McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-03
OPHELIA,


OPHELIA.
''Now, remember, Lord Grayton,' -
said the doctor solemnly, "all I told
you. Ysu are very welcome to come
to our ball, though as rule, we only
ask certain set of wise men and maid.
ems who know our ways and their ways
Still, you are good-looking, humorous
and cherry, and if you are sensible you
can enjoy yourself, and, maybe, dc
them world of good. 1 believe in
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"
SCI shall do exactly as 1 am bid,''
said Lord Grayton, handsome, ford,
muscular young man, strong as a
horse, buoyant as a balloon, just back
after self-imposed exile of five years
in India with the big game.
care you quite sure of that?'' 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 a good player, and will beat you
fairly if he can; if he can't he'll make
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 to
be courteous to them all, and on no &C
bount laugh at their fancies."
t'Sounds rather jumpy. And the
ladiesp" ITO
''I'll 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"
"Sign of insanity, suppose. And
what am / to talk aboutp"
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 never
fear; only it may happen that one of
them will 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 off and dress; nine sharp, mind, as
they all 60 to bed at midnight
Gray had many strange adventures
that evening as he strolled about the
pretty ballroom of the Copswood pri-
vate asylum. He was duly defeated at
chess by the venerable Crackton, who
deliberately slid back captured queen
on the board, and performed prodigies
of valor with her. He sympathized
with the gentleman who had swallowed
a 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 l can't admit it, sorry 1 can't
admit it." He had been an acrostic
editor once upon time. He noticed
the fussy little man with a 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 crisper;" and the cratic
Journalist who wrote paragraphs on his
shit cuffs, and many other strange
folks that passed by in the motley pa
geant of unsettled reason.
s'There's King Lear whispered the
doctor, as a very foolish, fond old man,
fourscore and upwards, passed them
muttering of "Brighton's Asp ssyou
know who he wasp'' and he whispered
a name in Grayton's ear that made
that nobleman whistle softly.
"And are there any Ophelias, whose
young maids wits should be as mortal
as an old mans ifep" asked Grayton,
showing that he knew his Shakespeare as
well as the doctor.
"Yes, but we keep their secrets. Now
90 and dance;" and the doctor took
King Lear off for cup of coffee.
So there were Ophelies here! More
like Andreys, he thought, as he watch
ed some rather uncouth gamboling in
the corner: His eyes wandered round
the room, and at last rested on q face.
1t was an exquisite oval face, some
what sad and wistful in expression, of
that rare delicate olive color one sees
in the South, with skin of so fine a
texture that the red flush springs up
through the vein-tracery at a 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 fashion, close to the head, sweep
ing in undulating lines past the tiny
rose-tipped ears. She was seated on a
low sofa, carelessly clasping one knee
with both hands. She wore q simple
white frock, just mysteriously frilled
round the little white column OF a
throat, and q great black-red rose mes
tied in her breast. One little high
arched foot, in peach-netted silk, kept
swinging to the music. No one seemed
to talk to her except the doctor, who
smiled pleasantly as he passed her and