Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-10-24
STATE DEMOCRAT.



fication, IS we'll Is that Of others, the
following sea-shore incident:
Now that "life" at the watering places
10 over for the season, and the returned
absentecs, after several weeks spent in
setting things TO rights, are entertain.
ing their intimate friends with remin-
iscences Of their enjoymenh At Rocka-
way, Newport Nahant, DC, wo occas-
ionally hear Of a summer incident
worth repeating. A droll one occurred
at marine resort, at the head Of Long
Island sound, to a couple Of the forty
or fifty boarders in the hotel. A new
ly arrived gentleman and lady strolled
away one day in August to the long
sand-beach far beyond the bathkouse,
to enjoy the grander sweep Of the wave
as it rolled majestically to the shore.
The sublime solitude Of the scene ap-
pcared to be shared only by Old Ocean
and themselves, but they were lovers
just about to be married, and wanted
no other society than that Of each 9TH
er. After walking till they had become
so warm that they looked wishfulIy to
the tempting water, with its clean,
sandy bed, and longcd 10 lave in its
cool, translucent depths they decided
to try bath. They had no swim
ming rig with them, but, fortunately
there was . coy nook on either side
Of little rocky promontory, which
pojected into the Sound several rods
beyond the main margin. The gentle
man modestly retired to the further
side of this natural screen, and the la
dy Invested herself Of her clothing
without bit of fear that he would in
cur her Diana-like Indignation; has
honor being above suspicion, and her
own being sans pear ct sans reprocAe.
Soon she heard him FLASHING in the
water on the other side, and as there
was no harm in using their tongues,
although they must use their eyes, she
cried out to him cheerily as she rose
like a maid from the wave, and they
had quiet social time of it in spite of
their separation. "Nasn't it bcauti-
full Z" "ics, it was glorious
But, unfortunately for them, a small
but quickwitted and mischievous boy
a sort Of marine like Parting on-with-
ont being seen himself, saw it all. He
had been fishing upon a shelf Of rock,
at the extreme end Of the promontory,
and, not having very good luck, had
fallen into sleep, from which he was
awakened by their EXPLANATIONS of de-
light. There are some youthful minds
to which the conception of rogueish
trick or practical joke is as inevitable
as lying. Unhappily, this lad was one
Of them. From the point where he
lay he could, with only slight move
ment of his body, see the gentleman
on one side of the ledge and the lady
on the other; AMI not far away from
each, respective heaps Of garments
What ajolly joke, lie thought to him
self, it would be to 60 and hide their
clothes, e!or, still better, to change one
pile for the other. With him, to dc
wise was to execute, and he went fear
lcssly about it, yet with great caution
lest he be discovered and his fun spoil.
ed. Watching his opportunity, and
taking advantage Of their absorption in
what they were doing, the little rogue
managed by consummate ability to CT
feet the ominous exchange in the stu
alton Of the unsuspecting bathers'
clothes then stole away from the
scene AS he ran behind sand-hill,
his long shadow between her and the
sinking sun attracted the lady's notice
and in some trcpidation she FASTENED
to don her apparel. Fancy her "feel
ings" on finding, not her own clothes
but the hat, coat, vest and other arti-
Giles, IN ertenso, of the gentleman OF
the other side Of the promontory =
How could it have happencd-whar
was to be done. Was that feariully
long shadow some spirit Of the sea o.
shore, who, offended at her intrusion
upon his solitude, had resorted to this
method, Of Furnishing her temerity q
1t were better imagine her situation
than to attempt to describe it.
In the meantime, the gentleman
too, repaired to shore to dress. Speech
less astonishment was depicted in hi
countenance as it fell upon heap o
womcn's chothing, "What in thun
der" he muttered to himself "doe,
this mean: Is the place turned arount
or ain l crazy ~ In the greatest per
plexity he took up one article of fem
mime apparel after another to the mum
Der OF about thirty, letting one afte
another drop again upon the rocl
where he stood, with many half au
dible ejaculation of wonder. Their
was no doubt in his mind as to whom
the things belonged, but how did the,
get there, and where were his owl
clothes! With one arm akimbo h
pressed his other hand upon his fore
head to collect his bewildered senses
little thinking that the mischievous eli
who was the author Of his embarrsss
ment, was laughing at him from be
hind the sand hill.
| After few moments Of hesitation
the gentleman shouted to his lady low,
the awkward intelligence, and in return
was informed that his clothes lay a
her feet. All that was to be done wa
to exchange the lots but how, in tn
name of dclicacy, was that consumma
ton, so devoutly wished, to be effect
cdl The sun was now down, but
was not dark yet. Finally it was ar
ranged that the lady should ventur
into the water, with her eyes seaward
while the lover should exchange tn,
clothes and return to Lis side of tn
rocks. Unfortunately, just as he wa
about to cut around to the other sid
tosperform that duty, he caught sigh
of couple Of young ladies not far of
and he felt compelled to retreat pre-
cipitately to his place again. His dis
comfited companion would have the
! Gonna ont hastily opd collod 70 tho 10