The Portland daily press., 1884-06-09
0phelia.
Maine Farmer.

- OpASAA0'
QIains Farmer)
Snow, remember, Lord Graylon," said
the doctor solemny, "all told you. You
are very welcome to come TO our ball, though
as a rule, we only ask certain set of wise
men and maidens who know our ways and
their ways. Still, you are good-looking,
bic you can enjoy yourself, and, maybe, do
them world of good. believe in cleo
trcity 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, ford, muscular
young man, strong as horse, buoyant as q
balloon. just back after a self-imposed exile
of five years in India with the big game.
''Are you quite sure of that?" said the
doctor, grimly; ''the rule is simple. Be CIV
II and don't contradict. II old Crackten
asks you to play chess, play. He's a GOOD
player, and will beat you fairly if he can; if
he can't he'll make false move aud 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; If you
are asked 10 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 to be courteous to them all, and
on no account laugh at their fancies."
"Sounds rather Jumpy. And the adies%'
'Pll see to that and introduce you to the
incest, and tell you what to avoid speaking
about. The men will make the talking for
themselves, the women don't talk much"
''Slgn Of insanity, l suppose. And what
IAN to talk about2"
Everything save some one thing-the
Empress OF Austria, or the stage, or white
roses, or Mr.. Mallock, or black stockings.
I'll give you the cue-neyeP fear; only it
may happen that one of them win ask you to
dance, and then you must steer as best you
can--talk society or art on chance. Ny own
girls and their friends get on famoUsly with
the male patients, and you must be of and
dress; nine sharp, mind, as they all go to
bed at midnight"
GrRYton 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 the venerable
Crackton, who deliberately slid back cap
tured queen on the board, and performed
progidies of valor with her. He sympa-
thized with the gentleman who had swal-
lowed crocodile, and he noticed the pale,
cadaverous man who amused himself by
counting the lights on each side of the room
and singing softly to himself, 'Sorry can't
admit il, sorry can't admit itP' He had
been an acrosiic editor once upon time.
He noticed the fussy little man with pale
blue shaven face, who wanted to stage man
age the sixteen Lancers, and who piteously
entreated the dancers to Ego back over all
that again, please, and try and get it crisp
er;' and the erratic journalist who wrote
paragraphs on his shirt cuffs, and many 9th
er strange folks that passed by in the mot
Low noUaaOf of unapttlpd FpaR0n.
=. "There's King Lear" whispered the doc
tor, "as very foolish, fond old man, four
score and upwards" passed them muttering
of Brighton ASP; "you know who he
was?" and he whispered aname in Grayton's
ear that made that nobleman whistle softly.
sAnd are there any 0phelias, whose young
maids wits should be az mortal as an old
mans life?'' asked Greyton, showing that
he knew his Shakespeare as well as the doc
tor.
''Yes, but we keep their secrets. Now go
and dance;;' and the doctor took King Lear
off for emp of coffee.
So there we're Ophelias herel More like
Audreys, he thought, as he watched some
rather uncouth gamboling in the corner.
His eyes wandered round the room, and at
last rested on face.
1t was an exquisite oval face, somewhat
sad and Wistful Inexpression, 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 veii-trace-
nv at a moments excitement; the large
brown eyes were soft and dreamy, the CHS
elled mouth was half-parted, and the dark
brown hair, looking black as night, was
worn Greek fashion, close TO the head,
weeping in undulating lines past the tiny
rose-tipped ears. She was seated on low
sofa, carelessly clasping one knee with both
Chn q cimnln white fFAcIZ- inst
mysteriously frilled round the little white
column of a throat, and great black-red
rose nestled in her breast. One little high
arched foot, in peach-colored Melted silk,
kept swinging to the music. No one seemed
to talk TO her except the doctor, who smiled
pleasantly as he passed her and said some
thing to which she answered with nod.
"Ophelia at last" said Grayton to him.
self; and in melancholy vein he wished he
were Hamlet aud could lie at her feet and
watch the play.
''Poor Ophelia! divided from herself and
her fair judgmentw 1.-THE quotation was ir
resistible). 81 wonder what sent her here
some brute of a man, or soldier lover
killed at Kassassin. Graciousl / hope this
terrible Meg Merriles is not going to ask me
to dancep and he moved away, as he saw {
wild-eyed woman bearing down upon him
to a seat somewhat nearer the pale girl witt
the black-red rose.
For a time he watched her; then he trieC
to magnetic her. At last their eyes met
he stared her full in the face. She neve
shrank from his look, only sort of pityine
light seemed to glow in the sorrowful eyes
A moment passed, and then she rose quiet
ly and with perfect self-possessed grace
walked over to him-to his intense astonish
ment sat down quietly by his side, and salt
in soft musical voice:
sGVOn co1 fo-Oiohf. ar "
For moment he was tongue-tied; theI
he recollected his Instructions and pule'
himself together.
"Well, think was sad because you wer
looking sad"
''Was l? suppose / always do then. o
course, being here naturally makes one fec
sad. But we won't talk of that" she adde.
quickly. "Do you care for dancing9 II
dance with you, if you like"
dance? with youP
SO yes, if you like; many of the other
dance, you know"
'How calmly she seems to recognize he
statep' thought Grayton, as he stood up an
passed his arm round poor Ophelia's wais
wondering how she would Gig and amble.
They were playing the "Dream-Faces," an
as they swung in undulating rhythm to th
pretty song he felt that few slips of san
- seventeen could come up to her.
1udb LlSAU3 O1iu OAO DSNoSAJ NISSN-'
agingly; ''set goud example" Means
am 10 be tonic, suppose" thought Gray
ton; SO he carried off Ophelia for an ict
"You dance beautifully" she said. enc
you sit down and + Il get you the ice; ther
now, there's spoon and wafer; now 20
feel comfortable, don't your Isn't that
lovely WALTZ"
"Yes, Pm fond of Dream Faees;' th
people one meets la dreams are general
vastly nicer than the real folk. have man
dream friends"
"Havs your she said, looking amused
"tell me of them."
"Well, you know, ! think I'm married to
dream wife-just like Gilberts frincs
Toto, YOU know, With her dream husban,
And she comes to nae sometimes and scolt
me if I've done anything wrong IN the da
and sometimes she's very loving, and som
times she's cross and doesn't come near n
for weeks"
he felt as if he was telling fairy tale to
child.
Chow charming! Do tell me more
her. Is she beautiful? What is she LIKE
The fanciful conceit seemed to amuse he
so he went on drawing pictures OF an lde
woman; then growing unconsciousiy 81
quent, he burst out, "Ah, if one could on
meet her alive what wife she won