THE SIN OF SISTER- CHRISTABEL
THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1936
"She
to keep
anything.
against the rules.
if you help
kow 's
"You mean your conscience wi
trouble you?"
"Well, won't it be acting-a lie, - sister? To conceal it from the
community ?"
Christabel was silent while she Truggled with her conscience. The little cat crawled from her sleeve on to her knee, bunched "himself" together, turned in Fin
tiny feet, and went to sleepi
"Oh, the dear little thing cried Sister Ellen.
For some time the two were silent. Sister Ellen smooth-
ed the matted for, while the other | pondered over her duty.
"If you decide to keep him I shan't say anything, dear," Sister Elm said at last.
"Do you think it will be a sim?”” "You couldn't leave him to
1?" was the evasive ( starve, could you!
answer.
The women's eyes met. They smiled at each other with the air
of conspirators.
"I shall call him Barnabas,” 10-
nounced Christabel.
“It's a beautiful name,” agreed the other.
The "light was fading as the bell clanged through the convent. A face appeared-at-the-grille in the big docT.
"Ah, it's your sisters. Come in. you must be tired," said the por teress, unlocking the door.
Sister Christabel bad her dosk drawn about her. **Yes, we are tired"
"Well Sister Hilary's gut something for you to eat in the refectory. You've got nice time before compline."
Up in her cell-like room. Sister i Christabel drew out her mending basket It was of a homely, capacious shape, designed for the kolding of ample garments Ste removed the contents and stowed them in the single drawer pro- vided for the 'num's. 'use. Next she lined the basket with în old petticoat and put Barnabas into his new bed. She watched an- xiously, fearing he would not settle, but he was exhausted by his privations and the milk bad made him drowsy. He fell asleep. Placing the basket in the cup- board in her wall she went down to the refectory.
The room was deserted save for the two late-comers, for the com- munity supped early. Big-built. bluff, lay-sister Hilary attended toj
them.
"Have you any scraps left from the fish, sister?" asked Christabel.
The Iry-sister stared
at her. "What do you mean, my dear? Scraps of fish! What next, I wonder?***
To Ellen's consternation Hilary was taken into their confidence. She was much amused and pro- mised to smuggle scraps tô the stowaway whenever she could.
The days passed and a new look) dawned on the face. of Sister Christabel; a look of contentment and joy, which the sisters, notie- ́ing. thought almost spiritual. She seemed to find fresh happi- ness in the quiet routine of the convent Even the Beverend Mother noticed her. "Ton seein happier of late-almost as if some spiritual experience had enriched? your life, my child” she said as the nun came to her study to hid her "Good night,” as was the ens- tout.
She fushed and bent. Her head so that her face was hidden in the folds of her seil. The mother superior interpreted this confu zion as humility and took - her hand, saying kindly..... “Do not, dism tress yourselt 1 will not intrude: on your mental privacy. I am glad to see you so content Good night, my daughter.*
Sister Clara was suspicious of this new happices. She was the senior member of this branch- of the Order, and used her authority to domineer over the more timid members of "the community. She watched "Gheistabel narrowly,"
As the passed Sister Chri "bel's room: one day, sheẻ par outside to lister. She caressing voice, but could tinguish the wards Sá
SOLLY, THE WAY MY FAMILY IS SPENDIN ME. MONEY 1S TERRIBLE.T HA GOT TO STOP 1 AM
ING SICK AND TRED
FOR THE BILLS--
Bringing Up Father
(MJUST IN THE MOOD TOTELL'EM
A FEW THINGS-] I'M GOIN' TO LAY DOWN TH’LAW. IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW-
ÄN WANT FROM NOW( CHARGE
STOOD
CANTO
NO MORE!
NG THAT IS
TO THE BONE TO OWN
HOME
THINK, HOWIVE TOLED SLAVED FORYOU-YOU CONSIDER I'M GITTIN LIKE TO ENJOY ME OLD
FORT AN' NOT HAVE.
A LOT OF DESTS ON MY HANDS-
THE BEAST
TIS POSITIVELY SHAMEFUL-
I'M AS HAPPY AS
SUN-FLOWER
A BIG
Rosie's BEAU
BY
GEO MCMANUS
BOO HOO
་་
POOR DADDY,
LAM SORRY-
BY GOLLY,
WENT OVER FINE
LISTEN TO EM
CRYIN'-
ÚK, SOMEONE AT-THE DOOR WHO CAN IT
BE
YOU SHOULD BE ARRESTED
FOR BEATING YOUR WIFE LIKE THAT-DON'T LETO US-WE COULD HEAR HER
SCREAMING-
BY GOLLY, I'VE GOT TO GT HEM TO STOP
NORI WILL GIT PINCHEI
AND I WANTED “A NEW GOWN TO WEAR TO THE OPERA:
WW CAN 160:
MY CLUB- AS I CANT PAY MY DUES.
STOP CRYING WUZ JUST JOKIN-WEY,
ONTEVEN
I WISH I HADN'T. SAID
IN
YTHING. FIRST.
© 1996, King Fetus Syndicate, Inc.
Great Britain rights reserved.
SAID THERE
"SOME MISTA
NOW, WHO'S AT
TH DOOR
ARCHE IS SIMPY
THE
BOSS QUARAISE TEN DOLL SHOULD VEN YOU AT FFTY DOLL- NO YOU MUST
HMSO-
ROSIE-I'M GOING TO TELL
HIMA:
| WILLE, GO IN AND TEL
THE BOSS THA
FTHAT ONE D
CREASE NS
HE GAVEME-HU
WELL NOT STAND FOR ́ SINGING LIKE THAT IN
THIS BUILDING-.
SEKNEW-TH
ALLI GOT WASAI RABBE- SHED BE I SHES RIGHT-IM:
NG
THINGS WHE
HE SAID YOU ARE, RIGHT
RAISE WAS
OK.
SA
WAN
WE DEMAND THAT YOU STOP YO
HA
ANY
WIFE SINGING
LIKE
E?
IN-
HUH!
YOU SAY MY HUSBAN ISN'T-IN-HE PROBABLY IS OUT TO LUNG
ALL JUST SIT DOWN "AND WAIT FOR HIM-
WHAT'LL IDO NOW?
1936, Song Excurs
Grest. Brissio