The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-25
A SUWANNEE ROMANCE.

The Picturesque Country Which is to
be Found Along the River hanks
The Story of a Florida Girl-A Lovers
Pool with a Strange and Pathetic
History.
The Suwannee river, curving like
horseshoe, makes some strange inden-
lures in its banks, forming wooded pools
redolent of romance and song. Many
are the myths and legends connected
with this river, which on three sides
bounds the county that bears its name,
and one in particular deserves to be
rescued from oblivion.
Riding out there the other day a
awelve miles iaunt brought me to a
4ow-roofed cabin, fast going to decay,
occupied by an old bachelor friend of
mine, whose memory is perfect en-
encyclopedia of scenes and times in
FLORIDA for fifty years past. | failed to
find him at home, but with the perfect
freedom born of long acquaintance /
took possession of his place at once,
turned his mule into the adjacent lot and
ensconced my tired horse in the stall
erstwhile occupied by the long,eared
;basso profundo of the cotton patch.
Then, lighting my favorite pipe, l started
for stroll along the banks of the dear
old river. 1t was indeed lovely day.
Not a cloud obscured the sky and the
wind, blown from off the stream, was
cool and delightful to the senses.
The steep, precipitOus banks were
lined with Driars and bush; strange
colored glimpses of light betokened the
presence of bud and flower
From swaying limbs and pendant
twigs the mociling- bird iluttered his
quaker garb and poured out his heart
in sweetest melody. The drone of in
sect life fell family on the air, rent and
torn at times by the wild scream of the
hawk, the pirate of the air.
The path | pursued was q new one to
me, but as it followed the river bank
closely and always in sight had no
fears of going astray.
A ROMANTIC SPOT.
Four miles of this half-dreamy wan
dering brought me to strange, wild
spot, a pool of water curved in the
river bank about forty feet in extent, al
most hidden from sight by immense
trees. whose branches twined and in
terlaced made canopy through which
no light could enter.
Between two of the largest of these
trees an open path led to this pool,
whose waters were Us black as ink,
dark, gloomy and forbidding. To my
surprise, although it was evident that
my feet were the first to tread this path
in many days, no grass grew thereon,
no weed or briar or bush found foothold
there. 1t was bare and smooth, sandy
clay, hardened almost to stone.
Around the pool the underground was
wild and dense, but there was no sign
or trace of any life; all was quiet and
motionless, no hint of strollino bird or
beast. The ground was dark and damp,
the waters still and fathomless, no rip
pie or simmer Of light upon its sur
face.
THE LOVERS POOL.
UnaccOuntably depressed l turned
away and sought the sunlight again.
This feeling of gloom and depression
chung to me all the way on my return to
my friends house, and he, noticing
this, inquired the cause, as he hustled
around preparing the bachelor dinner.
i briefly acquainted him with the facts
OF the strange discovery | had made.
"On' said he, "you have been at the
Lovers Pool. There is strange and
pathetic history connected with that,
he continued, musingly, land it seems
to have been cursed ever since that I'M
happy day"
A romance; that was enough for me,
and l beseiged him at once for all the
particulars.
"Wcll, " said he, control your eager
mess until after dinner, and then I'll tell
you the tale as twas told to me-"