The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-20
A COLLEGE CHUM.

liphtful times at Oxford together
~ should think SOP The newcomer rs.
scented. eve did have laiks What days
on the rivcrl And what nights in college,
The bishop moved unonsily I'm his chair.
Then he glanced at the bishopess and the
two bishopiuas. my dear" he said
inside his rlack apron, cit is
very hot in here. think will take Mr.
Travers out in the garden little. l."
The bishopess' face expressed sincere re-
lief. Mr.. 1iuvers' talk tended not to odif-
cation. She, too, glanced at the bishopinns
81 would, Edward, if were you, " sic an
swcrcd. perhaps MIR 1ravors sn okcs.
He might like Il cigar" She throw out
tho hint in the firm voice of one who inn
plies that tobacco within the house was
not permissible at Bishorstow.
"Ah, you don't smoke now, them"
Travers put in, with II motto of surprise
"Woll, that's odd Given it upS 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 |, Mitchelly'
The bishop rose solemDly, stood for II
moment by the open window, with his
episcopal legs in studied attitude of eIis
cupal doubt, and then led the way into the
garden II was beautiful West Indian
night; tropical moonlight lay pale green
upon the lDor of the VCranda ilreiiiCs iit
ted in and OUT the scent of large white
flowers was heavy on tho air Travers
thought IL all beautiful. He had only ar
rived at TOrtuga that morning and had
come straight up to Bishopstow to make
his first impression of the tropics under
his old friends roof and his old friends
auspices.
The bishop selected seguestcred spot ut
the farthest end of the veranda, placing
long deck chair for Travcrs, where he was
least likely to be overheard by the two
bishopinas.
Eyes" he continued in q bland profcs-
sional murnur, I'VE have great work
here, and feel that abstinence from all
appearance of evil is necessity of my
usefulness"
John Travers lighted cigar. Its smoke
blew toward the bishop. Capital tobacco
one gets here" Travers remarked.
The bishop shifted it regretfully. "It
has delicious fragrance, will admit"
he answered with reluctance.
Travers leaned back in his chair and
watched the fireflies as they fitted. The
air was balmy. "Ah, what times we had
at Oxfordl' he went on rejecting. "What
times we had there, Mitchell! DO you re-
member that saucy little girl who used to
sell flowers at the corner near the Ran
dolph? A pretty bit of fluff. Polly Peach
they called her. What fun we had chatting
herl Well, she's married doctor now,
and has son at Brasenose.
Il am glad to hear it,, I" the bishop an
swered, putting his thumbs and foreGn-
gers together. Though she was frivo-
Ions OBJ Y,Nt ly11,
lacking in--in what l may venture to call
the essentials of refinement. And we must
remember she was placed in position OF
some temptation
"Yes, she's married." Travers went on,
"to a doctor, as / say. 1 think you knew
him. Oh, of course. We were at n drunk
together at his rooms in Balliolr'
II reooliess taking wine," the bishop
admitted ot&r pause, with man
named Holmes there"
1.-The sume The very fellow What %
way he had with the girls too! And then
the bonfirel Do you remember our bonfire
on the night ol!aIorpid beat ChristchIlrch
and Oriel? How you brought out fagots
into the quad after the bump supper, and
remarked that you didn't care II something
or other for the dons, and made jolly
good blaze, and were almost sent down for
it?''
The bishop hesitated. II have some
indistinct recollection that there was a
bonfire, he allowed at last obviously.
"Was bondrel Why, my dear fellow,
you were all but sent packing for it. You
can't possibly forget. You were let off on
the ground that most of the other men
were much more drunk than you; you
were just sober enough to light the fagots
in the middle of the quad, while the other
men wanted to pile and light them against
the hall and chapel"
The bishops face was rigid with terror.
Just then cry rose on the air from IA
cottage not far off-a weird, shrill cry, as
of women wailing.
whats that?" Travers asked, with a
start.
| Saved, saved! The bishop gasped with
| Joy. He remembered that Travers had had
| typhoid at college and lived ever afterward
in bodily dread of Zymotic diseases. "That,
he replied, in very calm and measured
tones, 'is--only a negro wake. The women
are wailing and keening after their kind
over one of their people who has died in
this epidemic. l regret to say, owing tc
our imperfect sanitary arrangements, such
scenes are too common. We grow perhaps
TO disregard them WIN almost un -ChrlstlaT
lack of sympathy"
"Epidemiof What epidemic?"
The bishop stretched truth as far as il
would go. yellow jack" he answered
in an unconcerned voice. Every bad here
at present. They are dying by thousands
the whites and browns especially. II
attacks newcomers most of all. People OF
florid complexion and full habit of body,
fresh out from England, are almost sure
Travers rose in horror. He was fresh
colored and full blooded. sis 1t all ovel
the islandsf" he asked, with marked eager
ness.
The bishop gave a dramatic pause
mot in Barbados" he answered slowly
Barbados is quite wholesome. There
a steamer to Barbados tomorrow morn
ing. Grant Allen in Sketch.