The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-06-05

How charming! Dot tell me more OF
her. Is she beautiful! What is she
ike?"
The faneiful conceit seenaed to amuse
her., so he went on drawing pictures OF
On ideal Wo1nan; then growing uncon::
scioasly eloquent; he burst out; s.s!Ah, if
one could only meet her alive, what q
wife, she would make! A very second
self, aiding, sympathizing, helping, low
ing-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
ture! Where did you get your pretty
thoughts about marriage?"
II suppose my dreams girl taught me. "
us she pretty?" -
Grayton wondered if deliberate bare.
faced compliment would be tonic for
d lunatiE. Yes; beautiful. She has
large brown eyes, wonderful hair; q low
voice.. an olive oval face, she dances SUI
perbly, and she wears black-red rose
in her white dress. =: ;:
Ophelia looked little frightened. -
';Forgive me, didn't mean to be
rude, but she is--rea1ly, YOU are not an
cry with me?" and he laid his hand
gently on hers.
"Oh, no, and then there was pause.
"Come, let me show you some pictures
I'm something of an artrst myself" and
she led him into long gallery, and
talked art so sensibly and sympathet1c-
ally that here, at all events he felt there
was very pleasant method in her mad
ness.
"Talking art" is recognized method
of interch angling sympathies.
He was no bad judge of a picture; but
he preferred to effect ignorance, and
asked the stupidest questions simply for
the pleasure of hearing her talk. There
was a kind of innocent dignity about
her that fascinated him. She was more
like d Vestal virgin than q Bacohante:
So the evening passed all too quickly
till he suddenly bethought himself that
there was an important division in the
Lords that night, and thathe was bound
to b. a mot content" before the clock
struck eleven, and after that he was due
at Lady Congleton's dance.
"Must you go away?" she said, "why %
"Well, you see, I'm one Of those much
abused people that the radicals call
hereditary legislators, and I am not
abolished yet; [ must be in our House
at eleven"
OF course she could not have under
stood word he said, for she murmured
t. herself, "Poor fellow! so young too!''
Herose and held out his hand. "Good
night; thank you for very charming
evening""
"Good night" said Ophelia tenderly.
II should like little memory of this
Injecting; will YOU give me that rose
I've been longing forit all the evening
"Of course I will; why didn't you ask
for it before? ?" and she took it from her
dress and fastened it in his coat. II
shall see you again; there will be an
other dance here soon. How is it that
I never saw you dance before at one ?"
"This is my first dance here" he said
gravely.
Why is it that Ophelia's eyes suddenly
filled with tears he couldn't understand,
but she left him with quiet bow and
went back to the dancing room.
''You've been enjoying yourself, I
see," said the doctor as Grayton came
to say good-by, Though I must say
1t was rather selfish Of both Of you:'.
"Selfsh! why, I did all T could for
her, poor dear girl!''
s'Poor! why, my dear Lord Grayton,
she has six thousand a year Of her
ownp -
''Dear me! and what is done with
it?"
t'She does what she likes with it; she
helps all the charities, and she helps
me, and Copswood in particular,
and she GENERALLY does a lot Of good to
our poor people-picks: up some one
she takes fancy to-, and cheers him up
a bit. She's one Of my best tonics and
this is the first time have noticed that
she never danced once with a patient ;
that was your fault, you know
"Good gracious! then she-isn't-a-
a patient hArself?"
The doctor laughed till tears rolled
down his jolly face "Bless my heart,
no!That's Lady Mary Pcttigrew ,daugh-
ter of old Lord Poloni1s, and she's just
one of the cleverest and sweetest girls
in the world. I thoughtyou knew her. u
"Not I! She came over and spoke to
me, and"
II see it all-took you for patient
O this is too lovely" and the doctor was
positively boisterous in his merriment.
Grayton bolted to the House, and
having duly recorded his vote against
the bill sent from commons, for chloro-
forming grouse instead of shooting them,
betook himself IN a strange state of be-
wilderment to Lady Conglenton's.
His hostess welcomed him warmly, like
the prodigal that he was; and insisted
upon introducing HIM to sonic one in
whom she seemed to have special inter
est.
Really delightful girl, Lord Gray;
ton, quite after your own heart devoted
to art and philanthropy, you know"
Grayton was too fnll of thought to
protest so submitted meekly. What
were girls to him just then? He was
thinking over Copswood as his hostess
took his arm and they set out on a pill
Q '.Ah here she is! Lady Mary Petit
grew, Lord Grayton. .IrA sure you two
will get along capitally." and her lady
ship was off, leaving Grayton staring
vaguely at his fascinating lunatic.
Lady Mary could hardly suppress g
scream as she turned her head and
blushed as deep as the rose he still wore
in his button hole.
"How-how did you get out?" she
asked awkwardly.
II never was in, Lady Mary, the fact
is, I'm afraid there has been a little mis-
take on both sides. Il only found out
from the doctor as / left that you
weren't a." :
She put her feathery fan up with g
warming "Hush!" then said, "What
brought you there?"
"Curiosity; and you?"
II often go there and try to do some
good. I cheer them sometimes, but to-
night! o, how wrong and stupid of me! =
There was little pause as he looked
at her with his frank, kindly eyes.
'SLet us forget and forgive, Lady
Mary; after ali you were good to poor
Hamlet"
"And you we're very nice and kind tc
foolish Ophelia. Listen! there's the
Dream Faces again; let us see if we can
dance it in our right minds," she said,
as she rose with nervous smile culver
ing in the corners of her lips.