The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-10-19
Mistellantous
TIE BELLE OF THE BEACH.

beaches OF New England. MY coAultiot
improved very rapidly for time, and
flattered myself that ] should soon be re
stored to perfect health. | had acquired
a good appetite, and my strength was
scarcely less than in the vigor of my youth
But an incidt Mt occurred which compete.
ly prostrated me and defeated my san
guine hopes.
1t is necessary for me to say, before l
proceeded farther, that was Il en- only
twenty-three years and unmarried. l
used to flatter myself that | was not an
Unlocking fellow; but as almost every
young man indulg IS the same eonceit, the
reader may accuse Inc of vanity, and l
will let my story testify on the point.
Quite an excitement was produced at
the beach, about the middle of July, by
tho arrival of celebrated belle from one
of the cities of Connecticut. Size was
reputed to be exceedingly beautiful, and
tho heir prospective of a splendid for
tune. Everybody wanted to see her, and
If the President of the United States had
visited the beach, it could hardly have
created greater furore. Edith Ashton,
the bright particular star,was attended by
her father, and one Frederick Gordon
who came upon the stage as her accepted
lover.
On the day aftc. the arrival of the dis
tinguished party l had an opportunity to
see the belle. and certainly never saw a
more beautiful girl before or since. No
painter or sculptor could have produced
my ideal of beauty, grace, and symmetry
moro perfect than it appeared in the per-
son of Edith Ashton. She passed near
me, and heard her speak. Her voice
was rich and musical ana | turned from
her to look ut the happy fellow who had
won so much loveliness. Tho lover was
was a good-looking man, rather effeminate,
and evidently with no decision of charact-
err in his composition.
Near the house at which l boarded,
there was q bold reach of rocks, under
which at halftide, appearod'a sandy beach,
as hard as granite. l had chosen this
place for my bathing beach, but was
deferred from using it by the representa-
tons of my landlord that it was danger
Gus place, the formation of the bottom
ard other circumstances producing n
strong undertow, which would prove fatal
even to expert swimmers.
About week after the arrival of the
Ashtons, as | returned from my walk
Just after sunset, proceeded to a rock
near the house, where | was accustomed
to sit and view the breakers as they roll
ed upon the sandy beach below. AS j
approached the spot, l heard voices, and
discovered that Edith and her lover were
bathing in the surf at the dangerous local
ity. lat once decided to descend the
rocks and warn them of their danger
While | was in the act of doing so 8
slight scream startled me, and | beheld
the beautiful belle of the beach, drawn
under tho wave and borne far out from
the shore. At the same instant saw the
effeminate lover rushing to the rocks with
all the agility he could muster.
Save meg screamed the frightened
GIRL, as the surf lifted her up and bore
her away with the receding tide.
Save her! For Gods sake herp crieo
Fred. Gordon, as he stood shaken witt
terror on the beach.
Save me, Fred 7 screamed the nader
and saw that she was nearly exhausted
by her terror and her struggles.
It looked like hopeless case to me
but had not the courage to stand on thu
beach with her stupid lover and see be-
perish before my eyes. | stripped off my
coat. and vest, and boots and rushed int
the surf though / felt that, invalid as
was, nv chance of saving her was Blu
slight indeed. | was good swimmer
however, and had selfpossession enough
to enable me to keep cool under the cir
cumstances of the event. swan with al
my might, and soon grasped her in m.
arms: but her terror was so great that
could hardly manage her. After mo
ment or two | succeeded in quoting he
so that she remained passive in m.
arms.
What could do! could not, wea
as had grown from my exertIons' swlr
10 the land with her. Fred. Gordon stl
stood nerYoless on the shore. shoute