The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-01

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meet him. and, after the Gus.
tomary kiss. said:
Dear. the bishop has come"
What hishop?" said Won Blumer
You know perfectly well. Bishop
Lancaster. This is his regular visit
TO the diocese. and it happens to be
ny turn to invite him. At least, I in
sisted upon his coming"
on his woy to the house that after
noon Won Blumer had stopped at the
Office of the brewery, and ordered two
dozen bottles of beer to be delivered
at once. AZ the grocer's he had or
dered other materials more dry and
less necessary to the hilarity Of the
evening. That noon 1t had suddenly
occurred to him that 1t would be II
pleasant thing TO invite the four men
with whom lie had taken luncheon up
to game of cards. Won Blumer had
been married four years and a half
just six months short Of the allotted
period when a man learns not to take
any step without first consulting his
wife.
II didn't know anything about it,"
he said.
Mrs. Won Blumer eyed him petulant.
ly.
That's just like man." she en-
claimed. snappishly. you never lis
ten to what I say. you are so absorbed
In your own affairs. I told you all
about 1t week ago--how ! had writ
ten. and the bishop replied that he
would be here this afternoon
Won Bumer suppressed an inward
shudder, and braced up. There was
no way out of it. he knew. but to
put on a bold front. Deception was
impossible.
II suppose" he said. chat at the
present moment the bishop is occupy.
ing the best front bedroom"
Yes
"rhen." said Won Rlumer, "in few
moments he will have the pleasure of
seeing a brewery wagon drive up and
deliver two dozen bottles Of beer.
hope he won't think it is in honor Of
his visit" He stopped her with a ges-
ture. and quickly proceeded: Nov.
my dear. I'm sorry, but it can't be
helped. I had forgotten all about the
existence even of this bishop. and to-
day invited some of the boys up for
a quiet game of cards. So far as
can see. the bishop will have TO make
the best of it,"
There was painful silence. The
greatest tragedies of life usually take
place in silence. Then Mrs. Won Blu
mer gave one Of those ineNpressible
"Ohs.' which indicate that wOrnan's
nature has been stirred to its depths.
How could you do it?" she said at
last. He is so strict don't see
now we can keep it from him. 1t
first thought. The same thing oc-
CURED to Eve.
I'VE can't and we won't" said Won
Blumer. with a tragic wave of his
hand. II have invited a few friends
to my house to play cards-yes, poker"
and he raised his voice slightly. in
spite of a horror stricken look of
warning on his wife's face-"and to
drink beer, and don't care who knows
it. ] didn't ask him here. He isn't
my guest. OF course he is yours an'i
he shall receive all proper cuuctesy
You gn to church regularly. and it is
all right that you should have him.
But there is no reason why l should
pose as hypOcrite. In his line I
presume he Is an admirable man. but
! don't consider that he is one whit
better Than I am. If | want to play
cards and drink beer in my own home
I'm going to do it. Tn not ashamed
of it, Won Blumer was aroused. II,
was only u plain. ordinary man, with
small capacities outside of his regu-
lar duties
The deliverywag drove up. The
bishop was probably at that moment
sitting in the window of his room on
the second floor front.
"There." said Mrs. Won Blumer.
He will see, and tonight hear them
come inland the noise, too. Oh what
shall ] do?"
Dol" exclaimed Won Blumer. stern
ly, as he cut tha string on box of
perfectos he had brought with him.
Tell him the truth. Of course
The clock struck ten.
Won Blumer. eXcusing himself mo-
mentarily from his companions, went
down Stairs past the wide-Open door
of the bishops empty room to the H.
brary, where his wife sat alone. read
ing. MY dear" he said. do You
suppose you could send some one out
for another dozen bottles of beer?"
You don't mean to say" said Mrs.
Won Blumer, that you want more
beer"
Won Blumer waved his hand apollo
getically above.
Yes" he replied. You know
hadn't counted on the bishop." Ton,
Mason, in Life.