St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-12-19
THE BISHOPS
~ BEARD -
BY G. SEWELL.
OoOoOcOoOoO<

nDARDON me-" said the quiet mar
i in the corner, suddenly, Il am
about to make singular request"
DIR. Bigworth, bishop Of Steadmin.
ster, put down his paper and stared
haughtily over his spectacles at his
vis-a-vis. He.made it rule never to
enter into conversation with strangers
on a long railway journey. Generally
speaking, he didn't even deign to no
tice their existence; but on this occa-
sion he had remarked, with feeling
as much akin to irritation as his SUI
perior code permitted, that the man
who sat opposite possessed a flowing
beard of quite unusual length and ex-
treme sickness.
Now, DIR. Bigworth's solitary weak
ness happened to be pride in his beard
hence the luminosity. 1t certainly
was singularly handsome one. So
ciety papers devoted whole paragraphs
to it's honor. It had become as much
a part of his personality as the collars,
orchids and eyeglasses that are from
time to time associated vita other
celebrities.
That q stranger-and a somewhat
seedy stranger to boot-should pre-
sumo to exhibit such a possession, too,
was something in the nature of q lib
erty. No wonder, therefore, that the
bishop had looked more severe and re-
pressive than usual.
Truth to tell, he was not in the best
of tempers that morning. He had
risen at six and swallowed his coffee
and egg hurriedly by gas-light, to the
accompaniment of suppressed yawns
from very sleepy butler; and there
is something so utterly lacking in dig
nifty about scrambled breakfast be-
fore seven!
But he had pressing business in Lon
don, and an early train to catch, so
he had left Mrs. Bishop snoring peace
fully, and had ensconced himself in the
corner of an empty first-class, hoping
AS there was no stop for two hours
for privacy. And then just at the last
minute an apologize guard had hustled
in this man with the beard and
slammed the door.
Naturally, when he ventured to
speak, the bishop surveyed him with
chilling disapproval.
Indeed, sir?" he said, coldly. in re-
ply to the intruder's remark. The man
in the corner did not follow up his
first observation for moment or two.
He took out his watch and looked at
it. Then he raised his eyes.
There's no stop for an hour and so
minutes he announced, politely.
May point out to you. to save any
subsequent misunderstanding, that you
are some little distance from the COM
municating cord?" The bishops stern
grey eyes opened little wider than
usual, but he still preserved his COM
posure, though an unpleasant sensa-
ton like the trucking of cold water
made itself felt suddenly in the region
of his pulse. Have the goodness to
explain yourself" he said, ss stiff1y
as he could.
Possibly you think I'm lunatic?"
suggested the man in the corner, play
fully.
The bishop had his suspicious, but
he didn't think 1t wise to give voice
to them. Il have formed" he replied,
in an icy tone, mo theories whatever
about you. Be good enough to tell me
Tiff l can serve you, and permit me
to go back to my paper"
A light-an ugly, crooked light
leaned all at once into the strangers
eyes: he stood up holding on to the
to steady himself.
"You can serve me-" he said, in a
low. vibrating voice. "How clever OF |
Won to think of it! l want your
clothes"
"sir," gasped tt. amazed divine.
likewise standing up, .'ycu must be-"
mad! I knew you'd say So You're
wrong, as it happens. However that's
4la