The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-04-24
TWO SUITS OF CLOTHES.

TWO SUITS OF CLOTHES.
al cannot lot you have one yourself,
sir, because we are overcrowded TO-
day. The hot weather coming so I'M
expectedly has sent the people down in
swarms."
"Well, them" I said, ~ suppose
must share it with some one else.
II don't think you will regret it, sir.
He seems nice young gentleman, and
not unlike yourself in appearance.
There he stands, SIR"
/ looked in the direction indicated
by the one to whom Thad been speak
ing, and there, sure enough, was one
who did resemble me somewhat. He
appeared to be about my own age, had
similarly growing mustache Of the
same color, light brown, as was his
hair, and was about my own height
five feet nine inches. He also wore
q light-gray suit not unlike my own
and cut to q 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 a peculiar pattern and
as l thought rather cloud" so when
ordering my clothes ! had given in
structions to have mine of more mod.
est pattern. There was, however, O
reckless look about the eyes which
seemed to indicate that the owner had
been over-enjoying 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 peculiar scarf
pin, a heart pierced with an arrow. It
indicated that the bearer was expert
encing the delights of o "first" love, q
sensation which as yet had TO expert
ence, the quiet of my life with q
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 O
bathing-room found that for reasons
already mentioned I should have to
share II with stranger.
was soon prepared and issued from
my box clad In the usual dark-b blue
bathing suit. With the first plunge
was another man. The cares and wor-
riments of study-fears that I should
be plucked and 60 home in disgrace,
for such should have felt it had I not
been uccessful-were all forgotten.
At last, however, feeling that / had
been in too long, reluctantly went to
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 q little blue
about the eyes. Your roommate came
out nearly half an hour ago, and he
seemed little touched about the head,
I thought 1t is best not to overdo 1t
at the first bath"
"Oh," replied, 81 shall be all right
directly" and l went to the box,
when, to my utter astonishment, /
found that the stranger had, In every
item, put on my clothing. leaving his
own.
There was no help for II but to dress
myself ct once fortunately the clothes
fitted me as we'll as my own) and 60 to
the proprietor to explain to him what
had occurred, and ask him II he knew
who the person was or where / could
find him. He did not. al 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. / had not gone far
when I 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, I turned to look at o
sailing vessel. While waiting for them
to pass / was utterly perplexed by the
bloude, who at the moment seemed to
see me, and with an exclamation Of:
"Why, Charlie, you naughty truant,
where have you beenP" She threw o
pair of lovely arms around my neck,
and, before l could draw back, had i'm
printed delicious kiss upon my lips.
Twas utterly dumbfounded, but be.
fore ] could stamrner 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 bathep Here are my
friends, Mabel and Annie Gray. We
would have gone with you"-and add
ing in q whisper-'I want you to adj
mire Mabel; isn't she lovolyP" And
then followed an introduction, while
still stood utterly bewildered.
What could dop / felt myself the
creature of dream, from which 1t
would be cruelty to myself to awake,
besides It would be useless then to try
to say a word, for, as If she were car
ryine out an already studied plan that
/, her supposed brother, should fab In
love with Mabel, she whom / must call
the blonde had moved on with the
Younger sister, Annie. Fop o few
seconds walked along by the side OF
NV companion, utterly perplexed as to
what should say or do. 1t was evil
dent that I 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: sYour 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.
eyes, she told me that you had over
i mnrkad vnnrsalf and seemed afraid