Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-01
OPHELIA.

OPHELLA.
NOW remember, Lord Grayton," snid tho
doctor solemnly, "all l told you. You are
very welcome 10 como to our ball. though, as
a rule, VIC only ask o certain set of wise men
aud maidens who know our ways and their
ways. Still, you arc good-looking, humorous
and choery, and if you arc sensible you can
enjoy yourself, and, maybe, do them world
of good. believe in tho electricity as a Gu
rativo agent-not the quack nonsense of
belts and chains and musical boxes, that on
ly shake the nerve-centres, but the real cleo
tricity 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 q horse, buoyant as balloon,
Just back after selfimposed exile in India
with the big game.
'Aro you quite sure of that?' said the
doctor grimly; 'the rule is simple Be civil
and don't contradict. II old Crackton asks
you to play chess, play. He's good player,
and will beat you fairly if he can IL he can't
he'll make false move and call 'checkmate,
aud you must resign. II poor Snoby thinks
you are the prince, aud '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 interi-
orr, or to avoid some ono else, because he's
glass and might break, you must do your best
to be courteous to them all, and on no ac-
count laugh at their fancies."
sounds rather jumpy. And tho ladies 2"
"Tll sec to that and INTRODUCES you to the
incest, and tell you what to avoid speaking
about. Tho men will make the talking for
themselves the women don't talk much
Sign of insanity, l suppose Aud what
am to talk aboutY
every thing save some one thing-the En-
press of Austria, or the stage, or white roses
or Mr.. MAllock, or black stocking. I'll give
you the cue-never fear; only it may hap
pen that one Of them will ask you to Dance
and then you must steer az bost you can
talk society or art on chance. My own
girls and their friends get on famously with
the mRlo patients, and you must bo OF aud
dress nino sharp, mind, as they all go to
bed at midnight"
Grayton had many strange adventures that
evening as he strolled about the pretty ball
room at the Copswood private asylum. He
was duly defeated at chess by tho venerable
| Crackton, who deliberately slid back cap
tured queen on the board, and performed
prodgies of valor with her. He sympathized
with the gentleman who had swallowed a
crocodile and he noticed tho pale cadaverous
man who amused himself by counting the
| lights on each side of the room and singing
softly to himself "Sorry l can't admit it,
sorry can't admit it," lie had been an
| acrostic editor once upon a time. He no.
ticed the fussy little mHn, with palo-b
shaven face, who wanted TO stage manage
| the sixteen Lancers and who piteously en-
treated the dancers to ''go back over all that
again, please and try and get it crisper ;"
| and the erratic journalist who wrote para.
graphs on his shirt cuffs, aud many other
strange folks that passed by in the motley pa
| geant of unsettled reason.
"There's King Lear" whispered the doc
| tor, as a very foolish. fond old man, four
score and upwards, passed them muttering
| of brighton AS" ''you know who he was p
and he whispered n name in Grayton's ear
that made that nobleman whistle softly.
"Aro there are any Ophelias, whose young
maids wits should be as mortal as an old
| old mans life 2" asked Grayton, showing
that he knew his Shaksporo as well as the
| Doctor
''Yes, but we keep their secrets. Now 60
and dance :" and the doctor took King Lear
off for cup of coffee.
So there were Ophelas here! Moro like
Audreys, he thought, As he watched some
rather uncouth gamboling in the corner. His
| eyes wandered round the room, and rested at
last on a face.
1t was an exquisite oval face, somewhat
sad and wistful in expression, of that raro
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
q 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 fash
ion, close to the head, sweeping in undulat-
ing lines past the rose-tipped ears She was
| I l.. f., II,
knee with both hands. She wore a simple
whitc frock, Just mysteriously frilled round
tho little white column of throat, and a
great black-red rose nestled in her breast.
One little high-arched foot, in peach -colored
netted silk kept swinging to the music. No
ono seemed to talk to her except the doctor,
who smiled pleasantly as he passed and said
something to which she answered with nod.
"Ophela at last" said Grayton to himself
and in melancholy vein he wished he were
Hamlet aud could lie at her feet aud watch
the play.
poor Ophelia divided from herself and
her fair judgment" (the quotation was ire
sistible) 81 wonder what sent her here
some brute of q man, or a soldier lover killed
at Kassassin. Gracious! hope this terrible
Meg Morrillos is not going to ask me Il
dance !" and he moved away, AZ he saw
wild-eyed woman bearing down upon him
to a scat somewhat nearer the pale girl with
the black red rose.
For a time he watched her thon he trieC
to maguetizo her. At last their eyes met h
stared her full in the face. She never shranl
from his look, only q sort of plying ligh
seemed TO glow in the sorrowful eyes. mo
ment passed, and then she rose quietly AM
with perfect self possessed grace walked owe
to him-to his intense astonishment sat dow
quietly by his side, aud said in soft musca
voice:
''You soom sad tonight 1 am sorry"
For a moment he was tongne-tied the
he recollocted his instructions and pulled him
! self together.
"well, think I was sad because you wor
looking sad"
"WssI? l suppose l always do, then
! | OF course, being here naturally makes on
8 feel sad. But we won't talk Of that sh
) added quickly. "Do you care for dancing
0 I'll dance with you, II you like"
"Dance2 with your"
. 80 yes, if you like; many of the other
: dance, you know"
: Chow calmly she seems TO recognize he
> state !" thought Grayton, as he stood up au
y passed his arm round poor Opholia's slendC
: waist wondering how she would Jig an
. amble." They were playing the "Dreau
Faooa," and az they swung in undulatin
rnNLnLn 10 tue pIelly huuB no lolt tuul 10
4 slips of sane seventeen could come up
a her
n ''Ihats right" said the Doctor encoural
q ingy; ''set a good example," "Means 1 al
r to be tonic, l suppose" thought Grayton
so he carried OIL Ophelia for an ice. 'Yo
It dance beautifully" she said. mo, you 3
o down and I'll get you the ice there nov
It there's a spoon and q wafer; now you fe
|, comfortable, don't your Isn't that lovel
o waliz?"
Ir "Yes, I'm fond OF 'Drean- Faces : the pc,
IT ple one meets in dreams are generally vast
IS nicer than the real folk. 1 have many dreal
d friends"
70 "Have your" she said, looking amused
] ''tell me of them"