Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-01-20
SAVED BY A WILD CRY

Setnef.
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"
he said, wriggling inside his black
apron, ''it is very hot in here. | think
| will take Mr.. Travers out in the gar
den little"
The bishOpcss' face expressed sincere
relief. Mr.. Travers' talk tended not
to ediication. She, too, glanced at the
bishopinas. Il would. Edward, if I
We're you" she answered. Perhaps
Mr.. Travers smokes. He might like
a cigar"
'Ah, you don't smoke now, then?'
Travers put in. with Il note Of surprise.
We'll that's odd. Given it up? Must
have cost him Il wrench, though, Mrs.
Mitchell. Never saw I'm at oxford
without short brier root in his mouth,
bar chapel or lecture. Did l, Mitchell!"
The bishop rose solemnly. stood for
moment by the open window with
his episcopal legs in il studied attitude
of episcopal doubt, and then led the
way into the garden. 1t was beauti-
full West Indian night. Tropical moon
light lay pale green upon the floor of
the veranda. Firefies fitted in and
out. The scent of large white flowers
was heavy on the air. Travers thought
it all beautiful. He had only arriv-
ed 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 a 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 bshopinas.
Yes" he continued in bland pro-
fessional murmur. 1--WE have great
work here, and feel that abstinence
from all appearance of evil is neces-
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 it regretfully. 1T
has Il delicious fragrance, | will adj
nit" he answered with reluctance.
Travers leaned back in his chair and
watched the iiretlies as they fitted.
The air was balmy. "Ah, what times
we had mt OXforjr' 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? A pretty bit Of
fluff. Polly Peach they called her.
What fun we had chatting her. Well,
she's married doctor now and has IL
son at Brasenose"
Il am glad to hear it," the bishop an
swered putting his thumbs and fore
fingers together "Though she was Il
frivolous young woman, she was not
wholly lacking in-in what | may ven
ture to call the essentials of refinement.
And we must remember she was plac-
ed in position Of some temptation"
Yes, she's married." Travers went
on, ito a doctor, as | say | think you
knew him. Oh. of course. We were ut
a drunk together at his rooms in Bal
liol."
Il remember taking wine," the bish-
op admitted after pause, with man
named Holmes there"
"rhe same! The very fellow! What
way he had with the girls too! And
then the bonfire. Do you remember
our bonfire on the night our Torpid
beat ChriStchurch and Oriel? 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 a jolly
good blaze and We're almost sent down
for it?"
The bishop hesitated. 81 have some
indistinct recollection that there was
bonfire" he allowed at last obviously.
WAS bonfire Why my dear fell
low, you were all but sent packing for
it. You can't possibly forget You We're
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 ter
ror.
Just then a cry rose on the air from
a cottage not far off-a weird, shrill
cry, as of women wailing.
Whats thatY" 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
negro wake. The women are wailing
and keening 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 I'M
Christian lack of sympathy"