The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-12-19
NUMBER Al.


III mike Il rush for it,"
So saying the vicar doubled across
the field as fast as his unframed con-
dItlon would allow him, leaving Ger
aid with the towel and boots, and ex-
pIoding with laughter at the ridicu-
'0us hgure the parson cut, ambling
and stumbling along in the much
maiIgned suit of dittOes.
The vicar arrived at the church lust
as the clock was striking 1920. To
his horror the first person to meet
hlm was the bishop, who fairly STAN
gered at the spectacle presented bv
the most precise and pompous min
lister in his diocese.
Extremely sorry, my lord" pam
ted the exhausted vicar. Had an
accident - explain all afterWard."
The bishop said nothing, but his
looks sf'r%ar She was 50 although, be-
ing preIate Of an eminentIy humor-
Gus disposition, he, of course, saw
that some contretempts had hap
pened.
What the poor vicar underwent
during that interminable service no.
BODY but himself knows. The sur
plce was short. Gerald Maldon's
trousers were long. The sun stream
ed down full upon him as he stood
within the chancel rails, and he felt
that the eyes of the whole congrega-
ton were fixed upon the astounding
neither garments of the man who had
never been known to relax so far
from orthodox broadclOth as even to
put on cricketing fannels. 1t was in
vain he tried to hide himself: it was
in vain that he endeavOred to pay A
proper attention to the ceremony at
which he was assisting. He edged,
he maneuvernd, he lodged, and he
pulled the surplice down at the sides
until it split at the neck with a crack
and exposed the collar of Gerald's
seaside sh NOting coat" as its present
Wearer styled it. The perspiration
now stood out in great beads on the
poor wears forehead; his hands
were hot as fire and he performed his
part of the ceremony in such ner-
vouS, agitated manner that the bea-
Ole thought he was going to be i'll and
brought him a glass of water.
The unfortunate vicar, who saw
the bishop looking at him, determin-
ed that the moment the ceremony
was concluded, and he sirUutd .hays
an opportunity in the vestry, he
would tell the whole story to his
grace. But when the moment came
he was so overwhelmed with confu-
sion that he was dumb, and he mis-
took the humorous twinkle in the
bishops eye for look of scorn and
Indignation.
"ReaIly, Mr.. TeXter," said thepr-
late at length, you must excuse me
if | remark upon the exceedingly m.
clerical style of dress in which YOU
have appeared upon so solemn and
public an OCCASION"
my lord" gasped the vicar, zap
pearances are against me, [ acknow-
ledge. But when / have related to
you what has happened | think you
will admit that, under the circum-
Stances, | followed the only course
open to me; and, although l am fully
aware that clergymen, as a rule, do
not Officiate in garments of such a
pattern as those | am wearing at this
moment. | think You will admit
that [ should have fallen far more
short of my duty if had not put in
an appearance at ALL"
SO Mr., TeXter related to the bishop
the mornings adventure.
"Well, sir" said the bishop, when
the vicar had finished, "all that can
say is that you are very deeply in
debted to the person who made such
self-sacrfice in order to extricate
you from your unfortunate dilem-
ma"
II feel that, my lord, and I hope
to show it in some substantial man
ner."
"May l ask the name of your
friend in need ?" continued the
| bishop.
Gerald Maldon," replied the vi
car.
what? Gerald Maldon the son
of my old college chum ?" asked the
bishop, with astOnishment.
! "The same, my lord"
The news burst upon the worthy
bishop like revelation. He was
aware of Gerald's love for Daisy Tex
ter, and also of the difficulties that
had been thrown in his way by her
father. He therefore soon formed an
opinion of his own AS 20 how the lit
tie accident had occurred to the vi.
cars clothing, SURPRISING, how
ever, the smile that was brought to
his venerable face, and with a deter.
minatiOn to try and say useful
word for his friends son the worthy
/ t..tn