakers interiors, or to avoid
some one else, because he's glass and
might break, you must do your best tt
; be courteous to them all, and on no ac
, count laugh at their fancies.
"Sounds rather jumpy. And the la
dies ?"
oI1l see to that and introduce you
to the incest, and tell you what to avoit
/. speaking about. The men will max
!, the talking for themselves, the womer
don't talk much"
"Sign of insanity. l suppose. Ant
What am l to talk about ?"
Everything save some one thing
) the Empress of Austria, or the stage
or white roses, or Mr.. Mallock, or blacl
stockings. iii give you the cue-neve
=, fear; only it may happen that one O
them will ask you to dance, and the
YOU must steer as best you can-tal
society or art on chance. My own girl
and their friends get on famously wit
the male patients, and you must be o.
and dress nine sharp, mind, as they a
go to bed at midnight.
Grayton had many strange adver
lures that evening as he strolled abou
the pretty ballroom at the Copswoo
) private asylum. He was duly defeate
at chess by the venerable Cracktor
who deliberately slid back capture
queen on the board, and perforIne
prodlgies of valor with her. He syn
pathized with the gentlemaa who liza
swallowed a crocodile, and he notice
the pale cadaverous man who amust
himself by counting the lights on eac
/, side Of the room and singing SOFTLY
himself, "Sorry 1 can't admit it, sorr
/ can't admit it p' He had been a
, acrostic editor once upon time. +
y noticed the fussy little man, with
pale-blue shaven face, who wanted
stage manage the sixteen Lancers, al
who piteously entreated the dancers
'go back over all that again, pleas
n and try and get 1t crisper - and Il
erratic journalist who wrote paragrap
on his shirt cuffs, and many 9th
strange folks that passed by in the me
ley pageant of unsettled reason.
t 'There's King Lear" whispered Il
d doctor, "as a very foolish, fond o
D man, four.score and upwards" pass
x them muttering of Brighton AS
NJ ''you know who he was ?" and
whispered a name in Grayton's ear th
made that nobleman whistle softly.
"And are there any Ophelias, who
young maids wits should be as mort
y. as an old mans life ?" asked Grayto
showing that he knew his Shakespe
VI as well as the doctor.
"Yes, but we keep their secre
Now go AMI dance !" and the doct
dy took King Lear off for cup of coff,
So there were Ophelias herei No
tx like Audreys, he thought, as he watC
NJ ed some rather uncooth gamboling
ES the corner. His eyes wandered rou
Isl. the room, and rested at last on fa
1t was an exquisite oval face, son
what sad and wistful in expression,
that rare delicate olive color one S
in the South, with the skin of 80 ln
texture that the red flush springs