The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-01-03

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one seemed to talk to her except the
Doctor, who smiled pleasantly as he
passed and said something to whilll
she answered with a nod.
"Ophelia at last" said Grayton to
himself; and in melancholy vein wished
he were Hamlet, and could lie at her
feet and watch the play.
"'Poor Ophelia! divided from herself
and her fair judgmentr - (the quota
sion was irresistible). 81 wonder what
sent her here-some brute of man, or
soldier-lover killed at Kassassin.
Gracious! l hope this terrible Meg
Merrilles is not going to ask me to
dancer' and he moved away, as he saw
a wild-eyed woman bearing down upon
him, to seat somewhat nearer to 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 sorrowful eyes. A moment passed
and then she rose quietly and with per-
feet self-possessed grace walked over
to hin-to his intense astonishment sat
down quietly by his side, and said in a
soft musical voice:
You seem sad to night; 1 am very
sorry"
For moment he was ongue-tied;
then he recollected his instructions and
pulled himself together.
''Well, l think l was sad because you
were looking sad"
''Was 1? 1 suppose 1 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? III dance with you
if you like"
dance with you?"
80 yes, if you like; many of the 9th
ers dance, you know
"How calmly she seems to recognize
her sad state!' thought Grayton, as he
stood up and passed his arm round
poor Ophelias's slender waist, wonder
ing how she would Zig and amble."
They were playing the ''Dream-F Faces"
and as they swung in undulating
rhythm to the pretty song he felt that
few slips of sane II could come up to
her.
That's right" said the Doctor, en-
couragingly; ''set a good example. y
"Means I'm to be tonic, l suppose,
thought Grayton; SO be 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 a spoon and a
wafer; now you feel comfortable, don't
youp Isn't that a lovely valse?"
Eyes, I'm fond of Dream Faces
the people one meets in dreams are
generally vastly nicer than the real
folks. / have many dream friends"
Have you?" she said, looking anus
ed; tell me of them"
''Well, you know, 1 think I'm mar
ried to a dream-wife-just like Gil
bert's. Princess Toto, you know, with
her dream-husband. And she comes
to me sometimes and scolds me if I've
done anything wrong in the day; and
sometimes she S very loving, and some
times she's cross and doesn't come
near me for weeks"
He felt as if he were telling fairy
tale to a child.
''How 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 pict
ures 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 pretty pic
turel Where did you get your beautiful
thoughts about marriageP"
81 suppose my dream girl taught
me-"
''Is she prettyp''
Grayton wondered if deliberate bare
faced compliment would be good
tonic for a lanatic. ''Yes, beautiful.
She has large brown eyes, wonderful
hair, a low voice, an olive oval face,
she dances superbly, and she wears a
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 he laid his hand
gently on hers.
go, 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
sympathetically that here, at all events,
he felt there was a very pleasant meth
cd in her madness.
Talking art is a recognized meth
cd of interchanging sympathies.
He was no bad judge of picture;
but he preferred to affect ignorance,
and asked the stupidest questions SIM
ply for the pleasure of hearing her talk.
There was kind of innocent dignity
about her that fascinated him. She
was more like vestal virgin than
bacchante. So the evening passed all
too quickly, till he suddenly bethoughs
that there was an important
division in the Lords that night, and
that he was bound to be mot con-
tent before the clock struck II, and
after that he was due at Lady Congle-
tons dance.
Must you go awayP" she said;
"why?n
'Well, you see, I'm one of those
much-abused people that the Radicals
call hereditary legislators, and am not
abolished yet; must be in our house
at 11.n
OF course she could not have under
stood word he said. for she murmur-
ed to herself, "Poor fellow! SO young,
toor'
He rose and held his hand out.
Good night; thank you for a very
evening"
Good night, " said Ophelia, tenderly.
Il should like little memory of this
meeting; viii 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.
Il shall see you again; there viii be
another dance here soon. How is it
that never saw you before at one"
'lhlS is nv first dapoa haro ~ ha