River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-05
4 KISS IN MISTAKE.
81 cannot let you have one to yourself
"Whv not ?" | asked.

swarms"
well, then" I said, II suppose 1
must share it with some one else"
81 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 by
the one to whom l had been speaking
and there sure enough was one who did
resemble me somewhat, and to whom
the term mice enough" did not seem
applicable. He appeared to be about
my own age, had a similarly growing
moustache of the same color, light
brown, as his hair, and was about my
own height five feet nine inches. He
also wore light gray suit not unlike
my OWN in general appearance, and cut
to particular shape which my tailor
informed ne 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 l
Thought rather loud" so when order
ing my clothes l had given instructions
to have mine of more modest pattern.
There was, however, 4 restless look
about the eyes which med to indicate
that the owner had been over enjoying
the festivities of 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 continuous gayety, winding up
the equllay exciting examinations that
had led up to it.
One thing. however, should mention
with regard to his dress, and that IS
that he wore in his nechtio a peculiar
scarf pin, conspicuous rather on account
of the pattern, heart pierced with an
arrow. 1t was not of much intrinsic
value, but indicated that the wearer was
experiencing the delights of a first
love, a sensation which as vet | bad to
experience, the quiet of my home life
with widowed mother, ayerse to social
intercourse since the loss of my father,
having kept me somewhat isolated from
those of my own age, and developed a
retiring disposition that, even at New
Haven, had kept me aloof from my fell
low students.
And now having passed my exam"
with some degree of credit, and enyied
my fellow-students whose sisters and
thier friends had come like butterflies,
to fiutter their wings at the winding up
ball, | had run down to Long Branch
for dip Lefore returning to my home,
and on asking for a bathing room found
that for reasons already mentioned i
CHI r. q, /, ctr
However, there was no help for it, and
so with easy grace l prepared to go to
it, having previously returned the nod
to him who was to he my companion.
was soon prepared, and issued from
my box clad IN the usual dark blue
bathing suit, which is so comfortable
after describing the harness" of cloth
ing required by our so-called ciyiliza-
ton.
With the first plunge I was another
man. The cares and worriments of
study-fe fears that | should be plucked
and go home in disgrace, FOR such /
should have felt it had l not been sue
cessful were all forgotten. Even the
prudence which prompted that my bath
should not he too long continued was
discarded, and again and again | swan
upon the breakers" or Owed beneath
their crests.
At last, however, feeling that [ had
been in long enough, if not too long, l
reluctantly Withdrew and 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 a little blue about the eyes.
Your roommate came out nearly half
an hour ago, and he seemed q little
touched about the head, I thought. 1t
is best not to overdo it at the first
bath. "
"Oh," replied, 81 shall be all right
directly" and taking the key l went to
the box, aud having thoroughly dried
myself prepared to dress, when, TO my
utter astonishment. / found that the
stranger had, in every item, Put on my
clothing and leaving me his own.
There was no mistake about it.
There was the light gray suit with fan
cy buttons and there was a scarf with
pin of heart transtixed by arrow. BY
some stupid mistake, for it could not
have been from desire to misappro-
pirate, as the clothing left was quite as
nv side of the ''box" for his own and
worn away my clothing.
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 rson was or where / could
find him.
mo, indeed, sir, l do not. think
he Is staying at one of the hotels close
by / thought lie looked bit queer,
and perhaps rs soon as he gets better
he viii come around, so you had better
leave me your address that | may send
HIM to Won
This was all that could be done, and
although l did not at all like the idea
of wearing another persons clothes, [
determined to take little stroll, as the
warm sun, after my long protracte1
bath, was very agreeable.
had not strolled far when | saw APP
preaching, and in earnest conversation,
blonde Of about sixteen, and Of consid-
cradle beauty accompany We're two,
evidently sisters but of an entirely dif-
ferent style of beauty decidedly bru
Notes, and OF very graceful figures and
easy carriage.
Feeling n tleawkward in my change
Of dress. and thinking that every one
would notice it, turned us if to look at
a sailing vessel, whose graceful outlines
could be distinctly seen rising and fall
ing to the waves.
While standing so and waiting for
than to pass, was utterly perplexed
bvthe blonde, who at that moment seem
ed to see me, and with an exclamation
of
why, Charlie, you naughty truant.
where have YOU been ?" She threw Il
pair Of lovely arms around my neck,
and before ] could draw back had i'm
printed delicious kiss upon my lips
| was utterly dumbfounded, but before
/ could stammer out any attempt at an
explanation she added:
"You dear, stupid, overgrown boy,
why did Won not come direct to the ho-
tel and take us out TO battle? Here are
my friends, Mabel and Annie Gray.
We would have gone with yo1"-and
adding in whiSper-"I want you to
admire Mabel: isn't she loyely?' And
then followed an introduction. while
still l stood feeling utterly bewildered
What could ! do2 / felt myself the
creature of dream from whiCh II it would
no 81 rr-IInlty n y,,vsa1f IN z,aEa lasiIas