"You

you're not married?"

"No," sadly.

"And we shall never meet again?"

"If we do, you will not recognize me," "Dracula" whispered.

Almost before she realized it, Roxanne said, "Then, if you please, kiss me goodbye." Then she stepped back, amazed at her own audacity.

The dark cloaked figure drew her close. Again the whisper, this time, falteringly, "Do you know what you are asking? But no, how could you? The superstitious believe that one who is kissed by such as I becomes tainted, too."

"I've heard that legend. I'm not superstitious and I will take that risk." Roxanne threw her cape back, baring her white throat for the "vampire kiss".

For a second "Dracula's" mouth fastened there, then sought and found Roxanne's lips. Thinking back upon it later, Roxanne knew that in comparison all other such expressi on s of affection she had experienced were as nothing. But Roxanne was not concerned with reason or comparison at that moment that Moment which was so fleeting and yet

so interminable.

The sound of the town cl ook pro claiming the arrival of midnight interrupted them.

"Masks off, overybody!" came the ory from inside the ballroom.

Roxanne could not explain what prompted her action, but impetuously she grasped at "Dracula's" face covering and succeeded in wresting it free. A mass of che stnut curls tumbled down around "Dracula's" he ad. Two startled green eyes gazed reproachfully into Roxanne's amazed blue orbs.

"A girl!" Roxanne stared unbelievingly.

"You're a girl!

"Little fool! Why couldn't you leave well enough alone?"