Madison times., 1885-09-26
A WICKED JOKE.
Giving n Fair Swimmer the OppOrtu.
nifY She SIGHED For.

Sht SIShCo
A Campobello correspondent of the
Montreal Gazette writes enthusiastically
of ladies at that place, saying: Not only
do they minister to our sentimental
cravings, and give refined and delight
full color to our social life, but they
furnish us with many amusing episodes,
and they generously forgive us for all
our laughs at their expense. One of
them, beautiful Baltimore belle, is an |
expert swimmer, justly proud Of her
proves.
One day last week she was heard 10
remark that, though she had never had |
an opportunity of putting her natatorial
accomplishment to practical use in the
saving of life her ambition would never
be quite satisfied until she had gained
that enviable notoriety. This was too
much for one of the gentlemen. who is a
great wag and practical Joker, and who
by the way, is said to be ore of the most
favored worshippers at the young ladys
shrine.
The very next morning, as the fair
swimmer was about to enjoy her usual
morning sport, this gentleman nigh
have been seen carrying huge coarse
bag down to one of the boat landings.
Arriving there, he Invested himself of
lis outer clothing and appeared in neat
bathing suit Then, opening The bag,
he took therefrom dummy, which, at
very short distance, had all the appear.
ance of a man, even to the hair on the
head. which one of the ladies furnish.
ed.
/, do not dare to say from what source,
for her hair looks natural, if it is unusu-
ally heavy Standing the dummy up
against post at the edge of the pier, the
, practical joker took hold of a small string
attached to the head of the figure, and
! then climbed down carefully to place
:, of concealment under the pier. In a
!. moment the form of the fair daughter o
the brine was seen ashort distance away
disporting herselfin her rfavorite element
" now floating easily on the surface, now
o disappearing suddenly, only to come
rf again ipto view 80 feet distant. Just a:
20 she rose to the surface after one Of these
descents to Neptune depths, piercing
Is scream rang out clear and loud on the
still morning air, and the figure Of MAJ
o was seen to fall from the pier and sinh
beneath the surface of the waters.
I'll In a moment the fair swimmer was
:, cleaving the waves with firm, powerful
- stroke. and by the time the unfortunate
man had appeared again on the surface
= she was fast nearing him, while his pitt
" full cries of "Help !" "Save mer' II shal
% drownI" seemed to give her nnusua
- strength and nerve. In an instant more
- she was beside the body, and, by a super
:, human effort she managed to grasp the
with the air of Queen, her magnificent
figure erect and stately, her cheeks aglov
e with excitement, her dark eyes flashing
- with undisguised satisfaction, and hel
4 raven tresses flowing gracefully over nel
=, rounded white shoulders, she rellnqulsh
.s ed her hold upon the mans hair an(
a received the congratulations and praise
y bestowed upon her, forgetting, i'll he
% excitement, to inquire after the condition
70 of the rescued unfortunate.
~ 1t was for but moment, however, ant
lust as she was about to ask the question
,s merry shout went up from the crowd
who were all in the secret, that coul'
A. have been heard for miles. The quicl
Ct wits of a Baltimore girl comprehende'
80 the situation in an instant, and, turnin
w Just in time to catch sight of the autho
as of the joke coming up the pier, she ra
y" like a deer back to her bath house
% gathered up her clothes and sped fleetl
8. back to the hotel. The best part of it a
was that she has too much common sens
7 to take offence; and she laughs over
n now as heartily as any one, her onl
W threat of revenge being: Charlie, l.
ID get even with you yet"