Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-18


fully hither and thither. A dainty cap.
made chiefly of fur. was on her head.
and her hands were incased in fur.
Boris folsot entirely his fathers eau
ton. His chief desire was to go and
see If he could catch the thing. Tn
fortunately he had no skates with him.
He ran TO the margin of the lake and
called. The vampire turned. stopped
and stood gazing at him with eyes as
full of wonder rs his own.
Can you talk?' he called to her.
Yes. Can you:''
"Of course l can. or l couldn't have
asked you the question"
Il wonder if you're not man?"
"Of course am. Why do you Won
der if | ana"
Because I've heard our servants
talk about what they call men, but
I've never seen one before"
And I've never seen anything like
you before. What are you?"
why, I'm n girl
Are you the creature that charms
men as snakes charm birds and then
eats them?"
Il don't eat men. 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 name?" she asked.
YES; Boris"
my name is Nathalie"
Boris took the cap off her head and
saw the coils of hair. He ran his hand
over them.
How smooth and soft" he said.
Suddenly her skates slipped from un-
der her. and she fell into his arms.
/ She smiled at him, showing white
teeth between her lips. No one ever
told, him about kiss. He had never
! heard Of such q thing No one ever
/ told newborn babe that, feeling hun
/ cry. it would find sustenance at its
! mothers breast. Boris kissed the lips
before him from the same cause--ip-
stinct. He started.
What is it," she asked.
1.-THE spell"
'What spell? Isn't It nice?"
Mice! Too nice. Are you going 20
charm and eat me?'
The girl laughed and showed the
same white teeth between the red lips
and couple of dimples besides. He
kissed her again. Then he began tn
think very hard.
what are you thinking about?" ASH
ed Nathalie
well, l was thinking that if what
my father said is true. that you ara
fl,a piro mo RI 6acfrou
go right on doing it, and I'm going
right on doing it, too, tiiEI'm lost"
And he kissed her again.
Nine Barchikoff. having a mind ia
Join her daughter, who. she was aware.
had gone to the lake to skate, at this
moment stepped from the edge of q
road and stood transfXed at seeing her
daughter held in the arms of a youth.
whose lips were pressed upon tho
girls. The good woman caught at
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 here?" she do
manded of Boris.
Going to the devil as fast as pos.
sihle. But l can't be ruined by you.
You may be one of the same kind, but
l can resist you without trouble"
go away from here"
81 won't"
Nathalie, come to the house imms.
diately"
81 won't If this is the awful man
I've heard about ] don't think he's 10
awful at ALL" And she chung to Boris.
"Come to the house. both of you"
said the mother, more persuasiyely.
and they obeyed.
An hour later Nine. Barchikoff was
driven in a sleigh to the gate of Counl
Ivanovich and demanded admittnncc
Being refused. she sent In word to the
count that her son was at her house
making love TO her daughter. Tho
! count, having steadied himself with
! a goblet of vodka. went out to see hts
: visitor and, after a brief conversation
between the two. rode back with her
) TO her home. There they found tina
young couple sitting before an open
! fire locked in each others arms.
you are ruined!7 cried the count 10
t his son.
You have brought down upon your.
' self" said Nine Barchikoff to he's
/. daughter, "a terrible trouble
3 I'm ready to endure it." replied the
I girl, ''fOr another of those what-you,
e may-call' referring to the kisses
I Send for the priestr cried the lady
n "The priest! Great heavens. Is M
e son to be manacled:"
\ "Yes, and i presume he will leave
his wife for a mental"
!, well" moaned the father. 81 sup
pose l must yield Oh. my son. yor
have brought great misery on yourself
l. You will regret this all your life"
The priest came and went through
o ceremony the young people did no
II understand, and that was the end o
L the endeavor Of Count IvaBovich ami
q Nine Barchikoff trying to keep a bu,
y AID girl apart