Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-04-22

what the attraction was.
"Ah-that Jezabel,' he said to him.
self, as he saw the woman's face that
was drawing mems eyes like a lode
stone. Il might have known without
looking. It's the old story of the
candle and the moth. Poor fools.
They never learn wisdom until their
wings and singed. I've a mind to
paint the picture of a vampire and
s5Ts her face into it. She lives in
blood"
AS he gave second look toward
the box from which the face of Sybil
Leith sLone out like a vivid tropical
flower, he turned pale. Two men were
entering it. One of them was Gif1th
Deane, the one man of all he knew
whose friendship he cared for. A
young man whose knowledge Of the
life upon which he was entering was
next to nothing. He was bringing to
it a faith in all mankind, and woman
kind, as well-a belief in the good
-sess rather than the badness of 9th
ers-and the enthusiasm of boy who
is half intoxicated with the prospect
before him.
It's the beginning of the end he
said, under his breath. Il had hoped
he might be spared. If she breaks his
heart-and she will if it suits her
fancy-I believe l could kill her
He watched the progress of matters
in the box with the crimson curtains,
and his heart sank with sick fore
boding as he saw the eager look in
the poor boys fascinated eyes.
Il was sorry to see you in the Leith
box last night" he said to Deane next
day Beware of the woman you
met there. Her smile means ruin"
I've heard as much from others"
laughed Deane. But do you know
don't believe word of it. You don't
know her. I'd stake my life on her
womanliness."
You'd lose it, then" answered
Mainwaring, as he turned away with a
bitter smile on his face and an ache
in his heart. He knew how useless it
was to reason with a man who had
faith in this creature who had made
a plaything of human hearts for day,
or a week-as long as it suited her
whim-and then cast them aside like
top.
The end of Griffith Deane's dream
came sooner than his friend had look
ed for He came ia one day with the
look of an old man in his face. Main
waring knew what had happened the
moment he saw him. His heart went
out in a great wave of pity to the
dupe of a heartless woman's wiles.
It's all over" groaned Deane,
dropping his head on the table to hide
the misery of his face. You were
right, John, but I couldn't believe you.
Il can't make it seem possible, now.
But it's true, for she laughed at me
for having made fool of myself. God!
but that hurt! Say, John"-and the
boys head was lifted, showing the
tears in her eyes-'I don't believe she
can help it. She's made that way. 1t
don't seem as if any woman would do
such a thing if she could help it,
does it,"
It's the devil in her." answered
Mainwaring. IF only somebody could
make her heart ache, and when she
showed it, quivering with it's pain,
grind it under FOOT That would be a
revenge worth striving for. l won
der"
Mainwaring did not complete the
sentence. Suddenly he saw before him
a new object in life, and in one swift
moment he had determined to set
about its accomplishment
Mainwaring had always kept aloof
from Sybil Leith. Now a change came.
He sought her out. He allowed her
to think that at last the spell of her
beauty had drawn him within its in
- eIEQce. She knew that he had the
reputation of being a woman-hater,
and she seemed f1attered at his sud
den attention.
Mainwaring woke up to the con-
seriousness that it was in him to play
the part of lover WELL and he did
So So well, indeed, that Sybil Leith
seemed to become a different woman
under his influence. More than once
she gave him the impression of be-
ing wholly surprised at the recogni-
ton of his power over her. He watch
ed her face flush beneath his glance
with a thrill of exultation. More than
once she seemed to make an effort to
break away from the spell of his in
f1uence, but always something more
powerful than her own will seemed to
draw her back into it,
And he? His brain whirled when he
tried to think it all out. What was
this strange feeling which shook him
at times like the reed the wind plays
with? He had deliberately set about
making himself master of this wom-
ans heart, if she had any. He was
sure he had succeeded beyond what
he had dared hope for. and yet
there was not that triumph in the
knowledge that he had expected to
find. When he was with her she
seemed to be all that was womanly
and become like other women who
love men because to love was what
they were born for. At such times,