The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-06
A SUWANEE ROMANCE.

The Suwanee River, curving like
horseshoe, makes some strange inden-
lures in it's banks, forming wooded
pools redolent of romance and song.
Many are the myths and legends con-
nected with this river, which on three
sides bounds the country that bears its
name, and one in particular deserves to
be rescued from oblivion.
Riding out there the other day
twelve miles jaunt brought me to low
pied by an old bachelor friend of mine,
whose memory is a perfect encyclope-
dia of scenes and times in Florida for
fifty years past. l failed to find him at
home, but with the perfect freedom
born of long acquaintance / took pos
session OF his place at once. turned his
mule into the adjacent lot and ensconc-
ed my tired horse in the stall erstwhils
occupied by the -lOng-eared basso pro-
fundo of the cotton patch. Then, light
ing my fayorite pipe, l started for a
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 briars and bush; strange col
Ored glimpses of light betokened the
presence of bud and flower.
From swaying limbs and pendant
twigs the mocking bird fiuttered 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, that pirate of the air.
The path / pursued was new one to
me, but as it followed the river bank
closely and always in sight l had no
fears of going astray.
Four miles of this half dreamy wan
dering brought me to strange, wild
spot, a pool of water curved in the riy-
er bank about forty feet in extent, al
most hidden from sight by immense
trees, whose branches twined and in
terlaced made a 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 as 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 foot
hold there. 1t was bare and smooth, a
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 strolling bird
or beast. The ground was dark and
damp, the waters still and fathomless,
no ripple or simmer of light upon its
surface.
Unaccountably depressed, turned
away and sought the sunlight again.
This feeling of gloom and depression
clung 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.
/ briefly acquainted him with the facts
of the strange discovery ] had made.
.'Oh," said he, 'you have been to the
Lovers Pool. There is strange and
pathetic history connected with that, v
he continued, musingly, land it seems
to have been cursed ever since the un.
happy day"
A romance; that was enough for me-
and besieged him at once for all the
particulars.
WELL" said he, ''control your ca
gerness until after dinner, and then I'll
tell YOU the tale as twas told to me. ,
There was heaping platter of friet
chicken, huge pile of roasted swee
potatoes, mammoth corn pone, anG
some delicious coffee-all the work o
his own fair hands-ahem!
After dinner we lighted our pipe
Al. L.
"a, where my host proceeded to fulfil
his promise.
lit happened thirty years ago, ant
Belle Norton was one of the pretties
girls in Florida. She was tall and slen
der, but exquisitely formed, and of al
unusually sunny temperament. He
hair was golden brown, her eyes wer
like pansy blossoms and her lips wer
twin buds, just ripening into bloom.
Her father, old Abel Norton, wa
one of the richest planters in thes
parts, and fairly worshipped his on
child; but he had the temper of de
mon when aroused, and knew neithe
law, gospel or reason. His house wa
about a mile from the pool. You ca
see the ruins now. The house was fire
| by the negroes during the war. and tn
whole place has gone to ruin and de
/ cay.
ssAbout four miles off lived oil
Squire Griffin. and as he had house
full of little children he imported YaI
kee from Massachusetts, to teach then
He was right handsome young fellow
this teacher, graduate of one of th
best colleges, and very gentlemanly an
refined i'm all his actions. His nam
was Harry Esterman and he becam
quite iavorite in the neighborhood.
! Harry and Belle met q 2 ball give