The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09
/ The Counsel
And the MN

Is And the MN s
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| TT was the opinion OF Henry Tonkin.
| OF Kings Bench Walk. that the In
| creasing rotundity of hts figure
/ clearly suggested a silk gown And
/ II the Textbook and Thomas Edy. the
clerk. when called to consultation
on the point, firmly supported counseis
l opinion. Mr.. Tonksn felt. however. that
/ so momentous a step required more than
\ common consideration. especially since
| he could AFFORD some delay without losing
1 a place among the most youthful OF Her
| Majesty's counsel learned in the iaw. But
| although no communication had yet been
made to the Lord Chancellor, II had some
| how got about In the Tempe and Bedford
| row that '.Tonkin was going 10 take silk.
| and learned friends offered conyratuia-
| tons in the anteroom of Judges fenam-
| bers on the approaching emancipation
| from summonses and pleadingst Thomas
| Edy, who had always cut "a figure IN the
precincts Of the courts. felt the dignity
Of his position. He was man OF cui-
ture, was Thomas Edy. VINO grew holly
hooks at BALKAN. read no morning paper
but the Times, and among his fellow
clerks-colleagues he called them-on cir
cult had his opinions on art and foreign
policy. He. too. was congratulated by
| friends. and asked when the thing was
to come on.
well, you see." he replied. 1.-THE matter
can hardly yet be said TO be chose
tugee: 1t is, In fact. still sub JUDGE
And you and the guv'nor sitting as Q
divisional court to determine It. eh?
''Just SO. We have reserved Judgment
till next term
Next term came, and on a warm MORN
1v~ NV fhA
open window In Kings Bench Walk.
He had just tried on his silk gown and
fuil-bottomed wig. and found them s,stt
his ample person to perfection. The IN
flow of junior briefs having ceased for
some weeks, he had unwonted leisure.
which he was employing in dreaming OF
the woolsack. when his thoughts were
diverted by his eye falling on two Sisters
Of Mercy crossing the gravel space be-
tween his chambers and Paper buildings.
He had often before noticed gentle-looking
creatures of the nun species gliding 81
lently about the temple. but had never
| had time to give them thought. It
struck him now that these quiet black
figures with their conspicuous white head
gear and crucidxes suspended from their
girdles made picturesque feature In the
architectural picture with the library in
the background. There was piQuancy.
! too. in the contrast between these peace
| full women of religion. with their slow
| step and downcast eyes, and the busy
| barristers and bustling attorneys clerks
hurrying to and fro across the court. A
sudden curiosity and interest In these wo-
men were aroused In the learned coun-
sci: he thought he would like to hear
| their voices, to know where they came
from, what they were collecting for, and
what sort Of success they had In gather
| ing money in the dusty pulieus OF the law.
'If you please. sir two Catholic women
with q collecting card suppose may
| say you do not support Romanist chari-
| ties?'
SHOW the ladies In
Thomas Edy could not have been more
astonished had he been told to return B
| brief His master could not attend TO.
Mr.. Tonkin felt considerably embarrassed
when his visitors stood before him. quiet
| ~ 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 features were coarse and, as Tom
kin thought. a rather masculine type: she
was tall and thickly built. her voice strong
and deep. Her companion was apparently
quite a young girl. rather pretty, with a
timid 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 Ton
kin. I'VE collect for the hospital Of the
Stricken Heart" she said; perhaps. sir,
you will kindly give us subscription"
Tonkin had been thinking that their SUE
periors showed much worldly wisdom In
sending this pretty girl as decoy for coin.
and this old dragon as chaperon to the
decoy. The spirit OF mischief seized him.
Running his eye down the list on the card.
| In which he saw fair number of shiIlings
and sixpence and an occasional half
crown, he said in a tone OF profound grav-
| iiy. addressing himself to ~ old nun:
II do not belong to your faith. and feel
no obligation 70 support its charities At
| the same time believe the object to be a
| good one. and see you have not had any
great success as yet in your collecting.
| Now III tell you what I'll do"-he stuck
his finger and thumb into his waistcoat
| pocket-"I'il give you a couple OF sovereigns
| for your hospital on one condition"
"You are generous. sir" said the nun
| with perfect seif-ccmposure. though Ton
| kin noticed flashing glance thrown at her
| for an instant by the young girl beside her.
"You are generous, sir; the Blessed Virgin
will reward you.
UNFORTUNATELY replied the harrister,
who was getting immensely tickled by the
diversion OF the situation he was bringing
about. IL have no great faith In the Bless
ed Virgins power to do anything for me.
I am looking therefore. for a more earthly
and a more Immediate reward. The condi-
ton on which I'll give you these two SOW
| ereigns"-he laid the gold coins with clink
| on the tablets that this young lady. or
sister as l suppose l should call her. re-
| ward me with n kiss for each Of them"
| Henry Tonkin had the skilled cross-ex-
| aminers pleasure In reading faces. The
| idea OF proposing 70 kiss the pretty nun
| had occurred 10 him simply that he might
| watch the effect produced on the holy wo-
| men by a proposal which. though In reality
| innocent enough. would he took for grant
4 cd. be secuted by them as prompting OF
/ the world, the hesh and the devil He did
1 not for momen: contemplate having 10
| part with his money. Not a little aston
| ished was he. therefore. when his keen eye