Enchantresses—Up-to-Date

Carolyn Wells

"NO," said the first; "no," said the second; and "no," said the third as well.

They were three shades, returned for an evening to earth, from the mists of oblivion. Women all three; beautiful, dangerous, seductive.

One was painted, impelling, dominating; and she was wicked and a Heathen. One was alluring, and seductive, and her long, nightcolored eyes burned with the wisdom of a serpent. One was sad and full of unholy charm.

"No!" said the first; "no!" said the second; and "no!" said the third as well. "The modern women can't charm the men as we did; they can't tempt them, or make them forget duty, honor, and glory, maddened by the sinister light in women's eyes. Yet must we see."

Timidly they floated together, over New York.

Slowly they moved, gravely they gazed, and with wisdom they weighed all that they beheld.

"No," they said, "these women can't tempt and enthral men as we did!"

On they floated, observing, studying, understanding. All invisible, they attended dinners, teas,Concerts, operas, luncheons, and theatres.

"No," said the first; "no," said the second; and "no," said the third as well.

At last they floated on to a new experience. Here they looked with amazement, and a new wonder came into their eyes. They noted the manner and poses of the women, and they noted the fervid attentions of the men.

"Yes," said the first; "yes," said the second; and "yes," said the third as well.

And then they vanished into thin air.

The wraiths were Jezebel, Delilah, and Potiphar's Wife, and the scene of their vanishing was a fashionable débutante dance.