, 1899-01-26
LADY MACBETH.

When Reggie Ridpath found himself
lying perhaps 90 feet below the noun
horse kicking and ~plunging dangerous
ly near him, his buggy like a huge bird
of evil omen hanging in the branches Of
a tree above him, he was inclined to
think that his. evil star was in the as.
cendant. This impression d%eepened,
From the darkness that floated nearer
and nearer until it finally submerged
him he awoke to find himself surround
ed by physicians and his broken leg,
which they pronounced a very serious
fracture, done in plaster.
He surveyed it ruefully as the days
went by. The star mounted higher. His
mothers house party, the event of the
season, was at hand. There would be
fishing parties, mountain parties, pic
MICS, dances. He ground his teeth at the
thought. 1t was his only relief. He lay
there ba%ndaged, shorn of his strength,
and watched the star as it reached the
zenith. Suddenly it dropped down the
horizon, and the room was flooded with
a rosy hue. She stood in the doorway
"a tall, distinguished girl, wearing a
travelling gown and hat of the most ap.
proved fashion. He had heard of her tri-
umphs abroad, ne knew she had turned
the hearts and heads of New York, that
owing to a distant kinship his mother
had secured her for this house party,
that men raved over her, although they
said she had no soul-he knew all this,
and yet she came to his bedside and
greeted him in a pretty friendly fashion
and called him Reggie. After that day
there was always a look Of bright ex-
pectancy on the boyish face as he watch
ed the door for her coming.
The weeks wore deep into June. Mrs.
Ridpath's house party was to close with
a fancy dress ball. The ~fashionables for
miles around were invited. Many and
frequent were the discussions as to what
should and should not be worn. Reggie
noon Of the dance. six weeks after his
accident. he was forced to give it up.
81 knew l wouldn't be able to dance
with you, Elizabeth, but l wanted to
see the great throng move up the stair
way and watch you receive mothers
guests" he said as she sat talking to
him. "Oh, l am SO tired of it'll l have
been chained here u Thousand years."
at won't be much longer. " she said
soothingly.
"Well, l want to dance with Lady
Macbeth" petulently. How did you
happen to choose her, Eliza beth? My.
but you will be %glorious"
There was no mistaking the admira-
ton in his eyes.
Elizabeth had a genuine fondness for
the lad. She looked at him with her
great soft eyes.
tits "A long story, Reg, one l have
never told any one," she answered,
with a little smile. half sad, half merry
"Then tell me" he pleaded.
"Onoe," she began. and there was a
purpose in her kindness to him, $50
long ago that it seems like a dream, ]
lived SO quietly that 1 had never in my
widest dreams imagined anything like
this ball We are to have tonight. l had
never had q party gown or been to a
dance in my life. The birds and all the
free wild things were my companions.
One day q young man was brought into
our little home with a fracture some.
thing like yours. Forgive me, dear, but
for that reason l was interested in you
from the first. l nursed him back to
health. | had never seen any one like
him before. In tho summer my boy
cousins sometimes spent q month or two
with US, and l knew the village men,
but he was different'-the girl's eyes
rested on the lilies that cleaned in the
garden below. II have never forgotten
that summer, Reg" she said simply,
and because of it men call me heartless
aud cold"
The boy tried to speak. Somehow his
voice sounded very queer But the girl
was talking again.
"You ask me why l chose Lady Mac
beth. One day a play was given in the
village near our home 1t was hardly u
play, either, but Shakespeare's women
were given. You need not smile SO in
credulously We had been well trained
| contrived a dress like the ono | in.
tend to wear tonight, My friend was
able to go with us. l felt IL little fright.
med as l looked over the sea Of faces.
Then Just below me on the front seat l
saw him. There was a little smile upon
his face. He had seen Il good many
Lady Maobeths. you know When had
finished, there was silence for a mo
ment, then a storm of applause shook
the house. | could not doubt my sue
cess, and after it was over he came to
me. He did not say much. but l knew
I had done we'll.
She looked down into Reggie's pale
face and answered the question in his
Eyes.
mo. my dear, we were not engaged,
4 u romatimea ewes saw what Inns dare