Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-11
LADY MACBETH.

When Reggie Ridpath found himself
lying perhaps 20 feet below the noun
tain road be had been ascending, his
horse kicking and plunging dangerous.
" near him. his buggy like huge bra
Of evil omen hanging i'll the branches OF
a tree above him, he was inclined to
think that his evil star was in the as
cendant. This impression deepened
From the darkness that f1oated nearer
and nearer until it finally submerged
him be awoke to find himself surround
ed by physicians and his broken leR'
which they pronounced very serious
fracture, done in plaster.
He surve ed it ruefully as the days
went by The star mounted higher Ills
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 bandaged, shorn of bis strength.
and watched the star as it reached the
zenith Suddenly it dropped down the
UOTlZUL, anu tuC tOOIh Wop AoONON "AsO
O rosy hue She stood in the doorway
"a tall, distinguished girl. wearing a
travelling gown and hat Of the most ap.
proved fashion He bad heard of her tri-
umphs abroad, be knew she had turned
the hearts and heads Of Now 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 pretty friendly fashion
and called him Reggie. After that day
there was always 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
fancy dress ball The fashionables for
miles around were invited Many and
should and should not be worn. Reggie
hoped to be present, but on the after.
noon Of the dance, six weeks after bis
accident he was forced to give it up.
~ knew wonl3n't be able to dance
with you. Elizabeth, but l wanted tc
see the great throng move up the stair.
way and watch you receive mothers
guests" he said as she sat talking to
him "Oh, am SO tired of it'll have
been chained here thousand years -
lit won't be much longer. she said
soothingly
"Well, want to dance with Lady
Macbeth, petulently "How did You
happen to choose her, Eliza beth! My.
but You will be- gloriousr'
There was no mistaking the admira
ton in his eyes.
Elizabeth lad genuine fondness for
the lad. She looked at him With her
great soft eyes.
"It'sa long story. Reg, one l have
never told any oEe," she answered.
with little smile, half sad, half merry
"Then tell me-" be pleaded
"Once, she began. and there was
purpose in her kindness to him. $50
long ago that it seems like dream, |
lived so quietly that I had never in my
widest dreams imagined anything like
this ball we are to have tonight lad
never had party gown Or been to
dance in my life The birds and all the
free wild things were my companions
One clay young man was brought into
our lit>e home with fracture some.
thing like yours. Forgive me. dear. but
for that reason was interested in Won
from the first nursed him back to
health had never seen any one like
him before. In the summer my boy
cousins sometimes spent IL onth or two
with US, and knew the village men,
but he was different" girls eyes
rested Oh 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
and cold"
The boy tried to speak Somehow his
voice sounded very queer But the girl
was talking again.
lyon ask mo why l chose Lady Mao. |
beth One day play was given III tho
village near our home 1t was hardly a
play, either. but Shakespeare women
were given You need not smile so in.
credulously We had been we'll trained
contrived dress like the one | in.
tend to wear tonight My friend was
able to 60 with Ms Ifelt little fright.
ened as looked over the sea of faces
linen just below me on the front seat |
saw hlm There was little smile upop
nls face He had seen a good many
Lady Macbetns. you know When had |
there was silence for a mo. !
ment' then storm Of applause shook |
the mouse ! could not doubt my sue. |
cess. and after it was over be came to
me tie did not say much. but knew
had done we'll ="
She looked down into Reggie's pale
TACO aud answered the question in his
ayes.
NO. my dear. we were not engaged