The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-04

have come from the United States when
the teasel crop in England failed.-TeX-
tile Mercury.
|
THE COUNSEL AND THE NUN.
1t was the opinion of Henry Tonkin,
of Kings Bench Walk, that the increas-
ing rotundity of his figure clearly sug
gested silk gown. And the Textbook
and Thomas Edy, the clerk, when called
to consultation on the point, firmly
supported counsels opinion. Mr.. Ton
kin felt, however, that so momentous a
step required more than common con-
sideration, especially since he could af-
ford some delay without losing place
among the most youthful OF Her
| Majestys counsel learned in the law.
But although no communication had
yet been made to the Lord Chancellor,
it had somehow got about in the Temple
and BEDFORD Row that "Tonkin was go
| ing to take silk" and learned friends
offered congratulations in the ante
room of Judges Chambers on his APP
preaching emancipation from sum-
monses and pleadings. Thomas Edy
who had always cut a figure in the pre-
cincts Of the courts, felt the dignity of
his position. File was man of culture,
was Thomas Edy, who grew hollyhocks
| at BALKAN, read no morning paper but
| 1.-THE Times" and among his fellow
olerks-coleagues called them-on cir,
cult had his opinions on art and foreign
policy. He, too, was congratulated by
f,ia 1c ely WHOM tha thing
to come off.
"Well. you see," he replied, "the mat
ter can hardly yet be said to be a chose
jugee; it is. in fact, still sub JUDGE"
And you are the guvnor sitting as
a divisional court to determine it, eh?"
Just so. We have reserved judy
ment till next term
Next term came, and on warm
morning in May Henry Tonkin stood
by the open window in Kings Bench
Walk. He had just tried on his silk
gown and full-bottomed wig, and found
them suit his ample person to perfec-
ton The inflow of Junior briefs having
ceased for some weeks, he had unwont-
ed leisure, which he was employing in
dreaming Of Woolsack, when his
thoughts We're diverted by his eye fall
ing on two Sisters Of Mercy crossing
the gravel space between his chambers
and Paper Buildings. He had often be-
fore noticed gentle looking creatures of
the nun species gliding silently about
the Temple, but had never had time to
give them thought. 1t struck him now
that these quiet black figures, with
their conspicuous white headgear and
crucihxes suspended from their girdles.
made a picturesque feature In their
architectural picture with the library
in the background. There was piquan-
cy, too, in the contrast between these
peaceful women of religion, with their
slow step and downcast eyes, and the
busy barristers and bustllng attorneys
clerks hurying to ond fro across the
court A sudden curiosity and interest
in these women were aroused in the
learned COUNSEL he thought he would
like to hear their voices, to know where
they came from what they We're collect
ing for and what sort of success they
had in gathering money in the dusty
purleus of the law.
IF you please, sir, two Catholic |
women with a collecting card: / sup
pose l may say you do not support
Romanist charities 2"
"Show the ladies in"
Thomas Edy could not have been
more astonished had he been told to re-
turn brief his master could not attend |
to.
Mr.. Tonkin felt considerably embar-
raised when his visitors stood before !
him, quietly declining with thanks the
chairs brought forward by the clerk
before leaving the room The two nuns
were Of very different age and aspect
One was well past middle age her fea-
lures were coarse and, as Tonkn
a rather masculine type; she
was tall and thickly built, her voice
strong and deep Her companion was
quite a young girl, rather
pretty, with a tmid look in her gray
eyes and tremor on her lip; she seemed
frightened, and never lifted her eyes
from the carpet,
The elder woman handed a card to
Tonkin. I'VE solest for the Hospital of
the Stricken Heart che said; perhaps
sir you will kindly give us a subscrip-
tion.'
Tonkin had been thinking that their
superiors showed much worldly wisdom
in sending this pretty girl as a decoy
for COIN and this old dragon as chap
sron to the decoy. The spirit of mis-
3hief seized him. Running his eye
down the list on the card, in which he
saw a fair number Of shillings and six
pences and occasional half crown, he
said in tone of profound gravity, adj
dressing himself to the old nun:
81 do not belong to your faith, and
EEL no obligation to support it's chart
les. At the same time believe the OBJ
ect to be a good one, and see you
awe not had any great success as yet
n your collecting. Now I'll tell you
what I'll do"-he stuck his finger and
humb into his waistcoat pocket-Tll
give you a couple of sovefeigns for your
hospital on one condition"
"You are generous, sir" said the nun
With perfect self-composure, though
ronlSin noticed a flashing glance
brown at her for an instant by tho
'oung girl beside her. You arc gener-
,us, sir; the Blessed Virgin will reward
'ou'
Unfortunately" replied the barris-
er, who was getting immensely tickled
W the diversion Of the situation he was
bringing about II have no great faith s
n the Blessed Virgins power to do any,
hiD for mo 7 am 1nplxinu tlnrofn,o | l