Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-12-05
n Curious Incident.

n Curious Incident.
Now that life at the watering places is over
for the season, and the returned absentees, after
several weeks spent in setting things to rights,
are entertaining their intimate friends with re-
miniscences of their enjoyments at Rockaway.
Newport, Nahant, &c, We occasionally hear Of
Summer incident worth repeating. A droll one
occurred at marine resort at the head of Long
Island Sound. to couple Of the 40 or so board
ers in the hotel.' A newly arrived gentleman and
lady stroNed away one day in August to the long
sand beach far beyond the bath-house, to enjoy
the grander sweep Of the wave as it rolled majes-
tically to the shore. The sublime solitude of the
scene appeared to be shared only by Old Ocean
aud themselves but they were lovers just about
to be married, and wanted no other society than
that Of each other: After. walking till they had
become so warm that they looked wistfully to the
tempting water, with its clean, sandy bed, and
longed to lave in its cool translucent depths
they decided to try bath. They had no swim
ming rig with them, but fortunately there was a
cozy nook on either side Of little rocky promon-
tory which projected into the Sound several rods
beyond the main margin. The gentleman mod
estly retired to the further side Of this natural
screen, and the lady divested herself of her
clothing without Bit Of fear that he would incur
her Diana-lke Indignation his honor being above
suspicion, and her own being sans peur et sans
reproche Soon she heard him plashing in the
water on the other side, and as there
harm in using their tongues, although they must
not use their eyes, she cried out to him cheerful
ly she rose like naiad from the wave. and
they had quite sociable time of it, in spite Of
their separation Wasn't it beautiful Yes
il was glorious
But unfortunately for them. small but quick
wtted and mischievous bOy-a sort of marine
Ike gton-without being seen himself, saw
it all He had been fishing upon shelf of rock,
at the extreme end of the promontory, and not
hn,-s l.,a1.l l,l G.
from which he was awakened by their exclama-
tons Of delight. There are some youthful minds
TO which the conception of a roguish trick or
practical joke is as inevitable as lying. Unhap-
PLY, this lad was one OF them From the point
where he lay he could, with only slight move
ment of his body, see the gentleman on side
of the ledge aud the lady on the other and not
far away from each their respective heaps OF gar
ments What jolly good joke, be thought to
himself it would be to goand hide their clothes I!
or, still better to change one pile for the oher.
With him to devise was to execute, and he went
fearessly about it, yet with great caution lest he
should be discovered and his fun be spoiled
Watching his opportunity, and taking advantage
OF their ABSORPTION in what they were doing the
little rogue managed with consummate ability TO
effect the ominous change in the situation Of the
unsuspecting bathers' clothes, then stole away
from the scene. AS he ran behind sand-hill bis
long shadow between her and the sinking sun at
tracled the ladys notice. aud in some trepidation
she fastened to don her apparel. Fancy her
feelinks' on finding, not her own clothes but the
hat. coat vest aud other articles IN ertelso of the
gentleman on the other side of the promontory
How could it have happcned--and what was to
be done Was that fearfully long shadow some
spirit of the or shore, who, offended at her
intrusion upon his solitude, had resorted to this
method OF punishing her temerity? 1t were bet.
ter to imagine her situation than to attempt to
describe it.
II. fbo {lo 4
10 the shore to dress. Speechess astonishment
depicted in his countenance as his eve fell
upon heap Of womans clothing. What in
thunder be muttered to himself docs this
mean Is the place turned around, or am era
ay? In the greatest perpleXity he took up one
article OF feminine apparel after another to the
number of about thirty, letting one after another
drop again upon the rock where he stood, with
many a half-audible ejaculation Of wonder
There was no doubt in his mind as to whom the
things belonged, but how did they get there, and
where were his own clothes With one arm
akmGo. he pressed his other upon his forehead to
collect his bewdered senses. little thinking that
the mscheyous elf who was the author OF his
embarrassment was laughing at him from behind
the sand-hill
After few moments of hesitation, the gentle
man shouted to his lady-l the awkward intel
llgence, and in return was informed that his
clothes lay at her feet All that was TO be done
"as TO exchange the lots but how, in the name
OF delcacy was that consumnnatiOn, so devoutly'
wished, to be effected! The sun was now down,
but 1t was not dark yet Finally it was arranged
that the lady should venture into the water with
her eyes seaward while the lover should exchange
the clothes and return TO his side of the rocks
Unfortunately, just as he was about to cut around
10 the other side to perform that duty he eau ght
sight OF couple of young ladies not far off, and
DC felt compelled TO retreat precipitately to his
side again. His discomftted companion would
have then come out hastily and called 10 the la
dies for their help, but they were distant, and
between herself and them she saw boy passing
along. To cut the story short, the peculiarly
unpleasant predicament lasted until the Young
lady felt II necessary to save herself from being
chilled TO death, TO attire herself in her lovers
clothing. He, on his part, put her garments to the
same use for his own benefit and a pretty GOOD
tit it was for the two friends were about of a
size, and but for the discrepancy of a full beard
be might in less dusky light than then pre-
vailed, have passed for lady. 1t was his inlen-
tion in some way or another, he hardly knew
how, to rectiIy the matter Immediately; but
when be had ventured TO rejoin bis laughing aud
blusbing sweetheart, he saw the mischevons boy
little distance off, with grin on his impish
eountenance closely watching their motons.-
Quickly putting handkerchief to his face to
conceal his tell-tale beard, the gentleman took
the lady's arm, and they sauntered on the shore
until 1t was dark, then entered the hotel as pri-
vately as possible, and making the best of their
way 10 their respective rooms, lost no time in
donnng their respective hablimsnts