1937-10-15 — Page 13

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THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT OCTOBER 15, 1937.

"SISTER MARGARET"

ISTER MARGARET rose from

in her small, almost bare room. There, was not a sound în the con- vent; but outside the wind was. threshing the trees, and there was an occasional patter of rain the small window. Her candle burned steadily in its stand on the mantelpiece.

од

Sister Margaret had been say- ing prayers for the wicked who roamed the great world beyond the religious building. She had re- cited words of compassion for in- mates of prisons, for all who were tempted of evil, for all who had fallen before temptation She stood very still and let the beads of her rosary drop through her fingers as she moved her lips slowly.

The twigs of a tree were beat- ing against her window, like fin- gers tapping-.

She was on night duty, the other sisters were already in their first sleep, and the only light burning was that of her candle which was faintly reflected through the tran- some in the long corridor:

Suddenly the peal of the front

robe. Around her waist could be seen the rope girdle, the ends of which hung down by her side:

A movement behind her caused her to tur

Meantime said one of the ficers, "we have our torches

They crossed the hall and enter- ed the chapel, followed at tance by the Superior and Sister

"What is the trouble, Sister Margaret. The torches dashed Margaret?”

The Superior, majestic and commanding, stood by the porch door.

She was an old woman, the lines of her face showed traces of the burdens she had borne and the life of high asceticism she had lived; but her erect carriage and her air of authority stamped her as one who was capable of ruling firmly if justly.

The officer who had already spoken to Sister Margaret repeat- ed his statement; adding that an officer had seen a man loitering about the place.

:

"Was he seen to enter these buildings?" asked the Superior.

"We fancy he is still here. The officer communicated with his com- panion on the beat and kept watch while we were summoned. With your permission—”

door bell struck through the si Short

lencé.

Sister Margaret's lips ceased to move in prayer, her rosary ceased to turn in her fingers, her appeal for the wicked was interrupted sharply. She listened, her ears at- tuned to the slightest sound.

She heard the shuffling old door- keeper move along the paved pas- sage. She heard the bolts with- drawn. She heard voices.

Sister Margaret opened her own door and waited. Presently the doorkeeper came hurrying.

"Sister, Sister, shall I ring for the Superior?”*

away

"What is the matter?" "Two police officers are at the door. They say that a burglar was seen to enter the chapel. They have men watching the grounds. They wish to search for the man'

“Send for the Superior.”, The doorkeeper - moved and Sister Margaret remained for a moment by her own door. She was a dignified figure, one of the most pious of all the sisters in the Order. Her face was the face of one who has suffered and has over- come and attained to a serenity not usually reached by one of her years; for Sister Margaret still young.

was

Presently she moved along the corridor towards the main hall The chapel was on the left, its doors were open, but there was no light within; but in the outside porch a gas jet burned and two figures stood outlined against the darkness. beyond. Sister Mar-

garet opened the porch door and faced the visitors.

"We are sorry to disturb you," began one, but we are police, of- ficers and we have reason for be- " lieving that entrance has been made to your building. One of the doors of the chapel was found":- ajar."

"The

Superior will be here shortly I cannot let you enter without her permission.”

Her voice was calm and her manner unruffled. The light of the gas jet showed a face that was beautiful and pale, rendered more pale by the headdress she wore. Her fingers still clutched at her rosary, but her hands were hidden within the wide sleeves of her

Story

searched ΤΟΥΣ

the

"Have grounds?"

"We have men posted there to prevent his escape. Our suspi- cion is that the man we want is here."

"But we are poor. There is nothing worth stealing within these walls."

"You forget that you have solid gold candlesticks and a silver Vir- gin. In these days prices are high for gold and silver; and burglars find out things. now ?"

here and there, up the aisle, along the benches, and finally rested on the altar. The Superior uttered

the

an exclamation.

The glare of the torches concentrated on the altar, cloth of which was lying askew as if drawn so by a rough, hasty hand. The pair of heavy gold can- dlesticks and the small solid silver Virgin usually there were gone, the large wax candles which had been in the sticks lay on the pay- ed floor.

The doorkeeper came with a tap- er and began to light the gas jets around the walls. The officer kept flashing their torches to and fro.

Burglary had been committed, but there was no sign of the bur glar. Every corner of the chapel was searched, every possible place of concealment explored.

"He is bound to be somewhere,”

By Stuart

Martin

exclaimed an officer. "What is on the other side of the main hall?” "The stores, kitchen, laundry, work rooms," replied the Superior.

"And on this side?”

The only

was from the candle Margaret's room. Discipline strict in the convent

“Child,” said the Superior, "you had better go to your room, Try to compose yourself after this excitement."

“I am not tired. Mother. "The loss of the candlesticks heavy, Sister Margaret, they were our only treasures, these and the silver statuette of the blessed Vir gin. Let us hope they will be re covered."

"It is sad that the holy relics should have proved a temptat to a thief," murmured Sister garet as she moved away.

She reached her own. - 201 apartment and entered. The can dle was burning low in its stand. She took another and lit it, plac

Her open ing it on the stand book of prayers lay where she had laid it. She turned towards the crucifix to continue her prayers for the wicked; and as she tum- ed she staggered back with a low

Cry.

A man was standing in the far- ther corner of the room.

They stared at each other, for some time before either spoke. Sister Margaret's face went whit er than ever it had been. Her hand clutched at her heart and stayed there, trembling. very lips went bloodless.

As for the man he could not He take his gaze off her face. seemed to have been turned

Her

He indicated the corridor jut stone, and he too went white He ting from the hall

"The private apartments of the Sisters and myself.”

“We will search the kitchen and stores rooms. Are the doors lock- ed ?**

"No." "Good. May we search

“Our, sacred vessels!” The Superior's face underwent a change, and her hands trembled. “We shall give as little trouble as possible," pursued the officer. "We think we know the man we are after. He is an ex-convict. Will you now allow us to search?"

"Very well."

The two men stepped forward. The door was closed behind them.

The Superior made a sign to the doorkeeper, who stood by her side.

"Fetch lights quickly!"

Then he cannot es- cape. We have a constable sta- tioned by the door where he ́en- tered. The place is surrounded.”

The Superior and Sister Mar- garet remained in the hall while the search was made. The thief was not discovered, but a window in the laundry was open and the officers believed he had climbed through to the grounds. They decided to search the shrubbery. Apologising for their intrusion they took their leave.

During all this disturbance not a door of the Sisters' rooms had

was dressed shabbily, but there was an air of culture about him. a superiority to his condition that could not be overlooked. From the pockets of his coat there gleamed a portion of the gold candlesticks and the head of the silver Virgin.

“You!"*

The word came from Sister Mar- garet's, parched lips like a breath. She steadied herself or she would have fallen. And still they look- ed at each other steadily.

At last the man spoke, and voice "uttered a word also. hoarse-

ly and hesitatingly.

"Madge!"

She raised her hand quickly with a supreme effort. The dis- cipline of years came to her res-

cue.

(Continued on Page 7)

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