Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-12-22
y y WASHINGTON STANDARD

|
Ii Association.
Nike Conovcr. burglar, the day be
fore Christmas stood on q sidewalk In
{ cre.t ti,y and watched the shoppers.
In tie other side Of the street was
large jcwclry store, In and out or
which througs Of people were going
ami coming, many OF them carrying
the goods they had bought rather than
riSl. not getting them before Christmas
morning if left TO be sent home by the
delivery wagon
Mike was watching for some pros
porous looking person to come out OK
the store, his pockets buIging with
small packages-he knew the small
ones to be the most valuable-intcnd-
Ing to follow him home and during the
night relieve him Of them. Presently
he hit upon an elderly gentleman with
mutton chop whiskers and a gold head
ed cane, who, as he emerged from the
store, was examining the said small
packages down into his pocket. Mike
followed him, noted the house he en-
tered and went away.
The town clocks were striking one
hour after midnight when the burglar
bent his steps to the house In question.
passed from the front steps on to
balcony, inserted Z Jimmy under
window sash, pulled out the screws
that held the sash, raised 1t and en-
tered a large drawing room. The
Christmas presents were doubtless
kept above, so, feeling his way up
stairs. he found q hall lighted BY
gas jet turned very low. He turned
It trifle higher In order the better to
see the way and. looking into an open
door, saw two little children asleep
with their arms about each other. To
the rlantel hung two long stockings
bulging in every part. On q bureau
was q cruciix.
Mike had been brought up q Catholic
by an honest, hardworking mother
and remembered when a lad quite well
grown seeing his little brother and
sister. both less than Eve years old,
lying In bed together In this fashion.
He remembered it especially because
he had Just come in with some toys to
put into their stockings. Tie sight
took him back to those days whom he
had not yet gone to ths bad. and there
came a sinking about his heart. He
passed back through a narrow hallway
and, opening door, entered rortion
Of the house that seemed to lie AN ad-
dition ana cut OF from the rest. The
door had scarcely closed behind him
when he heard q low voice say:
"Dominus vobiscum."
Mike started and his knees trembled
beneath him. Whence came the
voice from the ceiling. from under
the door or from behind curtAins3 Il
had been yea1 since Nike had gone
70 mass, much less to confooslco, ana
now 4 seemed to him that hs Was n
church; that the priest had turned
from the altar to the congregation and,
spreading his arms n an attitude -
bless them, had intoned IL Latin
words meaning The Loed b with
you"
Instinctively Nike bowed his bad
and made the sign Of ths eros . ~
forehead.
Then sudden1y Z womaAAD vo1co =.
gan to ding that beautifu1 NJ sAtu
Sanctissima" ('Hail. Nost Holy Nod.
ero. From tie moment Nike Aoard
the frst note he began to droep. 0EaA.
ually he bent almost 70 IL nooe, ane
when the words ~0fa Pro nobis'
CFtay TOR NJ weFe sung hoeank upon
hi knees. When tie song Seeppoa u
penafent Vas sobbing HE ehhd.
euddsaly light va turned o -
hind him But NIKE resmaaned - ~
knees He was too oysEcome ~ q
music TO make any reslsta1ea
What are you doing heeer eskee
the gentleman MIA had sAAooWee
that day.
Il came to rob yoa. ~" Ake -
Piled IN hoarss whispef. ut heye
been turned nom ny purpoea. mt n
your two little chlldreA VIM til
hanging stockings ana secoa4 ~ wa
have heard hefe. An ! dreema2e
that am IN achurehf 70 tnb = oWeN'
ng, g have | eone mar
Neafhef. We are Keenan, Cetneuel
Mere ana l nave percnesea Z peeee'
exapA - = Chrasemas yeegeoe re- ~
we Who y Z very oevo0e WoDAo'
II y intended foe sueA ! le1 q Weona.
ana suppose someenang - -
wrong win the macn1neey A. etoaeeo
II up. heard me singing ~ ea0e =
to shut the thing o.
Then Mika rose rom NJ kneees ~
with his head stu bowed -:
i am ready, ar. to s. g jan and
suner the punishment ! deserve. Bue
never again WIN ! eommSe crime
~. ~ ~ $3.50 S - "a1 - ~ 1919 ~ 81. J.