The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-09-08
The BEACH PATROLMAKS STORY,

The laundering surf at Atlantic City
was swarmipg with bathers-old and
young. grave and gay, men and women
and little children romping in among
the Joyous headers, for the sunlight was
reflected from the sands in a steady
blaze, and the day would have been
blistering hot but for the rushing OF the
glad sea wind.
had had my bath, and was strolling
idly along the beach, enjoying the
pleasant scene, when I suddenly espied
an old acquaintance.
It was Jasper, chief of the beach
patrolmen, who had told many an in
teresting story of his l~ife-saving adven-
lures on the preceding summer.
He was now standing at the edge of
the waves, half-naked, broad-hattcd,
and with his immense canvas-covcred
life. preserver hanging over his shoulder.
ready at an %instant's warning to answer
the first CRY for help by dashing to the
rescue. He greeted me pleasantly at my
approach.
"Any more romantic stories of
rescue from drowning, Jasper?" / in
Quired.
Its more than o year since / saw
.you," he replied, land of course I've
plucked many a ~half-drowned bather
from the waves during that time: Here,
Zip! No more Of that! you'll be good
for nothing in case of business"
The last remark was addressed to the
chief and most trusted partner of his
perilous pursuit, a great Newfoundland
dog, which ut that moment, in answer
to his call, came bounding out Of the
sea, whittier some urchins had dis
patched him in pursuit of q chip, and
after shaking the drops from his glossy
black coat, crouched submissively at his
masters feet.
But haven't you had any particular
adventure that I could make a story Off"
I continued. "Something embodying
excitement and romance, you knowp"
Eyes; and it happened only a fort
night ago, right out there on that very
rope near which we are standing, and
which you now see so thronged with
shouting men and laughing women" he
replied, after a little reflection. 1.-THE
incident itself was a terrible " e the
most exciting in all my experience-and
it had an interesting sequel, which only
came to my knowledge a day or two
ago..
I at once pressed him for the story.
Inasmuch as the crowd Of bathers he
was watching did not seem to be COM
posed of any over. adventurous individ-
uals, he seated himself on a fragment of
shipwreck near at hand, motioned me
to = seat at his side, and took up his
narrative very much rs follows:
cit was just after ! had taken up my
station on The beach here, about a fort
night ago. that 1 noticed q lady and gen.
tleman. accompanied by q pretty little
girl of four or FIVE, proceeding from
yonGer pavilion to that long line of
fashionable bathing houses to the left.
"They passed quite near to me, and |
noticed them more particularly than |
would otherwise have done, for the day
was cloudy, though warm, and there
were comparatively few persons to be
seen.
"The extreme beauty Of the lady,
however, coupled with the scowlIng,
would have more or less engaged my
attention and curiosity under any cir
cumstances. She was, morever, anxious
and careworn, as though in fear ofhim,
while he seemed to be half bullying.
half e~ntreating her to 90 into the water
in his company. This she by no means
seemed inclined to do, drawing back
every moment or 30, with the little girls
hand in hers, and then proceeding re-
luctantly forward again.
IL could distinguish the sound, but
not the purport of their words, the
wind being a little off shore. But they
were richly dressed, and this fact, COM
bined with the strangeness Of their man.
ners. set me to puzzling over what
might be the relations existing between
them.
However, as the lady seemed to
give over her hesitation upon reaching
The ticket-ofice, and a moment later
disappeared with her companion in
among the sheds, leaving the little cir
ou,.1on the sands, with a toy bucket and
spade for her amusement, ] only laughed
saying to himyself: 'Pshaw! it's only a
case of a timid, pretty woman being
tied for life to a tyrannical brute Of 8
husband. who has insisted upon her tax.
ing a ducking against her will And
tlen / thought little more Of them.
: Visitors began to throng along the
beach q little more lively Just about that
time. I did not again see the couple re.
terrcd to till they were about to enter
the water, at this very rope here, which
w"s then occupied by no other bathers
The nan was in n OF the high
priced, striped suits, made out Of one
riece, which set off his burly, muscular
figure well, but did not improve the ex'
preston OF his frowning, black-mus'
tached face. The lady was modestly
attired in a dark blue, trimmed with
red. wiLhsone OF the great bonnet liz
hats tied over her ears, so as to almost
conceal her handsome face, and bel
pretty lille white feet fairly glistened
against the dark-brown of the drenched
sands.
"Evca then she drew back from hi!
touch. and seemed inclined to run away
But he .uddenly seized her in his arms
lse in wnist-deep with her behind a re
r.'iu% wave, in spite of her littl'
leamipg protests, and the next instan'