The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-03-12
KISS IN MISTAKE.
II cannot let you have one to yourself,

"Why not?" I asked.
because we are overcrowded TO- day.
| The hot weather coming SO unex-
pectedly hss sent The people down in
swarms."
"Well, then," I said, II SUPPOSE I
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 appearances. There
he stands, sir"
Hooked in the direction indicated by
| the one to whom I 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 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 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 l
thought rather "loud," so when order
! ing my clothes had given instructions
to have mine of more modest pattern.
There was, however, restless look
about the eyes which seemed to indicate
that the owner had been overenjoying
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 a
| weeks continuous gayety, winding up
+! the equllay exciting examinations that
had led up to it.
One thing, however, should mention
1 with regard to his dress, and that is
that he wore in his necktie peculiar
scarf pin, conspicuous rather on account
of the pattern, heart pierced with an
arrow. It was not of much intrinsic
value, but indicated that the wearer was
experiencing the delights of d ''tirst
love, a sensation which as yet I bad to
! experience, the quiet of my home life
with widowed mother, averse to social
! intercourse since the loss of my father,
having kept me somewhat isolated from
those of my own age, and developed
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 envied
my fellow-students whose sisters and
thier friends had come like butterflies,
to flutter their wings at the winding up
ball, l had run down to Long Branch
for dip before returning to my home.
and on asking for bathing room found
that for reasons already mentioned I
should have to share it with stranger.
, However, there was no help for it, and
SO with easy grace I prepared to go to
it, having previously returned the nod
to him who was to be my companion.
MS soon prepared, and issued from
my box clad in the usual dark blue
bathing suit, which is so comfortable
after discarding the "harness" of cloth
ing required by our so-called civiliza-
ton.
With the first plunge I was another
man. The cares and worriments of
study-fears that should be plucked
and go home in disgrace, for such I
should have felt it had 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 dived beneath
their crests.
At last, however, feeling that I 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 little blue about the eyes.
Your roommate came out nearly half
an hour ago, and he seemed little
! is best not to overdo it at the first
! bath"
"Oh," I REPLIED II shall be all right
directly" and taking the key went to
the box, and having thoroughly dried
myself prepared to dress, when, to my
utter establishment. l 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
! ey buttons and there was scarf with
pin of heart transiixed by arrow BY
! some stupid mistake, for it could not
have been from desire to misappro-
pirate, as the clothing left was quite as
valuable as my own, he had mistaken
my 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 we'll 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 I could
find him.
''No, indeed, sir, l do not. I think
he is staying at one of the hotels close
by. thought he looked bit queer,
and perhaps as soon as he gets better
he will come around, so YOU had better
him to you"
This was all that could be done, and
although [ did not at all like the idea
OF wearing announcer persons clothes, l
determined to take little stroll. as the
warm sun, after my long protractctl
bath, was very agreeable.
1 had not strolled far when I saw ap-
preaching, and in earnest conversation,
a blonde of about sixteen, and of consid-
cradle beauty accompany were two,
evidently sisters. but of an entirely diff
ferent style of beauty-dccidedlv bru-
nettes, and of very graceful figures and
easy carriage.
Feeling a little awkward in my change
of dress, and thinking that every one
would notice it, I turned as 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
by the blonde, who at that moment SEEM
ed to see me, and with an exclamation
Of