Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-02
TWO SUITS OF CLOTHES.

II don't think you will regret it, sir.
| He seems a nice young gentleman, and
| not unlike yourself in appearance.
| There he stands, sir. "
| looked in the direction indicated
hy the one to whom had been speak
| inc, and there. sure enough, was one
| who did resemble me somewhat. He
| appeared to be about my own age, had
a similarly growing mustache of the
same color. light brown, rs was his
| hair and was about my own height
! five feet nine inches He also wore
li~ht-gray suit not unlike my own
and cut to particular shape which
my tailor informed me was the latest
| thing out.
There was one difference, however,
| and that was in the buttons, which in
his case were of peculiar pattern and
| as | thought rather loud, so when
| ordering my clothes | had given in
| structions to have mine OF more mod
| est pattern. There was, however, 4
reckless look about the eyes which
! seemed to indicate that the owner had
been over-enioying the festivities of the
commencement at one of our colleges,
and that. like myself, he had come
down to the seaside To ..cool off, from
the excitement of weeks gayety. He
wore on his neck-tie a peculiar scarf
pin, heart pierced with an arrow. II
indicated that the bearer was expert
enciuT the delights of a first love, a
sensation which rs yet had to expert
ence, the quiet of my life with 4
widowed mother having kept me some
what isolated from those of my own
age at New Haven.
And now, having passed my "eXam.
with some degree of credit, had run
down to Long Branch for dip before
returning home, and on asking for
bathing-room found that for reasons
already mentioned | should have to
share it with a stranger.
| was soon prepared and issued from
nv box clad IN the usual dark-blue
bathing suit. With the first plunge |
was another man. The cares and wor-
'rimentS of study-fearS that | should
ie plucked and 90 home in disgrace.
for such | should have felt it had | not
been successful-were all forgotten.
At last. however. feeling that | had
bttu lpO went W
the keeper of the bathing-houses for
the key. who looking at me somewhat
critically. said: You have been in
pretty long, sir, and look little blue
about the eyes. Your roommate came
out nearly half an hour ago. and he
seemed a little touched about the head,
[ thought. 1t is best not to overdo it
at the first bath"
.'Oh." replied. Il shall be all right
Directly and | went to the box.
when, to nv utter astonishment, |
found that the stranger had. in every
item, put on my clothing, leaving his
own.
There was no help for it but to dress
myself at once fortunately the clothes
fitted me as well as my OWN and 90 to
the proprietor to explain to him what
had occurred. and ask him if he knew
who the person was or where l could
find him. He did not. Il think he is
staying at one of the hotels close by,
said he, $50 you had better leave your
address,"
This was all that could be done, and
although | did not at all like the idea
of wearing another persons clothes, |
determined to take another stroll in
the warm sun. l. had not gone far
when | saw approaching. and in ear
nest conversation, a blonde of about
Is and of considerable beauty; ac-
companying her were two. evidently
sisters, but of entirely different style OF
beauty - decidedly brunettes and of
very graceful figures and of easy car
riage Feeling little awkward in my
change of dress, | turned to look at
sailing vessel. While waiting lor them
to pass l was utterly perplexed by the
blonde, who at the moment seemed to
see me, and with an exclamation of:
why, Charlie, you naughty truant,
where have YOU been?" She threw
pair of lovely arms around my neck,
printed delicious kiss upon my lips.
was utterly dumbfounded, but be-
fore ! could stammer out any attempt
at an explanation, she added: You
dear, stupid. overgrown boy, why did
YOU not come direct to the hotel and
take US out to battle? Here are my
friends, Mabel and Annie Gray. We
would have gone with you'-and add
ing in whisper-..I want you to ad-
mire Mabel; isn't she lovely" And
then followed an introduction, while
still stood utterly bewildered.
What could l do? l felt myself the
creature of dream, from which it
would be a cruelty to myself to awake,
besides it would be useless then to try
to say a word. for, as if she were car
rying out an already studied plan that
|, her supposed brother, should fall in
love with Mabel, she whom l must call
the blonde had moved on with the
younger sister, Annie. For a few
seconds l walked along by the side of
my companion. utterly perplexed as to
what | should say or do. 1t was evil
dent that l had been mistaken for
some one else the brother of the one
who had so singularly saluted me, and
in all probability the clothes that | was
wearing had been the cause of the mis-
take.
| determined to maintain prudent
silence and wait developments. The
sister was already out of sight The
silence was at last broken by my COM
panion, who said: Your sister has
been uneasy about you; she was afraid
that you would not be here in time for
the hop this evening"
Indeed said, scarcely venturing
to add more.
"Yes, she told me that you had over
worked yourself and seemed afraid
that your health was yielding TO the
strain, but l think her fears are
groundless."
To this | scarcely ventured any re-
ply for fear of bungling. | had my
clew. There was going to be a hop
at the -- hotel that evening, and my
fair friend evidently intended to attend
with the unknown" Fortunately |
had brought with me an evening suit
for change. ! determined, therefore,
to be there, and hoped, after an eXpla
nation with the unknown, TO obtain
proper introduction to the sister, for