Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-20
FOURTEENTH lNSTAlLMENT
cELEsTlA HEARS THE TRUTH.


The sound was not repeated. Grad
ually the professors snarled lips re-
Taxed and closed over his teeth. But
for some time longer he stood listen
ing and trying 10 see into the shadows.
Then he turned 10 Celestia and. after
plation. spoke.
we are going 10 be married" he
said. We are about to enter the
church" And he followed suggestion
by suggestion. 1t is not quite clear why.
unless he had in him a streak of that
quality which causes a cat 10 play with
a mouse.
In Celestia's mind rose a shadowy
picture OF an altar. OF a clergyman in
a white %surplice. OF candles that
burned in candelabra. of an altar boy.
OF a great bell made OF flowers. She
was standing facing the clergyman
and the altar. al the foot OF the steps
which led TO IL.
Now she was being married. The
clergyman was asking her some long
solemn question. Now she was repeat
ing words after him. but only with her
lips.
Il. Celestia. take"
Freddie the Ferret had never been
more puzzled in his life. lie was not
very familiar with the marriage cere-
mony, but still he recognized the fact
that Professor Stilliter and Celestia.
standing a little way from the log hut.
were going through something OF the
kind.
Driven BY a curiosity which over
mastered his fear Of Stilliter Freddie
crept out OF his hiding place and ad-
vanced over a broad outcropping Of
granite on feet which made no sound
The mockery OF a marriage service
over. Professor Stilliter no longer
made any effort at s~elf-control; he
seized her in his arms. II was him
self seized by the collar and jerked
vigorously backward.
II was so sudden and so unexpected
that for a Professor Stilliter's
heart stood still. and he almost died
Of fright. Then with a kind OF whin-
ing cry he tore himself loose and faced
about.
Something bright and shining
flashed In the moonlight. there was a
sound OF glass shivered TO atoms. and
for the moment Professor S,illiter was
stone blind.
He gave a grunt OF rage and reached
into his waistcoat pocket for the case
which he supposed contained his one
remaining spare pair Of glasses. As
We know. the case vas empty.
Unnamed by this horrible surprise
the professor forgot his intended vic
tim for a moment and Freddie. Selling
the golden opportunity. made a des
perate effort. capsized h professor.
eluded the snatch which the latter
made at him. and won free.
Professor Stilliter rose slowly to
his feet. his face pale as with the an
ticipation Of death. So he stood a mo-
ment, and Their in a voice that shook.
he called to Celestia. who had re.
manned standing in front OF the hut.
Come here. Celestial" he called.
She moved obediently toward him.
But the Ferret threw himself in her
q Some instinct told him that
these two people must be kept apart
Celestia did her best TO reach Stilliter,
but Freddie prevented her by force.
He threw his skinny arms around her
and dragged her slowly in an opposite
direction.
Stilliter did not repeat h order 10
come He merely called 70 her 70
hurry" And otediently she hurried:
but In the direction which Freddie had
been forcing her TO take. She had bur
ried a hundred feet before Stilliter
realized his mistake. He called to her
to stop. to turn back. to come 10 him.
and all these things she tried to do,
but Freddie would not let her.
Professor Stilliter's commands to
Celestial grew fainter and fainter, IN
til at last they could no longer be
heard. And 10Y the had sailed