The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-11-20

| paIueGlc history connected with that, -
ne continued, musingly, ''and it seems
to have been cursed ever since that un-
happy day.
/ A romance; that was enough for me,
and beseiged him at once for all the
particulars.
'.Well, said he, ''control your eager
ness until after dinner, and then IN tell
you the tale as twas told to me.''
There was heaping platter of fried
chicken. a huge pile of roasted sweet
potatoes, mammoth corn pone and
some delicious coffee all the work of
his own fair hands-ahem!
After dinner we lit our pipes and ad-
journed to the wide, roomy piazza,
where my host proceeded to fulfill his
promise.
A FLORIDA GIRL.
'.lt happened thirty years ago, and
Belle Norton was one of the prettiest
girls in Florida. She was tall and
slender, but exquisitely formed, and of
an unusually sunny temperament. Her
hair was a golden brown, her eyes were
like pansy blossoms and her lips were
twin buds, just ripening into bloom.
''Her father, old Abel Norton, was
one, of the richest planters in these
parts, and fairly worshiped his one
Child bat he had the temper of de-
mon when aroused, and knew neither
law. gospel or reason. His house was
about mile from the pool. You can
see the ruins now. The house was fired
by the negroes during the war, and
the whole place has gone to ruin and
decay.
''About four miles off lived old
Squire Griffin, and as he had house
flll of little children. he. imported a
Yankee from Massachusetts to teach
them. He was right handsome young
fellow, this teacher, graduate of one
| OF the best colleges, and very gentle
manly and refined in all his actions.
His name was Harry Esterman, and
he became quite a favorite in the neigh
| borhood.
"Harry and Belle met at ball Civ
en- by one of the planters and the usual
| result followed at first sight and
all that sort of thing. I don't believe
in love myself, but these young people
did. and terrible tragedy followed,
/ A FATHER OPPOSITION.
"Old man Norton had never liked
Harry-in fact the old fellow, even in
those days, was rank believer in Sc
cession and hated everything of
Northern origin. He had tolerated the
| young teacher at first out of respect for
Southern hospitality and the opinions
of his old friends, but when he discov-
cred that Harry had fallen in love with
his daughter and she was guilty of the
same foolishness. he was furious, raVed
like devil and swore by all the gods
| that he would shoot the .cussed Yam
kee' if he ever caught him on his place
again. He had a stormy scene with
his daughter, but she clung to her faith
and refused to give her lover up.
''But henceforth the lovers were
more careful, and were obliged to con-
fine their love-making to stolen inter-
views, and this pool was selected as
the trysting place. 1t was then a beau
tiful spot. The underground was a
tangled mass of flowers, the trees al
lowed the moon, to drop through their
green branches and bathe in the water
that was then as clear as crystal. The
stolen interviews of these happy lovers
did not long remain a secret. They
were betrayed by negro and old Nor
tons revenge was an awful one
'tBelle had been in the habit after all
the house had retired of leaving her
room and spending happy hour with
her young and ardent lover at this
pool.
A FATHERS CRIME.
cit was beautiful night in June;
the moon was at its full and the heav-
ems were clothed in splendor A cool
breeze swept over the swaying trees
and from the shadowy copse the whip
poor-will kept up his plaintive calling.
During the day old Norton had been
unusually grave and silent, seeming
absorbed in his own reflections. His
manner towards his daughter had filled
her with vague dread. He had only
answered her questions in monosylla-
bles and watched her every movement
with furtive seowling. But she attrib-
uted it all to the fact that he had been
applying himself very freely to the
brandy bottle and was manifestly under
its potent influence.
''About half-past eight o'clock he
grunted out a good night and went to
his own room. Belle also retired, but
not to sleep. Tonight she was to meet
her lover to arrange for her flight and
marriage. After waiting half an hour,
until all about the house seemed |
wrapped in slumber, she stole quietly
out and hurried lovingly over the path |
she knew so well.
s'But another one had been there be-
fore her. Her father, after bidding her
goodnight, had gone to his room, taken
down his heavily-loaded gun and left
the. house. BY roundabout way he /
reached the pool. Carefully and softly
creeping near and peering through the
bushes, he saw young Esterman stand |
ing gazing thoughtfully into the peace
ful depths where the moon had left
path of silver.
Raising the gun to his shoulder he
took careful aim and fired The young |
lover gave quick, convulsive start /
and, without groan, fell heavily into
the water. Belle, half way to the place
of meeting, heard the shot and saw a
grim form creeping out of the shadows. /
She stopped a moment and pressed her
hand to her heart in mute and trem-
bling terror.