Show A coney inland fure being in isea iorli for a tew days in midsummer anil having beard a great deal of coney island I 1 felt a desire to visit it taking a comfortable steam boat after a pleasant aldo through the Is arrows of isea loik bay I 1 found my self at tho pier and after spending acme time looking at the bathers who were in the water beneath I 1 hired a battling room and a suit and dressed for n bath I 1 am a good swimmer and after amusing TOI self for awhile among 0 e bathers struck out tor deep water half a tollo from the shore when I 1 supposed there was no otie near me I 1 suddenly heard a cry for help and looking toward the place from whence the sound came saw a woman mak ing tor her I 1 spoke to her quietly bid ding her not to get excited but to place one hand on my shoulder she did so and I 1 struck out for the shore ache was young and pretty what her social position wag I 1 could not tell I 1 hare in my time mistaken a coald in bathing clothes for a mistress and vice versa when sho told me that her strength had suddenly given out it was in a soft and musical voice I 1 concluded that had I 1 not awn on hand at the nick of time she would hare been drowned for twice her band slipped from my shoulder she sank and I 1 wa obliged to dive deep for her at last I 1 got her in shallow water and led her on to the beach where she sank down in what 1 budged to bo a swoon however this waa not for long and I 1 was surprised at the rapidity with which eho recovered sibea she did turning to nie with the sweetest of seuea ehe thanked me tor saving her life and asked if there was any way by which she could show her gratl tude there la a way I 1 eald that you 1 I am a could cadro than me stranger from abo tar west and alone ot dinner on the me company broad piazza of the hotel in eight of the scene of our meeting with me into the and afterward go concert room to claten to bousa a band I 1 be delighted ehe replied to repay ou in such an enjoyable WB home la in brook I 1 too nm aloia my lyn not far from here and I 1 frequent bath with my sla come here for a y I 1 and ter today abo la alone or alga roy was obliged to come bath V ery well I 1 said e will change and I 1 will meet you on AAA piazza in tall an lour we separated and I 1 trent to my bathing house turning the key in the lock the door opened and disclosed n suit of checkerboard clothes which did not belong to me I 1 compared the number of the room with that on tha key and saw that I 1 had made no mis take the truth flashed upon roe that ome one had picked the lock and changed suits with me BO stupid as to leave my valuables so the thief got only my clothes hat and shoes there was nothing tor me to do but don the checkerboard suit X did to and colne to the office returned my key and obtained my valuables han the lady saw me comine in new or rather old habiliments she threw up her hands in astonishment I 1 explained tho situation whereupon ehe told me that a thief probably the name person who cad robbed roo had taken abat change she had brought with her and she was penniless sly dinner waa BO enjoyable the lady BO pretty and vivacious that I 1 forgot my checkerboard clothes and under the influence of a bottle of champagne quite lost my heart ben the feast was ended I 1 paid the bill and pressed 5 on the lady with which to pay her home she accepted it on condition that I 1 would give her my ad dross so that she could remit the next day then we went into the concert room and listened to the music it was 11 0 clock when I 1 saw my fair one pass through the gate leading to the train having taken her address and promised to call then I 1 went back to a seat on the ocean g edge to dream of my adventure ear mid night I 1 strolled down to the boat in tending to go to isea tork but it occurred to me that it would never do for me to return to the hotel in such loud apparel so at the last moment I 1 left the boat to pass the night at the manhattan hotel intending to buy a new suit in the morning the ropes were lust being un loosed and the gang way hauled on to the pier I 1 stood looking up at the crowds leaning ivr the guards while the steamer swung off the sight that my eyes encountered among the people drifting from me Is one that I 1 can never forget has ever the natural romance of my disposition standing with one hand holding a stanchion was ft well dressed gentleman with a very fined face 1 wondered bow so rough looking a man came to have such ex cellena clothes turning my glance from him to a woman standing beside him what was my astonishment to see the lady whose life I 1 bad saved A second glance at her companions clothes told me that they were mine at the moment my ayea met those of the lady she staggered back for a moment then leaning over the rail she gave me another of her sweet smiles and kissed tha opa of her fingers to me goodby liz said a man beside me thinking the salute was or him who Is that lady I 1 asked that that s the long breath diver 0 the museum THOMAS HILL |