Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-07

couraged her with his voice, the more
infatuated he became with her.
Mary Blackstone's image could be
recalled only by an effort Of memory.
And yet it was only a few days since
he had fancied himself in love with
her He confessed this TO himself
more than once, and could but feel
ashamed and sheepish. How long
would il be before he fancied himself
in love with Celestia, after how long
a separation would he discover that
he did not love her in the least? He
had no stability. Was he never to
have a serious purpose in life? Love?
Even hate?
All of a sudden they caught glimpses
of blue water between the tree stems,
and in a few moments they saw
before them and below them q
lovely lake with densely wooded
shores and in its midst a densely
wooded island.
Obi" exclaimed Celestia. But this
earth is beautiful"
Remind you at all of heaven?"
asked Tommy, a little mischievously.
Not in the least!" said Celestia,
and as if she did not wish to discuss
the comparative beauties of the two
places. "Is that our island?" she
asked.
Wen be hard to find" said Tom
my, and now the work is almost al
over"
They descended the narrow strip OF
land which divided the lake from the
forest, and here Tommy told Celestis
to sit down and rest while he hunted
for the dugout and got it into the
water.
He returned in ten minutes. pad
ding quietly, and found Celestia play
ing with the sand as if she had been
little child. Her eyes were bright
with animation, and she had got
sand on her forehead and in her hair.
Perceiving Tommy, she tossed a
double handful of sand into the air,
and as the sunlight caught the myri-
ads of bright surfaces, she cried
What is it? oh, what is it?''
Sand" said Tommy.
"Sandl" cried Celestia.
Didn't you ever play in the sand
when you were nttle?"
'T used to play with diamonds and
rubies," said Celestia. ooh, but this is
wonderful. See, you can write in it
and draw pictures. Look, am max
ing the man Stilliter."
And, indeed, with her forefnger for
pencil, she made an excellent carica-
ture Of him.
who taught you to do that, Ce-
lestia?"
AN angel" she said simply.
WELL" said Tommy, I've heard Of
people who could draw like angels
but-oh, Celestia, aren't you a little
tired Of playing this heavenly origin
business on met I don't take any
stock in It."
She looked at him with sudden
grave wonder.
when l tell you that come from
heaven, you don't believe me?"
why, Celestial" he said, meeting
her gaze with equal gravity, you're
just regular girl. Why there's blood
on your cheek, where a deer fly has
bitten you"
You've got to believe me-" she
said, and it seemed to Tommy she
was trying to master him with her
eyes.
What are you trying to do to me?"
he said. Hypnotic me?"
And then he laughed, and looked
SO brown and handsome and good
natured that Celestia had to smile at
him.
''Now, Celestia," he said, I'm going
to take you for a boat ride. But
you've got to sit still-mighty still.
You pretend that you're back In heav-
en- listening to ISRAELI accompanied by
the Spheres"
But she spoke with a sudden stern
ness that made him very uncom-
Portable.
'Is there no reverence left on earth ?
No faith? It's high time that
came"
He helped her into the dugout, his
eyes on the back Of her head, enam-
ored with the way her dark, strong
hair met her straight white neck and as
he padded he kept saying: who
the deuce is she, and what the deuce
is she?"
And to these questions he could not
find any answers that were altogether
satisfactory.
( Just as they were landing on the Is
land there came to them once more
family, and from far-oR the baying oi
the bloodhounds. Celestia gave Tommy
a look full Of anxious appeal.
Don't be afraid" he said. "They
are miles and miles from u.s."
So they were. All Of them. Still
ter, the guides, the hounds, and the
Indian who rejoiced In the name Of
Old Man Smells-good, which II It re
ferred to anything about him except
his ability to follow a trail was an
inappropriate name. They were al
there, several miles away; but Old
Man Smellsgood was In the head oi
an exceedingly tall pine, which over.
topped the rest Of the forest, and from
which the view was exceedingly fine
and expansive. Old Man Smells-good
had a pair OF eyes that resembled a
pair Of telescopes. He could see any.
thing that was IN sight,
fContinued.D
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