The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09

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detected an almost imperceptible twinkle
In the old Sister OF Mercy's eye and just a
trace of curl at the corners of her mouth.
instead OF the quick revulsion Of horror he
had expected. The girl remained impasaive
as before: Tonkin could not feel sure she
- much as blushed.
After a short pause, during which the
old woman appeared to be meditating. she
said in her deep. hoarse voice, MY COM
panion. sir. Is Sister Evangeline. or the
Stricken Heart She Is. as you see. young:
she has only jdst completed her novitiate:
she Is an innocent and beautiful child OK
Holy Church''-the speaker bowed her
head making the sign Of the cross on
her breast-'and am convinced your bet
ter self will regret having done or said
anything even thoughtlessly which might
wound her tender soul. But she must
learn that matters of personal dignity are
OF no moment compared with the work OF
the church. The subscription you offer
will be of great assistance to that work,
while the condition your within attaches to
1t will harm no one but yourself. Sister
Evangeline"-she turned and laid her
hand on the girls shoulder-''you will per-
nit this gentleman to kiss you twice.
since he finds 1t consistent with his dignity
to require you to do So" So saying, she
quietly took the sovereigns from the table
and dropped them into cloth bag at her
side.
Henry Tonkin. Q. c., for the first time
In his life. felt he was making an ass OF
himself. He had been playing the part
of silly schoolboy. He had not imagined
the situation could have SO developed as to
make a fool OF him, OF all people In the
world. But he was not going to admit,
by waving the condition Of his gift, that
he was stung by the woman's dignified
reproof. There should be no failure of
consideration"
Some days afterward, when the new
queens counsel arrived at his chambers.
he found on his table letter from one
of the metropolitan police magistrates.
asking him to be good enough to come to
the police court that morning at noon.
IAN exceedingly clever impostor." wrote
the magistrate. lis to come before me. In
the subscription list found on the pris-
oner your name appears. and l shall be
obliged IL you will come and explain under
what circumstances you parted with your
money. which seems to be by far the
largest sum procured from any one per-
son."
Tonkin dropped the letter on the table
before him. He also dropped a curse on
the old nun and his own Internal folly.
He was to be called within the bar In all
the courts" the very next morning. What
II the facts OF the incident got into to-
E morrow's papers? T. 7ry Tonkin believed
he had never in his life before done any
thing foolish. He had an idea of his own
dignity corresponding to his figure. and
he was In the highest degree sensitive to
ridicuie The leaders Of the bar were no
doubt jealous OF him already, and some
OF them were acknowledged wits. The
judges were. OF course. all wits-ex officio.
How the deuce was II possible for him to
face their winks and innuendos and con-
dolences? Moreover. he had just been Sc
lected as q candidate for a constituency.
What WIS to hinder those two wretched
women from giving a complexion to his
frolic that would altogether damn him
before the tribunal OF the Nonconformist
conscience? He felt his dignity and his
future evaporating together as he drove
to the police court.
When the case was called. Tonkin look.
ed apprehensively for the appearance OF
the pretty nun and her chaperon. Picture
his amusement when boy about Is step
ped into the dock, followed by man Of
Sd. whose appearance was not improved
by two days growth on chin and lip.
Tonkin vaguely heard some evidence
about the elder prisoner having "seen bet
ter days." a imam OF education who had
been intended for the church." but a
most accomplished impostor." and much
else. Presently he was called TO give evil
dence. When he stepped into the box and
his name was announced-"Mr. Henry
Tonkin, Q. C."-both prisoners looked at
him and grinned from ear to ear. Asaim-
ing composure. he said his evidence was
short and simple. He had believed the
appeal OF the prisoners to he genuine, and
had responded to it. That was all.
All? Not quite. II was when the prison.
er began 10 cross-examine the counsel that
the fun began.
The magistrate smiled even the police
man relaxed. and reporters woke up and
began scr.bbling for all they were worth
accounts OF the startling evidence" the
.'diverting scene" punctuated with plenty
OF sensation and '"roars OF laughter
Az last. having brought out all the facts
in a way, Mr.. Tonkfn, q. c.. himself might
have envied, the soi-distaut Sister OF the
Stricken Heart dismissed the aspirant to
the woolsack with parting shot.
IF had only taken my girl instead Of
the boy, hlest IL we wouldn't have sued
you for breach OF PROMISE
Mr.. Tonkin did not return 10 the Tenn
pie In most ways he could face the mu-
sic as well as another: but ne couldn't
face ridfeule. He would have been
criminal sooner than a laughing stock.
Next morning Thomas Edy-who had not
seen the evening papers and their posters
with the enormous headline. The Coun-
sci and the Nun. a q. C. at the Police
Court''-proudly laid out his masters full
bot.nmad wig and silk gown. But Henry
Tonkin was not called within the bar that
term. and the next time his name appear
ed In the papers was when IL was an
nouneed a few days afterward that he had
broken down from overwork. and had gone
abroad TO recruit---St. James Gazette.
BATTIESHTP IOWA. Steamer Mary
r. Perley will leave foot OF Washington
street today at p. M; arrive back at 6
y. m. Round trip ~ cents
EXCELLENT lunches served daily from
II TO O'Clock. Cafe Haibe. go Second.