Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-29
,utb. He was turning It round in his


refer to it verbally.
Teddy passed the corset around his fat
chest and fastened tho catches in front.
The garment laced up behind, and Teddy
had wit enough 70 draw the stay lace tight
and to knot the ends. Except that it was
rather bag9y in tho upper portion of the
front II fitted him very well and gave him
what he bad not had for years-a waist.
Hastily donning the rest of his bathing
clothes be was soon in the water, waiting
for the widow.
She tried his patience sorely, and when
she came there was q dark cloud on her
brow. But Ted was so full Of good humor
and cracked SO many jokes that the cloud
svaporated, and presently the widow was
enjoying herself, as Ted lifted her over the
breakers in his stalwart arms. She had
no idea he was so strong, nor had she the
least idea that he had so good figure. In
his ordinary costume he was actually
shapeless but now manly chest swelled
from fairly proportional waist, and the
widow could not deny that 80 far as op-
poarance went he was proper man.
One tremendous breaker came which
tested his muscle, but he lifted the widow
over it ut the cost of the buttons on his
tunic. Through the indscreet aperture
thus made the widows eye discerned an
inner garment which was black.
Sputtering from her immersion, she point
ed with dark scowl to the object and
asked:
"What is that?'
"Ah, har' iauntily replied Ted; "hai
| part of my bathing costume-made for me
expressly by my tailor on Montgomery
street"
The lady vouchsefed no reply, but went
put of the water, hastily walked up the
! beach and took the direction of her bath
| ing room. Ted, who had been so long in
! The water that he was chilled through, and
whose fun ended with Dulcinea's depar-
lure, followed her example. He assembled
the steps, walked along the corridor,
noting the numbers on the doors till he
came to 90. The door resisted slight
pressure from his hand, but n vigorous
shove from his shoulder threw It open and
he stood inside.
A piercing female shrek divided the
mir, and Mr.. O'Mara's Mortified gaze beheld
Mrs. McDonaghue, still fully equipped in
her bathing suit sitting on the bench with
his trousers in her hand
Get out Of this, you baste!" she screamed.
"I'll get out fast enough" said he, but
Ia like to know what You are doing in my
bathing room"
ITS not yours; it's mine. And If you
don't go I'll call the police"
81 swear hired this room of the keeper
4 few minutes ago"
Il tell you it's NINE hired by the week"
perhaps you'll he telling me, swate Mrs
O'Donaghue. that those are your trousers
you have in your purity hand
"You are n BRUTE" cried the widow.
Furnishing the male garment-"a brute
and a thafe, too, for that corset you re
wearing is mine, though you did have it
made expressly for you in Montgomery
street"
A suspicion of the mistake began to
dawn on Ted's mind.
"The laundering villain" he muttered.
"I'll break every bone in his body"
Are you going, Mr.. O'Mara," cried tho
widow, in a more subdued tore, "or shall
scrane MURDER"
"And bring the crowd round us?" not
unadroitly suggested Ted. "How can &c
when you have my trousers in your hand?'
"Here are your dirty old Clothes" said
the widow, gathering them up and throw
Ing them at him.
"Thanks," replied Ted, quite politely.
".And, by the way, as you lay claim to this
corset, shall take It off? l don't know that
am able to unlace it without assistance. "
"Go! Go, Drute Fer /! Nillainp'
And the widow, whose musuclar strength
was not to he despised, pushed him out OF
the bathing room.
1t is not to ba supposed that this ami
mated colloquy escaped the ears Of the
bathers. Tire keeper Of the bathing house
for prudential reasons Of his own, did not
put in an appearance on the battlefield
and when Teddy, having resumed hi,
proper attire, visited the Office and ey
pressed n desire to have few moments
conversation with him, his wife declared
that he had gone to Sequel and would not
he back for a day or two. But quite q
number of gentlemen and ladies were con
ahmed with curiosity TO know the cause OF
40 warm q controversy, the prevailing opin
ion being that the fat irishman had beer
guilty of crimes for which death woull
have been too lcnient a penalty. Nothing
INT his decidedly belligerent air prevented
his being called upon by the bystander,
for an EXPLANATION.
When Mrs. McDonaghue reappeared il
.treet costume and accompanied Mr.
0,Nara to the hotel, the women followed