Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-18
Alffan0rla Gax&tte
WEDNESDAY EVENING. JULY1S.
IN tho Surf.

10 day saw young man and woman come
timidIy out of the bathing. houses 10 20 iotc
the surf She was slender, graceful and fail;
he was strong llmbcd and rather stout. Eyi-
dently they had Only been o short time mar.
ried This wGs so apparent that they We're
watched with more than ordinary interest By
the idlcrs on the beach. Dainlily she picked
her way over the sands to the edge Of the sea;
timid!y, and with the winning grace aud gen
tlencss Of young faWn, she clung to the arm
that was TO protect her in health and in sick
ness upon the deep as we'll as upon the land.
Lie seemed to feel the whole weight Of the re-
spUnsibillty he had assumed, and With tender
care and words O! encouragement he guided
her toward the sea.
At length they stood upon the edge; the
dashpg surf reached almost TO their feet, but
still her pretty gray flannel bathing suit was
dry and unspot:ed, and the bright red trim
ming caught and threw back tho clear rays OF
The summer sun. So they stood for moment
she with her hand resting conGdngy 10 his;
he looking bravely into her upturned ind half
frightened face, and urging her to trust to bis
strength and with him to plunge into the dash
ing whirlpool that lay before them. So atrlk
ing was the picture that one could easily lmag-
inc they had just turned from the altar, aud
were about 10 throw themselves into that other
far more dangerous that treachcrous whirlpool
that men call life.
Of course, the mans persistence overcame
the Woman's fear, and they dashed into the
surf together. Then all at once the picture
changed. They parted company, and he,
"bra7ing all and fearing naught,' rushed Tor
ward into the waves For moment he rode
them maDtuly and his little partner knee
deep in the bright water, looked upon him With
admiration, not unmlScd with satisfaction
that comes oil assured possession. But, as has
been the case with stronger men. his glory was
short lived \ bilIow higher and more power
full than any that had gone beiore-wbat /,
knowu here as "a Cape May cripple dashed
full against HIM; he struggled, lost bis balance,
was lifted of his feet, and spla:hiug, dashing,
throwing his arms and lce9 about him wildly
and hclplessy, he was thrown spraw!iug at the
feet ci the little lady whom moment before
lie had been patron2ingly urging to put her
trust 10 him aud fear nothing. so pride must
ever have I fall.
The young woman Was equal TO the OCCASION;
what American girl Is not? The preceding
wave was about 10 carry the venuresOmo young
gentleman back into the sea, 10 which lie pro
iessed to be 30 mu,h at bone; he was still
sprawlipg--itis is the oaIy word and catching
wildly at the sauds. struggling to regain he
feet when she, stopping down quietly tut
quickly, caught his bathiag shirt firmly in both
her hands, and held him fast till the wave had
gone back Then he jumped TO his feet, and
She, woman.like, when he was DO longer lc
danger, glorial in the downIall, and said, with
pretty toss oil her dark brown curls :-"rhere.
| told you SO; why did you want to 90 out -
Iar lor foolish fellow ?"- Cape Nag Cores
,,oo,{,vct fhe Ns.o l0rE Times.