Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-09-10
The
Vampire
In Romance She Is Beautiful.
In Real Life Unattractive TO
All Except Her Victims.
By EILEEN BRENNAN


There have been many versions Of
the woman who has passion for en-
thralling men, from the ordinary firt
to the vampire The ordinary flirt Is
supposed to have conscience. The
vampire lures men to their ruin and
II they have families are as ready to
wreck wife and children rs tho man
himself.
The vampire is not beauty with
soft, lunguishing eyes. She has
stony face, She conquers rather by
her will power than by fascination,
though she calls to her assistance the
senses whenever she finds It neces-
sary, have never seen but one wo-
man IN roM Me who Deserved do
name OF vampire. While staying at
summer hotel l heard Of man
among the guests who was enthralled
by n woman ana taken completely
away from his family l was told that
l might see the couple any evening
after dinner when the guests walked
on the piazza, promenading with the
others. | expected TO see radiant
beauty In the woman, with seductive
manners. was astonished at looking
upon the stoniest face l have ever
seen and utterly devoid of beauty.
The man was good looking, though
there was no strength In his features.
But the will may grow stronger or
weaken like the muscles, which are
developed by exercise or become nabby
by disuse, | afterward learned the
story of this man.
Edward Grant was prominent In col
lege not only rs an all round available
man, but as scholar. lie was preai-
dent OF his class and graduated with
honors. lie became attached TO Mar
JOrie Fleetwood tho daughter of ono
Of the professors OF the university.
They were married, and a boy baby
was born to them.
The couple had been married four
teen years when Edward Grant WINS
called from his home In the east 10 San
Francisco on matter of business n
was his first separation from his fun.
fly except for few days at time,
and he no more wished TO go than his
wife wished to have him go. He was
debating with her whether, after all,
no had not better give up the trip when
their son, Harry, thirteen years old,
came into the room where they were
and heard his father tell his mother
that he had promised his partner tn
make the Journey
Papa" said Harry, IF you have
promised don't you think you ought
to gOT
This decided the father, who took his
son into his arms and Rugged and
kissed him with pride. Then, after a
last embrace of his wife, he tore him
self away
On tho same train and having n chair
In the same parlor ear with Grant sat
woman about his own age travelling
alone She was reading novel, while
Grant was looking out through the
window, seeing nothing Of tho passing
view, for his vision was upon mental
picture Of the wife and son from whom
he had Just parted, and he was won
dering how he could endure that sep
aratlon during the period fixed for his
absence.
The woman In the next chair was
constantly glancing aside from her
book ut the fine looking man who WINS
so wrapped In his thoughts that he was
unconscious Of her presence. While
she was by no means beautiful, she
was dressed faultlessly, and there was
that suspicion OF perfume about her
which IL seductive IN u woman who IL
an adept In the art Of Its use.
The lady dropped glove. Grant did
not see IT, She leaned forward to pick
1t up, brushing against him. He turn
cd and looked into pair of eyes fixed
upon his. From him the eyes fell 10
the glove. Grant bent and picked II
up. The lady made Il move to recover
1t again, and, their heads coming very
near together, they turned their faces
toward each other, and Grant saw that
same pair of eyes fixed upon his and
In close proximity. Then he reached
for the glove and handed 10 TO her She
thanked him and resumed her novel.
Grant turned again 10 look out through
the window.
But now those eyes, In which there
was Il lure, came between him and
the vision Of his wife and son. The
faint Odor that hung about the woman
was waited toward him whenever any
one passed through the car. No word
was spoken by either, but now and
again their eyes met and every time
Grant felt more strongly the lure that
was IN those Of the woman. Gradual
ly a feeling came over him that sitting
beside this womnn hour after hour
without word passing between them
was becoming irksome. Was II not n
want OF compliment 10 his fellow pas
senger that he should refrain from ad.
dressing herr Surely II would DO i'm.
modest ln her to speak to him without
word from him
He mode n trivial remark, Tho lady
received Il not unkindIy. but replied
briefly. The Ice thus broken, they soon
fell 10 conversing. The woman WINS n
good listener, and Grant was fluent
tallker. She listened, but did not alb.
Borb what he said This no knew, for
there was between them subtle uD
dercurrcnt thnt told him BIS cotpon.
ion was interested IN him rather than
in what he said. While ne was spenk-