The Washington times., 1917-11-12
DRACULA,
OR
THE VAMPIRE
By BRAN STOKER.

on himself. When II was all over, we
were standing beside Arthur. who
poor fellow, was speaking of his part
in the operation where his blood had
been transfused to his Lucy's veins!
l could see Van Helsing's face grow
white and purple by turns. Arthur
was saying that he felt since then as
IL they two had been really married
and that she was his wife in the sight
OF God. None of us said a word OF
the other operations, and none Of US
ever shall.
Arthur and Quincy went away to.
gether to the station, and Van Hell.
sing and came on here. The mo-
ment We were alone in the carriage
he gave way to a regular At OF hys.
terics. He has denied to me since
that IL was Mysteries, and insisted that
It was only his sense of humor assert.
ing itself under very terrible condi.
tions. He laughed till he cried, and
1 had to draw down the blinds lest
any one should see US and misjudge;
and then he cried till he laughed
again; and laughed and cried to-
gether. just as a woman does.
/ tried to be stern with him, as one
Is to a woman under the circum-
oS1A~Nes bul IL la0 IO GAGCL. htn
and women are SO different in mani
festations OF nervous strength or
weakness! Then when his face grew
grave and stern again I asked him
why his mirth, and why at such q
tims His reply was in a way char
acteristic Of him. for II was logical
and forceful and mysterious. He
said:
rAr uur arur, upv
CAUSE OF BREAKDOWN.
"Ah, you don't comprehend. friend
John. Do not think that I am not
sad, though I laugh. See, 1 have
cried even when the laugh did choke
me. But no more think that 1 am all
sorry when cry, for the laugh he
como just the same. Keep Il always
with you that laughter who knock
at your door and say. May I come
In? 10 not the true laughter. mol he
is a king and he come when and how
he like. He ask no person; he choose
no time Of suitability. He say, I am
here
Behold, in example, I grievs my
Hc1AI OuN lAlal ~ bWocI gOunk
girl: give my blood for her, though
/ am old and worn; give my time,
my skill, my sleep: 1 let my other suf-
ferers want that so she may have all.
And yet I can laugh at her very
grave-laugh when the clay from
the spade OF the sexton drop
upon her coffin and say, 'Thud!
thud" to my heart, till II send back
the blood from my cheek. My heart
bleed for that poor boy-thAt dear
boy, SO Of the age OF mine own boy
had ] been So blessed that he live,
and with his hair ind eyes the same
There, you know why love him
SO. And yet when he say things
that touch my husband heart to the
quick, and make my father-hsart
yearn TO him as 10 no other man
not even to you, friend John, for we
are more level In experiences than
father and son-yet even at such
King Laugh he come to me
and shout and below in my ear.
Here am, l ann till the blood come
dance back and bring some of the
sunshine that he carry with him TO
my cheek. Oh, friend John, It Is a
strange world, a sad world, a world !
full OF miseries. and woes, and trou-
bles; ana yet when King Laugh come !
he make them all dance to the tune
he play.
bleeding hearts, and dry bones |
OF the churchyard, and tears that
burn as they fall-all dance together
to the music that he make with that
smileless mouth Of him. And be-
lieve me, friend Jchn, that he is good |
TO come, and kind. All, We men and /
women are like ropes drawn tight |
with strain that pull us different
ways. Then tears come: and, like |
the rain on the ropes, they brace us
up, until perhaps the strain become
TOO great, and we break. But King
Laugh he come like the sunshine,
and he case off the strain again! and
we bear to go on with our labor,
what 1t may be"
(TO Be Continued TonOrrow)
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