The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-08
AN EVENING SWIM.

The night was MS balmy and soft ms the
most cxacting poet could reasonably de.
eirc. Not "a breath Of air was stirring IL
Is true, to raise clouds of dust in the
streets, but neither was there any stored
mp heat to be radiutod from tho brick and
mortar Of the houses. The sky was re-
markably clear, the moon unusually bril-
liant.
1t seemed almost Pity to go indoors at
all on such n splendid night and two
very respectable merchants who were of
this way Of thinking, drove out to the Bots
and strolled about leisurey, conversing on
trade, politics and the philosophy of life
When they reached the edge of the cool
clear water one of the pair suggested that
they should have a plunge. The other in
whose head the spirit of prudence was pre-
dominant, demurrcd, for is not bathing In
the Bots mt night a forbidden pastiineY
They debated the subject for some time
and finally compromised matters by each
having his own way, the prudent individ-
ual agreeing to take charge of his friends
clothes while the latter was disporting
himself in the water in state of nature
except for his silk hat, which he retained
on his head
While the lover of pellucid lakes was on
the far side of the sheet of water he heard
cry of alarm and saw, as he thought
the figure of n policeman standing boldly
out against the picturesque background of
moonlit armament and light green foliage
of the trees He could not, of course, know
in the hurry and excitement of the moment
that the little scream was uttered by u fe-
male dressed in male cycling attire, and
that she, in turn, had been Mortified at the
Sinht If tot bnt oh.
took to indicate the recent preparation of
some grewsome crime. X, remember
ing that the police have been very vigilant
in the Bots of late arresting the houseless
and homeless, grew frightened and swan
ms rapidly us he could to where he had left
his friend
On terra 1irma once more, he hicd him
breathless to the trysting spot.
i've had Il close call, old hoy, )" he called
out in subducd voice. "but, for heavens
sake, hide everything behind tree, and
I'll come round in u moment if there are
no police about
"Oh, you've had close call, have your"
exclaimed gruff bass voice, which was
not that of the intimate friend while u
full weighted blow on the nose. levclcd by
an unknown hand, nearly knocked the
unsuspecting merchant off his feet. "Give
me my silk umbrella and my overcoat,
you scoundrclly night thief, or you'll spend
the evening in the lock up -
"Your overcoat? l know nothing of it.
l only wish had my own
"None of your lying tricks with me.
You are the tramp who stole my property
here an hour ago. l recognize you.
'How can your Don't you see l have
no clothes of my own, and if l could get
hold of u coat by hook or by crook l would
use it to hide my nakedness?'
The stranger looked, saw that Y. was
clad only in Il silk hat, and reluctantly
concluding that it was a case of mistaken
identity went his way grumbliny.
N, to his horror, then found that his
friend had likewise gone his way, leaving
him alone with II more top hat. For near
~ two hours tho wretched man wandered
about the Bois, like soul in pain, select
ing the shadicst spots for his promenade,
through u natural disinclination to meet
the watchful police.
His method of getting home when he
had mGtured it, was master stroke of in
genuity. He crept cautiously up to soil
tary fiacre, eiat WAS evidently waiting for
the return of fare, and slipping in while
the cabman was doing suddenly put his
head out of the window and cried, "Cocher,
return"
These directions were somewhat vague,
but, ut any rate, they aroused no suspicion
at the moment, and the conveyance drove
off cityward.
Once back in Paris X breathed freely
again. and pulling up the Jehu, told him
to go to the Rue du BAG.
Rue du BAG be blowed!" quoth the
driver. at was Rue dc Rivoli that you
said when you engaged me- My horse is
done up and l am sleepy. Pay me what
you owe me and hire another conveyance !"
X unfortunately had neither money nor
pockets to keep any in, and when he NUT
tered something to that effect tho cocher
got down, the better to give him piece of
his mind.
"Parbleur' he exclaimed, noticing the
phenomenon inside What deyiltry have
we here? Where are your clothes, sir?"
X. stammered out his explanations
about having had midnight swim in the
water, but the cabman characterized the
story as flshy, asked him where was the
fare he had been waiting for in the Bots,
and then resuming his seat drove to the
nearest police station.
What's the matter with you?' asked
the commissaire, circumspectly approach
ing the door OF the cab.
On, mourning, replleu a., trying to
feel calm. Il merely lost my clothes, you
know, during stroll in the Bots. -
Lost your clothes! What do you mean,
monsieur? How can respectable man
lose his clothes ut this hour of the night
and go driving about Paris without sou
in his pocket mean without money to
pay the driver Come in
Inside the station X was cross exam
ined, and as his story seemed fairly plausi-
BILE II messenger was dispatched to his adj
dress to verify his statements and apprise
his wife of what had happened. The mer-
chant would have preferred to leave his
spouse in blissful ignorance of his adven-
ture But full confession being the least
of two evils, he chose it, and the messenger
duly returned with full confirmation of
tho story, adding that Nine. y. was for
the moment absent from home having
Joined relief party of three who went to
recover the body of her husband, who, she
feared, had persisted from shock in the
nf kn hot chn LII -