The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-10
LOVE IN THE SURF.

LOVE In THH SURF.
Quite like Newport OF Nallant,
auntie, isn't it," says my pretty niece
Kate, Us we step out on the veranda OF
one of the Alameda bathing establish
mcnts, and note the elegant dresses and
handsome carriages t%hronging the ave-
nue. and grounds, and the bathers dottlnS
the WATERS beyond. The June sun beams
brightly over the blue waters, and sets
each tiny n sparkling and dancing,
till what with laughter and chatter, all
around, and the distant music of 4 rival
establishment, q very tair semblance OF
watering-place gayety is produced.
Our party is a gay Us any; but my
pleasure changes to inward wrath When,
looming over the hea' S of other loung-
ers, | see that odious Royal Allen press
ing this way, and lifting his hat to n
after another of the girls with courtly
grace. ''Quite like Newport" | think
savagcly, where just such worthless for
tune hunters followed katc during our
whole stay, rs | see my niece give Mon
sieur Royal her sweetest smile and her
dainty little hand, which he seems in no
hurry to relinquish. He is handsome, Of
course, as such creatures always are; u
poor, and with debts innumerable, which
he means to pay with Hates money, If
possible. But not with my consent, |
am resolved, and l determine to keep her
away from him as much rs possible.
In vain | look and call trantically for
my missing parasol-safe in the carriage.
| cough in vain-the deep, husky cough
that never fails to bring Kate to my side
with anxious inquiries and extra wraps;
that handsome scamp, as mentally call
him, strolls on and on, keeping Hates
blue eyes lifted to his continually, and
laughing in his sleeve, no doubt, at me
and my helplessness.
And Us live, there is Mrs. Ellis, with
her eyeglasses and her sheer, glancing
significantly at the two and at me. Only
the other day she asked me when the en-
gagement was to be out, ::nd advised me
TO have katie'S fortune tied up so that
Royal couldn't touch it, for lie owed
every one in town and was rs d~issipated
rs 4 Turk. Her three girls are sitting
there in aristocratic solitude, like three
stiff white cameliaS, and she grudges
Kate even the attention Of Mr.. Allen. !
have half a MIND to let it go on, for she
told me everything l have heard of him,
after all.
Yet debts and dissipation-no, no
impossible! / rush after my pretty
hcircss and sweep her away from her
companion, who politely hopes he sees
me quite well. He would be astonished
if he knew how well / see him and his
motives, | think, rs | grimly respond
and draw Kate over to q seat in the
shade, placing myself between them.
Kate looks surprised at my sudden ap-
prarance, but she has heard my opinion
of the gentleman before, during the
weeks he has been dangling after her;
and she yields so meekly and smiles at
me so sweetly that l hope all will yet
be well.
AREN'T you going in, Miss Kate?"
says Royal; the water is quite warm,
Miss Mary; won't you trust her with
me?" l can scarcely believe my eyes.
Such IN audacious request completely
overpowered me, while Kate is look
ing as wistful. her eyes like vio-
lets dipped in dew, and the other girls
crowding round and coaXing. "Oh.
please Miss Mary, let her 90. 1t is as
safe as your bath-tub, and so warm she
couldn't take cold if she wanted to-"
| gazed with utter amazement at the
circle Of pleading faces, rejecting with
disapproval on the behavior Of the
modern young gentlemen before me. /
forcsee that l Shall have to yield. or be
thought a cruel old oyress; but a bril-
liant thought strikes me, and | act on
the impulse of the moment. YES, you
may 90, Kate, and | will 90 in. TOOL
say, h%eroically, yet with q sudden sink
ing of the heart as l feel, in anticipation,
the icy water closing over my devoted
head.
Hates eyes opened wider ana wider,
while that handsome scamp turns his
head away-to lauyh, lam sure. What,
you 90 in, auntie, with your neuralgia
and rheumatism? Oh, no." signs she,
and her voice actually tremDles a little;
II will look on with you, and the girls
may battle to their hearts content. /
Sllan't consent to let you catch your
death ofcold, auntie, for my pleasure"
But I knew we'll enough that rs cor
rs we should be comfortably seated
Kate would be enticed off, and | reflect
that | can feign to be so helpless in the
water that she will certainly not leave
my side. So I stubborniv insisted, only
refusing to 90 into the "bath-tub," as
the girls have christcned the square in
closure Of muddy water before US, not
over clean. they say. and filled with
heads and bodies in every stage Of dress
Or rather undress, | think, with 4
slIudder.
So we drive further down the avenue,
and really if the wind wasn't so cold
and the water colder shouldn't wonder
ut tile hundreds who fill the wide, dusty
drive and flock round the piazzas and
down the beach, for the beautiful blue
bay is sparkling under Il blue sky and
tempting white waves are rolling their
foa,ny lace upon the sand. The batllers
laugh and talk US they frolic in the
water. or scream rs they venture one
foot timidly after the other.
But my spirits sank to the lowest cbb,
and | wished ! hadn't been 50 foolish.
when they handed out q bundle Of dingy
garments. 4 sticky, yellow cap and 4
very suspicious looking towel to each of
us. Strong misgivings us to the pro-
pricty of this indiscriminatc bathing
come over me as I follow Kate-for I am
determined not to lose sight of her for u
moment-past a row of staring men into
Il damp closet, and | begin to realize for
the first time what | am about to do. ]
have waded in the brook in my child
HOOD and bathcd in I sheltered little
cove with ~unfrcquentch beach in after
years. but it is ridiculous. 1T my age, to
face he gaping crowd Of loungers as we
go out. and, oh. horrors. as we come in,
wet and dripping. I am strongly in
riined to give up the idea, after all; and
the discovery that my suit" as they
style it. is too short and too narrow for