Evening star., 1926-02-22

'if I can afford it. Ny father left me
some money, Mrs. E,versham says;
you wouldn't have to use yours"
certainly not" answered Hilary.
He had told Laura that he should give
the girl an allowance. as an advance
on her fathers paintings, and had
asked her not TO mention this. but
merely to say that Gibbs had left
certain sum with him for Celia's inn
mediate needs
''AS long as she is my ward" he
had explained. Il rather she didn't
feel like n poor dependent on suf-
france"
Laura had quite agreed with him.
It wasn't till some years afterWard
that Maudie guessed the truth. from
q casual remark made by her mother
in an ungUarded moment.
Not being fond of Maudie himself,
Hilary quite understood Celia 5 atti-
tude, ana her queer generosity pleased
him. lie promised to send her
bracelet from Carriers.
The girl puzzled him more and
more. She seemed such an amazing
mixture of stupidity and astuteneSs.
He quite understood now why Laura
had said that she wasn't dull exactly
just rather queer, and not an easy
person to describe.
''Go and see her for YOURSELF she
had urged. He found this. seeing her
for himself, unexpectedly interesting.
He would have given a good deal To
know what particular person 1t was
that she thought she would like TO
be. As he sat studying her immobile
figure and profile il occurred to nm
that it might be some great rehglouS
character like st. Teresa Was that
perhaps the secret of her curious
eloofness? Had she a vocation? Had
she perhaps decided to become a nun
in one of the clostered orders?
He approached the question ne
wished to ask ohliquely.
You must have grown fond oil TINS
lovely place" he began.
Yes" she answered.
eff | were a young girl" he Went
on with a whimsical smile. Il thlnk
I should adore being educated IN
convent. though I'm not of Your re-
ligion. That. of course. gives 1t
stronger appeal to YOU.
She said nothing in reply to TINS.
"Mavhe YOU don't like hereto
kpeaking of your religion to you:
Are YOU heretic?.
I'm not a Catholic.
"A Protestant, them?
He shook his head. rather enjoying
The way she had eluded HIM ny put
ting question for question:
"perhaps | ought to have ca!ied
n,vself an Eclectic" he said, rather
than a hereto, because / belieNe III
the finest things in all rehslotS VII @
out being bound to any. your la'th
IS a beautiful one.
Again she was silent
Hilary felt now he had ruSheu III
where angels fear to tread
.sE-oroive me. Celia he SAID Win
yreat earnestness. IF 1 have spoken
FOO lightly of what you hold sacred,
Though + can't believe as you 40
reverence your belief.
celia's look. drifting UP to nm
from the depths OF her hldden ifio""'
had in it a new CLEAN.
But l haven't any Peliei' Hi'e
said.
aroused in him became poignant.
When he had recovered enough
from his amazement to speak IN an
ordinary voice he said gently: Wouid
rou mind telling me something about
it?"
years ago
"And them
"It happened here at the convent
eu at once" She broke off. hesitating.
"PIease go on l feel we shall
know each other better if you VIII tell
me" urged Hilary. And we ought 10
know each other better, don you
think so?'
"I think YOU are very kind to me-
she answered. and smiled at him for
the first time. This slight smile on
closed lips gave her face a curious,
lacked expression. He felt a convic-
tion that knowing her better would
not be easy.
she continued without further urg-
sncy. in her placid way. 1T was the
feet in a picture that made me know.
A picture of the Day of Judg-
ment. in the chapel here. Some
people are being resurrected.
One is going up into heaven just
the soles of his feet stick out of the
rlouds. 1t was those feet, l
meant. l felt all At once that
It was absurd to think that people
shot up with their bodies into a place
cslled Heaven The soles Of
those fset looked so absurd.
Then suddenly it all looked absurd.
all that I'd been taught
hnd I couldn't believe any OF 1t any
more."
This was a long effort for her. and
Hilary felt that he must show his
appreciation of 1t. He had succeeded
admirably in keeping a serious face
during her recital.
'"Thank you for telling me. Celia"
he now said warmly. Il feel as YOU
do about these things. I hope, though.
that It didn't make you unhappy, just
Not at all. 1t was / relief"
answered Celia. AS IL in on attempt
at explanation. she added: Il don't
Xkssthings - planned out all