The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-22
A COLLEGE CHUM.

"Yes," the bishop remarked refiectiyely,
"as you say, Trayers we had some de-
ightful times at Oxford together"
II should think sop the newcomer as.
sented. "We dh have larksl What DAYS
on the river! And what nights in collegep'
The bishop moved uneasily in his chair
Then no glanced at tho bishopess and the
two bishopinas. "My DEAR" he said,
wrigglng inside his black apron, at is
very hot in here think will take Mr..
Trayers out In the garden little"
The bishopess' face expressed sincere re-
lief. Mr.. Iravers' talk tended not to edifi-
cation. She, too, glanced at the bishopinas.
II would, Edward, If Twere you, +" she an
| swered. Perhaps Mr.. Travers smokes.
He might like cigar She threw out
tho hint in the firm voice of one who i'm
plies that tobacco within the house was
not permissible at Bshopstow.
"Ah, you don't smoke now, them"
Trayers put in, with note of surprise.
"Well, that's odd. Given 1t upp Must have
cost him wrench, though, Mrs. Mitch
ell. Never saw him at Oxford without
short briar root in his mouth, bar chapel
or lecture. Did l, MitchellS'
The bishop rose solemnly, stood for q
moment by the open window, with his
episcopal legs in studied attitude of epis-
copal doubt, and then led the way into the
garden. 1t was beautiful West Indian
night; tropical moonlight lay pale green
upon the floor OF the Veranda; flreflies fit
ted in and out; the scent of large white
flowers was heavy on the air. Travers
thought 1t all beautiful He had only ar
rived at Tortuga that morning and had
come straight up to Bishopstow to mako
his first impression of the tropics under
his old friends roof and his old friends
auspices.
The bishop selected sequestered spot ut
the farthest end of the veranda, placing
long deck chair for Traycrs, where he was
least likely to be overheard by the two
bishopinas
Eyes, " he continued in bland profess
sional murmur, 1--WE have great work
here, and feel that abstinence from all
appearance of evil is Ia necessity of my
usefulness. -
John Travers lighted cigar It's smoke
blew toward the bishop. "Capital tobacco
one gets here,' Travers remarked.
Tho bishop shifted it regretfully. "It
be answered with reluctance
Trayers leaned back in his chair and
watched the fireflies as they fitted. Tho
Dir was balny "Ah, what times we had
at Oxford he went on rejecting "What
times we bad there, MITCHELL Do you re-
member that saucy little girl who used to
sell flowers at the corner near the Ran
dolphf pretty bit of fluff Polly Peach
they called her. What fun we had chatting
her! We'll, she's married doctor now, |
and has son at Brasenose. p"
II am glad to hear it," the bishop an
swered, putting his thumbs and forelln-
gers together Though she was a friyo-
lous young woman, sho was not wholly
lacking in-in what may venture to call
the essentials of refinement And we must
remember she was placed in position of
some temptation. p"
Eyes, she's married." Trayers went on,
: to doctor, as l say. think you knew
him. Oh, of course. We were at a drunk
together at his rooms in Balliol!'
Il recollect taking wine," the bishop
admitted after pause, with man
named Holmes there. "
1.-The same! The very fellow! What q
way he had with the girls too! And then
the bonfire! Do you remember our bonfire
on the night our Torpid beat Chrstchurcb
and Oriel? How you brought out fagots
into the quad after the bump supper, and
remarked that you didn' t caro- something
u other for the dons, and made Jolly
good blaze, and were almost sent down for
vf'
The bishop hesitated. ~ have some
ndlstinct recollection that there was
bonfire, hc allowed at last obviously
Was bonfire! Why, my dear fellow,
'ou were all but sent packing for it. You
an { possibly forget You were let off on
he ground that most of the other men
we're much moro drunk than you you
vere just sober enough to light the fagots
N the middle of the quad, while the other
nen wanted to pile and light them against
he hall and chapel"
The bishops face was rigid with terror
Just then cry roso on the air from a
ottage not far otf-a weird, shrill cry, as
# women Tailing.
whats thatY' Travers asked, with n
tart
Saved saved The bishop gasped with
oy, He remembered that Trayers had Ind
Uphold at college and lived ever afterwara
Q REPLIED in very calm and measured
ones, "is-onlya negro wake. The women
re wailing and keening after their kind
yer one Of their people who has died in
his epidemic. l regret to say, owing to
ur imperfect sanitary arrangements, such
Genes are too common. We grow perhaps
disregard them with almost I'm Christian
'ck of sympathy"
"EpldcmicT What epidemic?" |
The bishop stretched truth as far as IL /
ould go, yellow jack" he answered I
an unconccrned voice every bad here /
present. They are dying by thousands,
10 whites and browns especially. II
.taoks newcomers most of all People Of
orid complexion and full habit of body, :
osh out from England, are almost sure n
Iravers rose in horror. He was fresh
'lored and full blooded as 1t all over
lo islands," he asked, with marked eager. l
ees.
Iho bishop gave dramatic pause.
Not in Barbados" he answered slowly l
Barbados is quite wholesome There's a
steamer to Barbados tomorrow morn a
&. "-Grant Allen in Sketch. q