Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-01-03
A TRAGEDY;
THE STORY OF THE CHAIN PIER.
CHAPTER I.

NdA1lEt IL
Most visitors to Brighton prefer the
new pier; it is altogether more mag
nificent affair. 1t is in the fashionable
town, for fashion will go westward; it
is larger, more cOmmodiOus, more ire
quented Go to the West Pier when
you will, there is always something to
see; beautiful women, pretty girls, fash
ionable bellies promenade incessantly.-
and there is even difficulty in making
room for all who come. NOwonder the
elite of Brighton like the West Pier; it
is one of the most enjoyable spots IN
England, every luxury and comfort are
there, a good library, plenty of newspa-
pers, elegant little shops, excellent re-
freshment rooms, fine music; and then
the lovely blue, dimpling sea, the little
boats with their white sails, like white
winged birds on the water, the grand
stretch of the waves, the blue sky over
head, and the town, with its fine, tall
houses shining in the sunlight, the line
of white cliff, and the beach where the
children are at play. You go down to
the wonderful lefty. which. to me, was
one Of the most mysterious and roman
tic of places, there the water is of the
deepest, choicest emerald green, and it
washes the wonderful network of poles
with soft, tapping sound, beautiful to
hear. You can stand there with only a
rail between you and the deep, green
water, watching the fsher-boats out on
the deep; watching, perhaps, the stealn-
Ell with its load Of passengers, or look
ing over the wide, sunlit waves, dream
ing-dreams born of the sea--out of the
world; alone in the kingdom of fancy;
there is always something weird in the
presence of deep, silent, moving waters.
There is always plenty of life, gaiety,
and fashion on the West Pier. 1t is a
famous place, not for love-making but
for Irritation; a famous place for study
ing human nature; famous place for
passing a pleasant hour. You may
often meet great celebrities ON the
West Pier; faces familiar at the House
of Lords, familiar at Court, familiar at
the opera are to be seen there during
the season; beautiful faces that have
grown pale and worn with the excite
ment of London campaign, and here,
as they are bent thoughtfully over the
green waters, the bracing air brings
sweet roses. the. lines fade, the eyes
brighten, there is no such beautifier as
a sea breeze, no bloom so radiant and
charming as that brought by the wind
from the sea. y pA
On the West Pier you will find all the
beauty, rank, and fashion of Brightoii,
you will see costumes Il rGcir, dresses
that are artistic and elegant; you will
see faces beautiful and well+known;
you will hear a charming ripple of con-
versation; you will witness many pleas.
ant and piquant adventures; but if you
want to dream; If you want to give up
your whole heart and soul to the poetry
Of the sea; if you want to listen to
yourself away from the world, ii you
want to hear the music of the winds,
their whispers, their lullabies. their
mad dasheS.. their frantic. RACES, you
must goto the Old Chain Pier. AS
rule you will find few there, but you
may know they are special few; you
will see the grave, quiet face of the,
thinker. who has chosen that spot be-
cause he does not want to be disturbed
by the fron-frou of ladies' dresses, or the
music of their happy voices; he wants
to be alone with the sea and the wind.
n It often happens that you find a pair
of very happy lovers there, they go to
the side and lean over the railing as
though their sole object in life was to
watch the ripping sea. Do not believe
Them for sy0n will hear the murmur OF
two voices, and the theme is always
ss'love." If you 60 near them they look
shylyl at you. and in a few minutes
move gently away. lAh, happy lovers,
not shine always, even over the Cham
Pier.
4 J. If you want to watch the waves, to
hear their rolling music, If you want to
see the seagulls whirl in the blue ether,
IT. Won want to thin E.a to read to be