Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-09
"THE CODDESS!"
BY Charles Goddard and GouYerneur
Morris.
Ccoryrighted. 1915. BY The Star Co

published as a serial story in THE
EVENING CAPITAL. The pictures
VIII be shown at THE PALACE THE
ATRE every Friday.
(Contiued from Yesterdays Capital)
you're happy" he said. because
you feel perfectly sure that you are
going to make everybody else happy.
But that's not why I'm happy. I'm
happy because I'd rather be right
here than anywhere else; because I've
had a good supper, after plenty Of ex-
ercise; because the night smells Of
balsam; because the moon is shining.
and because I've got delightful COM
panion."
"All these things make me happy.
too" said Celestia. but they couldn't
keep me happy for long"
Nor" said Tommy, somewhat cha
grined. IF these things are enough.
why want more?'
why" said Celestia. after a while
I'd get thinking about people who
haven't delightful companions. and for
whom the moon isn't shining: I
couldn't rest then until I'd gone to
them and tried to make their lives
easier and their hearts stronger and"
here she laughed softly-"their
heads fuller of sense"
ut would be the opposite with me.
said Tommy; "the longer we stayed
here, the less I'd get thinking about
other people and the more I'd get
thinking about u.s. Every mortal man.
suppose, has his conception of
heayen"-he pulled luxuriously at his
pipe-"and this is mine"
After that they we're silent for
little.
Then Tommy said: Are you warm?
Are you comfortable?"
She nodded.
Then very softly:
"Celestia," he said. "Are you hap
py?"
Il don't know" she said. Can you
be happy when It isn't right for you
to be happy? It isn't right for one to
be happy. because other people aren't
"I am" said Tommy. "At this mo-
ment the sufferings of others don't
get me- You see, have to be shown.
Suppose at this moment the entire
population Of China, having eaten i'm
moderately of contaminated rice, was
dying of fits. l wouldn't care.
wouldn't even know. Celestia. II you
stayed long enough in the woods, don't
you think maybe you'd forget all about
heaven and your mission to earth, and
be content to be happy? Listen. Once
in my life / was really happy. was
a little boy; she was little girl. If
she'd grown up she would have looked
like you. Perhaps that's why I'm so
happy to be with you. She and / were
always happy when we were together
or looking forward to being together.
Then one day she went away. Celestia
She went to heaven, they told me- And
for a long time / was terribly un.
happy"
Celestia sighed.
"But I'm happy with you," said
Tommy, because 1 can almost i'm.
agine that you are she-grown up. I'm
going to pretend that you are she.
That she is the angel they've sent
back to earth to make us all better"
And he smiled very tenderly upon
her.
After awhile Celestia became sleepy,
and then she slipped her hand into
one of Tommy's, and leaned against
him and laid her head on his shoulder.
It was as IL she had been a little
child. Tommy was deeply moved and
touched, and at the same time the
close physical contact began to trou.
BILE him, to frighten him. He spoke
and It seemed as If with his voice he
was trying to lift weight.
you poor baby" he said, you're
dead tired. It's bedtime"
He rose, little roughly, and helped
her to her feet.
When they reached the little hut,
Tommy said:
Now, you turn in there and make
yourself comfy. Goodnight"
Goodnight" she said, and went into
the hut
Tommy stood looking at the fire.
He stood for quite long time, in a
deep reverie. Celestia's voice brought
him out of 1t.
aren't you coming?" she said.
He turned and looked her in the
eyes. What was she? Was she the
| most innocent and guileless creature
! in the world, or was sne somernlng
| quite different? Was he chivalrous
young man in her eyes, or simply an
| idiot? His heart suddenly began to
beat hard and fast.
And toward that theatrical, beauti
full, and enhancing figure in the door
of the hut, all silver in the moonlight,
he began to walk slowly.
In his hiding place close at hand
no word or motion had been lost on
Professor Stlliter. White with reluc
tance and antipathy, but strongly re
4 -~-~ - ono Erno QnaIxnf