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

oOlb anu hlCdb1y bhC ShioSAiSo
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 SIMPLE
white frock, just mysteriously frilled
round the little white column of a
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
one seemed to talk to her except the
doctor, who smiled pleasantly as he
passed and said something to which
she answered with nod.
"Ophelia at last" said Gayton to
himself; and in melancholy vein he
wished he were Hamlet and could lie
at her feet and watch the play.
poor Ophelial divided from herself
and her fair judgmentl'' 1.-THE quotation
was irresistible). 81 wonder what sent
her here-some brute of man, or a
soldier lover killed at Kassassin.
Graciousl hope this terrible Meg Mer-
rifles is not going to ask me to dancel"
and he moved away, as he saw a wild
eyed woman bearing down upon him,
TO seat somewhat nearer the pale girl
with the black-red rose.
For a 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 sorrowtul eyes. A moment passed,
and then she rose quietly and with per-
, feet self-possessed grace walked over to
him-to his intense astonishment sat
down quietly by his side, and SAID in a
soft musical voice:
"You seem sad tonight; 1 am
sorry"
a For a moment he was tongue-tied
then ne recollected his instructions and
I pulled himself together.
' swell, l think was sad because
i you were looking sad."
r "Was n / suppose 1 always do, then
OF course, being here naturally makes
,, one feel sad. But we won't talk o
that" she added quickly. "Do yol
y care for dancing2 I'll dance with you
= if you like"
= "Dance2 with your"
10 yes; if you like; many of th'
others dance, you know"
"How calmly she seems to recogniz
:. her state." thought Grayton, as h
u stood up and passed his arms roun'
: poor Ophelia's slender waist, wondering
u how she would Zig and amble." The
. were playing the "Dream- Faces" an
y as they swung in undulating rhythm
20 y, to the pretty song lie felt that few slip
~ of sane seventeen could come up
.e her.
II THAT'S right" said the Doctor
x encouragingly; "set good example.
" " means am to be tonic, suppose,
y y thought Grayton: so he carried o
W Ophelia for an ice. "You dance beaut
Z fully" she said. 'No, you sit dow
and III get you the ice; there nov
d there's spoon and a wafer; now 20
feel comfortable, don't you2 isn't thi
~ a lovely waltzP"
~ "Yes, Pm fond of 'Dream-Faces
nc the people one meets in dreams a
III generally vastly nicer than the real fol-
[ have many dream friends"
Id "Have your" she said, looking anu
ed; ''tell me of them."
= "Well, you know, 1 think Pm ma
70, ried to dream wife-just like Gilbert
OK Princess Toto, you know with h
er dream husband. And she comes to n
of sometimes and scolds me if I've dol
en- anything wrong in the day; and som
Tx times she's very loving, and sometim
rls she's cross and doesn't come near n
tn for weeks"
off He felt as if he was telling fai
all tale to a child.
SLOW charmlugI Do tell me mo
an of her. Is she beautiful What is S
nut likeP"
cd The fanciful conceit seemed to anu
ed her, so he went on drawing pretty pit
IN. ures of an ideal woman; then growi
'ed unconsciously eloquent, he burst oil
led ''Ah, if one could only meet her ally
M what wife she would makel A We
lad second self, aiding, sympathizlng, he
,ed ing, loving-at once the cheeriest
sed chums and the most idolized of idols
,ch She had flushed little as he spoil
to but she went on. ''What pre-
rry pictured Where did you get your bea
an tlful thoughts about marriageP"
He 81 suppose my dream-girl taught mt
a "Is she prettyr"
to Grayton wondered if deliberate ba
Ind faced compliment would be tonic
to a lunatic. "Yes, beautiful. She
lse, large brown eyes, wonderful hair, a
the voice, an olive oval face, she dan
phs superbly, and she wears black
her rose in her white dress"
lot Ophelia looked little frightened.
"Forgive me, but didn't mean
the be rude, but she ls-really, you are
old angry with me?" and he land his hs
sed gently on hers.
5" "Oh, no." then there was pau
he "Come and let me show you some p
hat ures; Pm something of an artist l
self:'' and she led him into long {
lose lery, and talked art so sensibly {
rial sympathetically that here, at all eve
ton. he felt there was very pleasant metl
,ere in her madness.
"Talking art" is recognized met
cts. of interchanging sympathies.
ctor He was no bad Judge of a pictul
fee. but he preferred to affect ignorar