The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-13
CHAPTER XII. (Continued)

OldANucS OScI WHICH IcI IuT IOUc
was spread, and deity caught up
her long runaway tresses, securing
them in place withsa few mysterious
twists and expert manipulations.
boy, indeed!' he scoffed, Ainging
himself down beside her. That's
over with, long ago"
"Oh, | don't feel motherly," she
asserted. still suttused with that tell
tale flush. Not in the way you
mean. But you'll always be boy
to me-and to every other woman
who learns to care for you"
Every other woman" Pierce's
eyes opened. What queer speech.
There aren't going to be any other
women" He looked on while she
lighted a cigarette, then after a mo-
ment he inquired, What do you
mean?"
She answered him with another
question. do you think L ann the
only woman who will love your!
"Why--I haven't given it any
thought! What's the difference, as
long as you're the only one care
,, for? And | do love you, l wor-
ship"
But there 7ciN be Others" she
persisted. There are bound to be.
You're that kind"
Realty"
The Countess nodded her head
with emphasis. Il can read men; l
can see the color of their souls. You
have the call
What calf" Pierce was puzzled.
"The-well, the sex-call, the sex
appeal
Indeed? Am l supposed to feel
hattered at that?"
by no means; you're not cad.
Men who possess that attraction are
spoiled sooner or later. You don't
realize that you have it, and that
what makes YOU SO nice. butt felt
it from the first, and when you feel
it you'll probably become spoiled,
too, like the others" This amused
Phillips, but the woman was in So
Der earnest. Il mean what say.
You're the kind who cause women
to make fools Of themselves-oldo OF
young, married or single. When a
girl has it-she's lost"
I'm not sure l understand. Al
any rate, you haven't made fool OF
> yourself"
Nor" The Countess smiled
vaguely, questioningly. She opened
her lips to say more, but changed
her mind and in an altered tone de-
clared. MY dear boy. if you under
slooc :u,ly what III driving at
you'd be insuffcrable." Laying her
warm hand over his, she continued:
You resent what you call my
mot;lerly way but if we're sixteen
and you were forty it would be just
the same. Women who are afflicted
with that sex appeal become mems
playthings; the man who possesses
it always remains 10y to the wo-
man who loves him-a bad boy, a
dangerous boy, perhaps, but a boy,
nevertheless. She may, and prob
ably will, adore him tiercely, pas
sio;latciy, jealousy, but at the same
time she will hover him as hen
hovers her chick. He will be both
son and lover to her.
He had listened closely, but now
he stirred uneasily. Il don't fol-
low YOU" he said "And it isn't
exactly pleasant for fellow to be
told that he's a baby Don Juan, to
be called male vampire in knee
pants-especially by the woman he's
going to. marry" Disrcgarding her
attempt to speak, he went on
What you said about other women
the way you said it-sornded al
most asif-well, as if you expected
there would be such, and didn't
greatly care. You didn't mean it
that way, / hope. You do care,
don't you, dear? You do love mel
, The face Phillips turned upon the
Countess Courteau was earnest.
worried.
Her fingers tigk:ened over his
hand. When she spoke there was .
certain listlessness. a certain fatigue
in her tone. do you need to ask
that after-what happened just now
OF course / care. l care altogether
too much. That's the whole trouble.
You see, the thing has run away
with me, Pierce; it has carried me
off my feet, and-tllat's precisely the
point I'm trying to make"
He slipped an arm about her
waist and drew her close. Il knew
it wasn't merely an animal appeal
that stirred you. knew it was
something bigger and more lasting
than that"
"Even yet you don't understand"
!. she declared. 1.-The two may go to-
gether and" But without allow
ing her to finish he said, vibrantly j:
"Whatever it is, you seem to find
it an obstacle. an objection. Why
struggle against the inevitable? You
are struggling-4've seen you fight
ing something ever since that first
night when truth came to us out of
the storm. But, Hilda dear, ! adore
you. You're the most wonderful
creature in the world! You're god
dess! l feel unworthy to touch the
hem of your garments, but ! know
that you are mine! Nothing else
matters. Think of the miracle, the
wonder of it It's like beautiful
dream. I've had doubts about my
self, and that's why I've let matters
drift. You see, l was a sort of un-
known quantity, but now / know that
I've found myself. To-day went
through hell and-l came out man.
m gong 10 play mans part right
along after this" He urged her
eagerly. We've a hard trip ahead
of us before we reach Dawson; win
ter may overtake US and delay us.
I'VE can't continue in this way. Why
wait any longer?"
"You mean-r the woman in.
quired, family.
Il mean this-snarry me here, to-
morrow"
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