The Dermott news., 1916-03-16
EIGHTH lNSTAi LMENT
CHAPTER VIII.

That SO great and conservative n
man as Barclay should lend the prom
Use OF his backing to the doctrines and
tenets OF Celestia aroused eXtraordi-
nary interest all over the country, and
even In England and on the CONT
nent
Celestia vas showered with invita-
lions. most of which she declined. But
she did not decline them all 1t was
her duty, she felt. to convert to her
cause all sorts and conditions Of men
and women. the man who had been
born with golden spoon in his mouth
and the man who had been raised
with revolver in his hip-pocket.
She was asked TO speak In the ball
room of u great house overlooking
Central Park The invitation to do so
was instigated by Mary blackstone.
but Celestia did not know this. and
the name signed to the note OF invi-
tation WAS ono which tempted her -
accept. II was n name which above
nil others stood. In the opinion of the
man in the street. for all that IS rich
est and most foolish
To this function. Tommy was among
those invited tall part of Mary Hack
stones planl. but. though he yearned
TO be wherever Celestia was, IN spite
OF their latest quarrel. he was too
busy tramping the streets OF New
York In search OF a job to accept
Mary had hoped that among those TO
tho manner born. Celestial. In spite OF
her genuine good looks and magnetic
voice would appear insignificant II
not impossible. She was doomed to
disappointment
ColeSt!a. abandoning for the occa-
sion her work girl dress. and assum-
Ing once moro that graceful flowing
white garment In which she was first
seen (outside OF hcayenl not only set
new standard OF beauty. but started
a new fashion in dress. and kettle
ful OF jealousy among the women.
At one end OF the long baliroom-a
great space OF mirrors. and silk. bro
caded with garlands. flowers overflow
ing baskets and Cupids-was a plat
form for musicians. Upon this. to 4
great assembage OF fashionable men
and women all talking ut once. Coles
tia appeared suddenly there was
silence
The lovely ow-broWed face crowned
with the strong dark hair the steady.
kind. unfathomable eyes were like a
command that had TO be obeyed.
f'alnr4ia .
ming Of speech. She never started
by expressing surprise At beiag asked
10 speak. or nstonishmcGt NJ perceiv-
ting so many upturuel faces. Nor did
she start by saving what she was go.
Ing to talk about when she really did
lestia began, another would have been
half through She plunged right into
the heart OF things with compelling
sweetness and seriousness that were
Irresistible.
She finished speaking. her hands
dropped to her sides. and her eyes
well. though they had been open all
along. they seemed 90 open, and she
looked almost frightened and puzzled
a roar OF applause rose, and in the
back OF the room. Professor Stilliter,
who had been under great strain,
wiped the sweat from his brow.
Celestia came down from the plat.
form. very shyly and the men began
to crowd about her. and To shake her
hand. They crowded about to tell her
that they believed her. that her cause
was theirs, that when the time came
she could count upon them for money
and for service
But IL won't DO easy" she smiled
Its greater house than this that
We have to clean. A hundred years
OF mistaken laws and customs are
not 10 be swept aside in a day. So
indeed. shall need your service, and
your backing. and your votes
Gelestia's hostess took possession
OF her and women forced their way
among the men. in order to look closer
at that simple Greek dress which,
worn as Celestia wore ii, so put TO
shame their own bare arms and shout.
ders and lizardish costumes
Among the poor, when she said that
she came from heaven. among the un.
fortunate and the downtrodden, Celes.
tia was taken literally by so many
that It staggers belief. We have only
TO remember that less gifted prophets
have succeeded in imposing their d.
vinity on multitudes. About Celestia
there was nothing that rang false.
She was goodness and 81 .ty per
sonihed.
Among the more listicated. the
statement OF her was taken AZ