The Ely miner., 1914-12-18

IL ~ unoohoou'
There came into
my life about my twentieth year a
man who came nearer to mastering
me than anyone l had ever met, and
on this man l exercised, successfully,
every vile in my power.
For a year played with him, de-
voting to him all of my time and at
tention and devotion-apparentl He
grew mad as the days went by-mad
with the terrible passion of a strong
mans love.
AS cat toys with a helpless mouse.
! reveled in his torture, in his ecstatic
pain; finally--I sent him away.
Another man crossed my path, and
was weary of the one game. He was
not easy to send, this man who cared
80 frightfully-I think l shall never
forget his face when | said the words.
l have seen great many mangled
hearts, torn by this white hand they
are so eager to seize; but this mans
very soul lay crushed-and in his eyes
was hell of despair-but he never
said word.
Fifteen years had nearly elapsed,
ant he had become little more than a
memory when, in the hotel dining
room, two weeks ago, saw him.
Something, can't say what, made
me raise my eyes, and gazed full into
his eyes gazing back at me. They
were sunken eyes with two things in
them-a dead thing, the soul l had
killed, and look that seemed to say
aloud, Repay, repay"
He did not look my way again; I
can't imagine why, for the beauty of
twenty has increased sevenfold, and
was sheathed in clinging, filmy gray.
with red rose in my breast.
AS he finished he rose very slowly,
and deliberately crossed to my table.
How do you do?" he said simply
his lips smiling. but his eyes tragedy
filed as before.
This is a surprise, indeed" l told
him with as easy manner as I could
command, had met, in later years,
many of the men whose hearts had
played with, some sunk into the mire,
some broken, some reckless cynics,
but none had looked as this man
looked, or held in their eyes that dead
thing-Oh, God, can see it now!
His next words filled me with
amaze, that yet was not rid of haunt
Ing fear, as he said lightly:
I'm so glad to find you here; I
feared it might be dull but you will
take pity on lonely man and let me
renew our acquaintance bit, will you
not?"
Something said "Yes"-it wasn't
me; and something whispered, too,
that flight would be unavailing-that
this mans hour had struck-that he
was master now.
The days that followed-they were
like no other days l had ever spent.
He was my constant companion; we
rode and drove, attended the opera
and theater. lunched and dined, and al
ways he was courteous, attentive, kind
always he was the master.
Oh, of course, he never proved his
dominance; but often in this life un-
spoken woBds are more potent than
those uttered, and unused mastery
more powerfully felt than that of out
ward sign.
One night q week ago we took a
walk, and here I must say that q
strange thing had come into my life
q something hitherto wholly alien to
heart and mind.
1t was a half-formulated, half-vague
wonder what life might have been as
wife and mother-perhaps.
1t had curiously softened me this
night as we started out toward the
lake; l felt a new sense of harmony,
of well-being, and even knew throb
of pity for him, instead of the previ-
Gus cold fear.
AS we drew near the wooded path
that circles the lake l felt, instinct
lively, sudden change in the man at
my side, new intenseness and force;
and then, without warning, l was in
his arms-crushed close in a mad
frenzy-while on eyes and hair and
lips and throat rained the wild, ter
rible kisses of famished man.
"Oh, Cod" I heard him sob. "Ah,
God-at lasti"
AS abruptly he changed again.
stepped back, and, after few seconds
to master himself, he said slowly and
with a sardonic smile worthy Of Sa-
tan:
NINE. La Vampire, am through
my task is accomplished-andy you are
mine forever. I bid you very good
night"
Shaking with hysteria, groped my
way back to the hotel.
That was week ago; night before
last l consulted a physician; was
badly racked and feverish, and my
red lips were cracked and white.
I feared for my beauty-but why
tell 1t all? am tn my room, cringing
and oursing-and tomorrow they take
US together a ship, very
exclusive Nhip@we are lepersl