Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-05
Taking the Wicked
ness Out of Them
tcOpyrisht. 1917. western Newspaper unloa.l
By RUTH GRAHAM


woman. aud 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 gyed 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 n year older shall build n high
wall around my estate. He shall
never go beyond the wall and no
woman shall come within H."
"And my daughter. Vera" said
Madam varenska. "shall never see a
man. too will build wall around
my estate TO keep her away from
your detestable sex"
These two people carried out their
plans so well that until Paul was
eighteen years old he had seen only
those OF his own sex. Then one day.
tired Of his captivity. he tunneled I'M
der the wall that held him and went
wandering. When he had gone some
distance he came 10 another wall on
which sat Vera varenska. Paul stared
aLd wondered. Vera looked down at
Paul and wondered likewise.
what are your" asked the girl.
"a boy" was the reply.
Vera crossed herself and started to
get down from the wall. where are
you goingi" asked Paul.
ITO get away from you. My mother
tells me that boys are monsters"
"Are you a girlf"
Eyes"
my father says girls are devils"
40 you believe himf"
81 don't know. I wish 70 see for
myself. Stay where you are and i
will get some wood together from
which I can mount to you"
Having built a pile he mounted TO n
place beside her and they looked at
each other curiously. Paul took a
comb from her hair and her locks fell
on her shoulders. She passed her
hand over his face that had a soft
down on Il.
What a funny place for hair to
grow" she said.
"what do you let your hair grow
like that forT was his reply. II
should think Il would be in your way"
$50 II would II didn't do It up and
keep II done up
II don't see anything vicious about
YOU" He put his finger on her lips
To see n she would bite II. When she
lid not he added: 81 couldn't do that
with Ane dogs. You can't be as
vicious rs beast anyway"
She took hold Of his hand and
pressed II against her lips.
"Whereln lies the deviltry In your"
he asked. "It Is surely not in your
Ups: and yet father has told me that
what comes out Of a girls mouth IL
poison. She speaks only to deceive"
Mother tells me that IA man can
never speak the truth"
Those two statements are diamet-
really opposed; aren't thsyT
1--WE must both be- wicked"
Il don't feel conscious OF being
wicked; do your"
"No."
"Are you going to tell your mother
you met meT'
"Are you going to tell your father
you met mef'
"No."
nperhaps that is what they call
wlckedness. | didn't know before that
wickedness was so nice
She ran her fingers through his
hair. This brought their faces near
together and their lips met.
III your lips are wicked" he said,
"as father declares they are, may
Satan possess me from this moment"
"And / wish never to be good
again"
The dialogue lasted tin the day was
fading when they agreed that their
parents had been mistaken. She took
him home with r 10 convince her
mother that there was 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 are as sweet as the perfume
OF the rose" said Paul.
"Are you Lavlnsky's sonf" asked the
widow.
"Yes."
"vera, 90 into that room and wait
until I come"
She showed her daughter into room
and locked the door. In an hour she
returned with Lavinsky and priest.
Father said Paul, II have met a
- IL.