The Dermott news., 1916-02-10
FOURTH INSTAlLMENT
CHAPTER X.

But Tommy stopped short with
kind of jerk, as a tethered animal
stops when 1t comes TO the end of its
rope: for he saw clearly, and all In
moment that 1t was not woman who
invited him to share the shelter of the
hut, but little child He stopped
short then and smiled as a boy smiles.
Not room enough for two in there,
he said. But If you get frightened or
want anything. just call I'll hear.
And-good night"
1t seemed darker when she had
closed the door OF the hut and no
longer cleaned in the fire light. Pro.
fess0r Stilliter lowered his rifle with
a suppressed sigh OF relief and sank
down among the bushes. And when
Tommy. healthtully tired had fallen
into a sound sleep he withdrew to
distance with his followers. and passed
night OF supreme discomfort upon
the hard ground. Celestia was safe
In Tommy's care. and there Was no
use separating them before morning.
Bright and early Celestia walked and
stepped from the hut into the cold.
still Adirondack dawn. Tommy, his
feet To the fire that had almost died.
still slept She kueit by him and
studied his face at leisure. Presently
she touched his hand cautiously with
the tip OF her finger and found that ii
was cold Then. happy as child. 10
be OF service. she put wood on the fire
and blew the embers into flame. Still
Tommy did not wake. and she knelt
by him once more aud. with laugh,
bowed her lovely head aud kissed him.
Tommy was dreaming OF her. She
had promised 10 marry him as soon
as he had killed the horrible dragon
that lived under the hill. Tommy.
after a desperate battle. in which he
was armed with only Il c.n-opener. had
Just succeeded in opening the dragon 3
jugular vein. and was just rushing out
from under the Hill to claim his re.
ward from the waiting Celestia. when
she really kissed him, and ha walked.
and knew that he had been kissed.
His very tirst words were OF reproof
"Celestia. dear. he said. you
mustn't do that
Mustn't kiss you?"
"Of course not"
Her great eyes assumed an injured
look
In heaven" she said. AN angel al.
ways wakes me with a kiss
Tommy was vide awake now.
What kind OF an angela" he in
AL . ci an In
bis voice.
"Oh." she said carelessly. anyone
that happened to pass by, and thought
that | had slept long enough. But
then Celestia liked to be kissed. Don't
humans"
Yes" said Tommy. sometimes.
liked II. Only among us it's n sacred
sort OF thing, and grown-up humans re
serve their kisses for celestial moods
or for children. who are always rather
heavenly As he spoke. he began to
prepare breakfast. and Celestial smiled
upon him, but not as II she was very
much Interested In what he had said.
or indeed understood It. Suddenly she
said:
Il want To COOK.
you do. do you? Do you know
how"
1--WE watched you"
Tommy rose with q laugh.
Then YOU shall" he said. and I'll
have "A swim to wake me up"
"A SWIM"
"You do II in the water" said
Tommy gravely. and he made swim
ming motions with his arms.
"Oh. but Id rather swim. too, than
cook" said Celestia. and she prepared
to follow him. But Tommy shook his
head,
Somebody has TO cook" he said
"and | was the first to think about
swimming and so II would be selfish
of you"
you were nicer to me yesterday"
said Celestial. and she turned with a
little cry OF establishment to the kettle,
which had Just boiled over
Tommy hurried away chuckling. and
Just before he came TO the Narrow
Island Beach he stripped and hung his
clothes on a tree limb. then he ran
into the water until II was waist deep,
and then dove.
Celestia. busy with the cooking. WAS
not troubling her mind about celestial
Affairs.
The reason that Tommy could not
understand Celestia was simple. She
could not explain herself She be-
lieved beyond question that she had
always lived in heaven W the day
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