The Washington times., 1917-12-21
DRACULA,
Or.
THE VAMPIRE
BY BRAN STOKER.

her so brave and yet SO sorrowful,
and in such q depth Of despair.
There must be no concealment," she
said, Alas! we have had too much
already. And besides, there is moth
ing in all the world that can give
me more pain than l have already en-
dured-than I suffer now. Whatever
/, may happen. 1t must be OF new hope
or OF new courage to me!
Van Helsing was looking at her
fixedly as she spoke, and said, sud
denly but quietly:
"But, dear Madam Nina, are you
not afraid: not for yourself. but for
others from yourself, after what has
happened?" Her face grew set in its
lines, but her eyes shone with the
devotion OF a martyr as she an
swered:
"Ah no! for my mind Is made up
ITO what?" he asked gently, whilst
We were all very still; for each in our
own way we had a sort OF vague idea
or what she meant. Her answer came
with direct simplicity, as though she
were simply stating a fact:
NINA PREFERS DEATH
TO YIELDING TO DRACULA.
because II find in myself-and I
shall watch keenly for it--a sign OF
harm to any that love. shall die"'
you would not kill yourself?" he
asked, hoarsely.
81 would: IL there were no friend
who loved me, who would save me
such me such a pain, and so desperate
an EFFORT"
She looked at him meaningly as she
spoke. He was sitting down: but now
he rose and came close to her and put
his hand on her head as he said sol
emnly:
My child, there Is such an one IL
1t were for your good. For myself ]
, could hold 1t in my account with God
TO hnd such an euthanasia for you.
even at this moment IL it were best
Nay, were it safe! But, my child
for a moment he seemed choked, and
q great sob rose in his throat; he
gulped it down and went on:
There are here some who would
stand between You and death. You
must not die. You must not die by
any hand; but least OF all by your
own. Until the other. who has foul
ed your sweet life. is true dead you
h4uSN hON AOA II hE - bNAAl "AAaa
the quick undead. your death would
make you even as he Is. No, you
must live! You must struggle and
strive to live. though death would
seem a boon unspeakable. You must
nght death himself. though he come
to you in pain or in joy: by the day.
or the night: In safety or In peril
On your living soul charge you that
you do not die-nay. nor think OF
death-till this great evil be past"
The poor dear grew white as death
and shook and shivered. as / hav'
seen a quick sand shake and shiver a
the incoming of the tide. We wer,
all silent; we could do nothing. 4
length she grew more calm and turn
ing TO him said sweetly. but oh. s.
sorrowfully. as she held out hei
hand:
Il promise you. my dear friend
that IL God will let me live. / shal
strive to do so: till. II It may be a
Ills COOL time. this horror may have
passed "ay from me"'
She ". so good and brave that we
all felt that our hearts were strength
ened to work and endure for her.
and we began to discuss what we
were TO do.
] told her that she was to have all
the papers in the safe. and all the pa
pers or diaries and Photographs we
might hereafter use. and was to keep
the record as she had done before.
She was pleased with the prospect OF
anything to dO-if pleased" could be
used in connection with so grim an
interest.
Go BE Continued TOmOrrOVED
tCoDyriRhtedl