Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-10-22

From what his father had told him
be had got an idea that there WIS
something hidepus about the animal
and that It influenced men not by Its
beauty, but By magic. What he saw
was so beautiful that instead Of bring
ing his gun into position to protect
himself IL dropped oft Of his hands
forgotten. The creature wore gown
trimmed with fur, the garment Gutter
ing in the wind uS she skinned grace
fully hithe- and thither \ dainty cap.
made chiefly of fur. WIS an her head,
and her hands were iucased in fur.
Boris forgot entirely HIS fathers eau
ton. His chief desire was to go and
see II he could catch the thing. I'm
fortunately be had no skates with him.
He ran te the margin OF the lake and
called. The vampire turned, stopped
and stood gazing at BIN with eyes as
full Of wonder as his own.
"Can you talk r be called to her.
Yes. Can your
"0f course can. or couldn't have
asked you the question"
: 81 wonder IL you're not manT'
'Of course | am. Why do you won
der II am?"
Because I've heard our servants
talk about what they call men: bat
I've never seen one before"
And I've never seen anything Ike
you before. What are your
why, I'm n girl
Are you the creature that charms
men as snakes charm birds and then
eats them?"
II don't eat men. l never saw one
before
Each had by this time approached
the other. The girl put her hand on
Boris sleeve and touched his cheek
with her finger.
Have you got names' she asked.
Yes: Boris.
my name is Nathalie"
Boris took the cap OF her bead and
saw the coils Of hair. He ran his hand
over them.
How smooth and soft" be said.
Suddenly her skates slipped from IN
der her. and she fell into his arms.
she smiled at him. showing white
teeth between her lips. No one ever
told him about q kiss. He had never
heard OF such thing. No one ever
told newborn babe that. feeling hun
CRY, il would find snstenance at its
mothers breast Boris kissed the Hips
before him from the same cause-in-
stinet. He started.
What Is itg" she asked.
The spell
what spell? Isn't 1t nieeY"
Nice. Too nice. Are you going to
charm and est uef'
The girl laughed and showed the
same white teeth between the red lips
and a coup. Of dlnples besides. He
kissed her again. Then he began to
think very hard
what are you thinking abouty' ask
ed Nathalie
We'll. | was thinking that IL what
my fatber said Is true, that you are
charming me TO destroy me. yon can
go right on doing 1t. and I'm going
right on doine IL, too. till I'm lost"
And he kissed her again.
Nine Rarchlkof. having a mind TO
join her daughter. Tho. she was aware.
had gone to the lake TO skate. at this
moment stepped FROM The edge OF a
road and stood rranstixed at seeing her
daughter held In the arms Of a youth
whose lips were pressed upon the
e~frIsz The eyrse.z sz-.x.,sv, 1.,,..ls % =
tree to prevent her falling In a swoon.
and as soon as she could gather her
faculties she hurried down on TO the
ice.
What are you doing hereg" she de-
manded of Boris.
Going to the devil as fast as pos
sihle But I can't be ruined By you.
You may be one Of the same kind. but
/ can resist you without trouble"
Go away from here"
81 won't"
Nathalie. come TO the house imme-
diately."
81 won't II this is the awful man
I've heard about ! don't think he's so
awful at ALL" And she chung TO Boris.
Come TO the house. both OF YOU
said the mother. more persuasively.
and they obeyed
An hour later Nine. Barchikofr was
driven In sleigh TO the gate OF Count
'Ivanovich and demanded admittance.
Being refused. she sent IN word to the
count thar her son was at her house
making love TO her daughter The
count. having steadied himself with
a goblet Of vodka. went out to see his
visitor and. after a brief conversation
between the two. rode back with her
to her home There they found the
young couple sitting before an open
fire locked in each others arms.
You are ruinedv' cried the count to
his son.
II love 10 be ruined.n was the reply.
You have brought down upon your
self" said Nine BarchikofY to her
dayohfar 80 farr5hIa fraf,hla