The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-18
1s 1902
SAVED By A WILD CRY

lively. as you say, lthNeTs' We la"
some delightful times at oxford to-
gether."
81 should think So" the newcomer
assented. I'VE did have larks! What
days on the river! And what nights
In college"
The bishop moved uneasily in his
chair. Then he glanced at the bishop
ess and the two bIshopinas. MY dear y
he said, wriggling inside his black
apron. 1T Is very hot In here. l think
l will take Mr.. Tr'avers out in the gar
den little"
The bishopess' face expressed sincere
relief. Mr. Travers' talk tended not
to edlfication. She. too. glanced at the
bishopinas. II would. Edward. If l
were you" she answered. perhaps
Mr.. Travers smokes. He might like
a cigar"
"Ah. you don't smoke now. them
Travers put in. with a note OF surprise.
well. that's odd. Given II up? Must
have cost him wrench. though, Mrs.
Mitchell. Never saw him Mt Oxford
without a short brier root In his mouth.
bar chapel or lecture. Did |. MltchellT"
The bishop rose solemnly, stood for
a moment by the open window, with
his episcopal legs in studied attitude
Of episcopal doubt. and then led the
way into the garden. 1t was n beauti-
full West Indian night Tropical moon
light lay pale green upon the floor OF
the veranda. Fireflies tlltted In and
out. The scent OF large white flowers
was heavy on the air. Trayers thought
Il all beautiful. He had only arrlv-
ed at Tortuga that morning and had
come straight up 10 Bishopstow TO
make his first impression Of the tropics
under his old friends roof aud his old
friends auspices.
The bishop selected sequestered
spot at the fartheSt end of the veranda.
placing a long deck chair for Travers
where he was least likely to be over
heard by the two bishopinas.
Yes" hc continued in n bland pro
fessional murmur I'VE have a great
work here, and feel that abstinence
from all appearance Of evil Is ueces-
sity OF my usefulness.
John Travers lighted a cigar. Its
smoke blew toward the bishop. "Capi-
tai tobacco one gets here" Travers re-
marked.
The bishop shifted II regretfully. 1T
has a delicious fragrance, ] will adj
nit" he answered with reluctance.
Trayers leaned back in his chair and
watched the fireflies as they fitted.
The air was balmy. "Ah. what times
we had at Oxford he went on reflect
Ing. What times we had there, Mitch
| ELL Do you remember that saucy little
| girl who used to sell flowers at the cor.
| ner near the Randolph? 4 pretty bit OF
fluff. Polly Peach they called her.
What fun we had chatting her! Well.
she's married a doctor now and has
son at BrasenOse."
az am glad TO hear IT," the bishop an
swered, putting his thumbs aud fore
| fingers together Though she was
| frivolous young woman. she was not
| wholly lacking in-In what may ven
| ture 10 call the essentials Of refinement.
| And we must remember she was plac-
| ed in a position Of some temptation.
Eyes. she's married" Travers went
on, ito doctor. as | say. | think you
knew him. Oh. of course. We were at
a drunk together at his rooms IN Bat
liol"
II remember taking wine" the bish-
Cd admitted after pause. with man
| named Holmes there"
1.-THE samel The very fellow What
a way he had with the girls too! And
| then the bonfire! Do you remember
our bonfire on the night our Torpid
beat Christchurch and Orlel! How
you brought out fagots into the quad
after the bump supper and remarked
that you didn't care a something or
other for the dons and made jolly
good blaze and were almost sent down
for it?"
The bishop hesitated. ri have some
indistinct recollection that there was a
bonfire" he allowed at last obviously.
"Was a bonfire! Why, my dear fei-
low. you were all but sent packing Tor
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 tie other men wanted to
pile and light them against the hall and
chapel"
The bishops face was rigid with ter
TOR.
Just then n cry rose on the air from
a cottage not far off-a weird. shrill
| cry. as of women waIling.
whats thatT' Travers asked. with
start
Saved. saved. The bishop gasped with
] 10Y. He remembered that Trayers nau
| 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
| negro wake. The women are wailing
| and keenlng after their kind over one
| Of their people who has died In this
| epidemic. regret to say. owing to our
| imperfect sanitary arrangements. such
| scenes are too common. We grow per
haps to disregard them with almost un
| Christian lack OF sympathy"
| epidemic? What epidemicT'
The bishop stretched truth as far as
1t would go yellow jack" he answer
ed in an unconcerned voice. VERY bad
here at present. They are dying by
thousands, the whites and browns es
pecially. 1t attacks newcomers most o.
all. People Of ford complexion ana