The Penn's Grove record., 1917-12-28
Taking the Wicked
ness Out Of Them
By RUTH GRAHAM
lcopyrisht. lsl7. western Newspaper union.

woman, and they had a son named
Paul. When Paul was still a baby his
mother ran away with a man from
Moscow and her husband never saw
her again. This embittered him
against all women.
Not far from his abode lived a wom-
an, Anna Varenska, who had been
similarly treated by her husband.
Lavinsky and the woman met one day
and comparing notes each decried the
opposite sex.
MY son." said Lavinsky, shall
never see a woman. Before he be-
comes a ear older l shall build a high
wall around my estate. He shall
never 60 beyond the wall and no
woman shall come within it."
"And my daughter, Vera" said
Madam Varenska, "sha1l never see a
man. ! too will build a wall around
my estate to keep her away from
your daestable sex"
These two people carried out their
plans So well that until Paul was
eighteen years old he had seer only
those II his own sex. Then one day,
tired Of his captivity, he tunneled un-
der theNwall that held him and went
wandering. When he had one some
distance Ae came to another wall on
which sat Vera Varenska. Paul stared
and wondered. Vera looked down at
Paul and wondered likewise.
what are you?" asked the girl.
"A boy" wat the reply.
Vera crossed herself and started to
get down fromithe wall. where are
you going?" assed Paul.
"To get away from you. My mother
tells me that Buys are monsters"
"Are you a Eri7"
Eyes"
my father says girls are DEVILS"
"Do you believe hfmg"
II don't know. / wish to see for
myself. Stay where you are and ]
viii get some wood together from
which / can mount to you"
Having built q pile he mounted to q
place beside her and they looked at
each other curiously. Paul took q
comb from her hair and her locks fell
on her shoulders. She passed her
hand wei his face that had a soft
down on 1t.
what a funny place for hair to
grow" she said.
aWhat do you LIT your hair grow
like that for7' way his reply. q
should think 1t would Ee In your way
$50 it would If / didn't do it up and
keep 1t done up"
Il don't see snyfshing vicious abou
you" he put his finger on her Lip
to see If she would bite it. When sh
Tdid not he added: II couldn't do tina
with some dogs. You can't be a
vicious as a beast anyway"
She took hold of his hand an
pressed it against her lips.
wherein lies the deviltry in you?
he asked. ut is surely not In you
lips; and yet father has told me tina
what comes out of a girls mouth |
poison. She speaks only to deceive.
"Mother tells me that a man ca
never speak the truth"
"Those two statements are diamet
really opposed; aren't they?"
1--WE must both be wicked"
Il don't feel conscious Of beinl
wicked do your"
"No."
Are you going to tell your mothei
you met me?"
Are You going to tell your father
you met mer
"No."
Perhaps that is what they cal
~wickedness. I didn't know before tina
wickedness was so NICE"
She ran her fingers through his
hair. This brought their faces neal
together and their lips met.
IF your lips are wicked" he said
"as father declares they are, maj
Satan possess me from this moments
"And I wish never to be good
again."
The dialogue lasted till the day was
fading when they agreed that theil
parents had been mistaken. She took
him home with her to convince her
mother that there was a boy who ii
he was wicked she-the girl-was
wicked too. When the mother saw
them coming hand in hand she
groaned.
Mother" said Vera, "you have al
ways told me to beware Of a mans
lips, that they are poisonous. This
ones are not. / have tried them with
mine."
"Heavens!" cried the mother.
"Hers r as sweet as the perfume
Of the rose" said Paul.
"Are you ~Lavinsky's son7n asked the
widow.
"Yes."
Vera, go into that room and wait
until I come"
She showed her daughter into a room
and locked the door. In an hour she
returned with Lavinsky and a priest.
"Father," said Paul, II have met a
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