Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-10
A Suwanee Romance.

nools rednlent Of romance anu eohS'
MANY are tie myths and LEGENDS con
cactad with this river, which on lhfee
aides bounds the country that bears
its name and one in particular de-
serves TO be rescued from oblivion.
Riding out there the other day a
twelve miles jaunt brought me 70 q
low-roofed cabin, fast going TO decay,
occupied by an old bachelor trlend OF
mine whose memory is perfect en-
cyclopedia Of scenes ana IimeS ;,a ~
Florida for fifty years past. ! lal,eu
to find him at home, but Win lhe pr
feet freedom born OF long acquain !
lance took possession OF MS plaoe a'
once, turned his mule into the aoJa,
cent lot and and ensconced my tlred
horse in the stall erstwhlle occupied
by the long cared basso profutndo OF
the cotton patch. Then, lighting my
favorite pipe, | started for a stroll
along the banks of the dear, old river
II was, indeed, lovely day. MOI d
cloud obscured the sky, and the VIM,
blown from off the stream, was cooi
and delightful to the senses.
The steep, precipitous banks were
lined with briars and BUSH strange
colored glimpses of light oetokeieu
the presence of bud and flower.
From swaying limbs and pehoaHiC
twips the mockiug bird nulterea ms
quaker garb and poured ou' ms near
in sweetest melody. The drone OF IN,
sect life fell family on the arr, rent
and torn at times by the wild scream
of the hawk, that pirate of the arr
The path pursued was new one
TO me. but as IT followed the river
bank closely and always in sight hau
no fear of gong aStray.
-Four miles Of this haif-dreamy
wandering brought me to Stfanee'
wild spot. pool of water curVto III
the river bank about forty feet IN eX
tent almost hidden from sight by
immense trees, whose branches twlned
and interIaced made a canopy through
which no light could enter.
Between two of the largest OF theSe
trees an open path led to TINS pool
whose waters were as black as INK
dark. gloomy aud forbidding. TO my
surprise, although it was evident that
my feet were the first to tread TINS
path in many days, no gtass grew
thereon, no weed or btiar or bush
found roothold 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 moti0ulrss. no hint of strolllng
bird or beast. The ground was dark
and damp, the waters still and tath-
omless, no ripple or simmer OF light
upon the surface.
UnaccourtabIy 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 bnstled
around preparing the bachelor dinner
| briefly acquainted him with the facts
of the strange discovery | had made.
ooh" said he, "you have been to the
Lovers Pool. There is a strange and
pathetic history connected with that,
he continued, musingly, "and 1t
seems to have been cursed ever since
that unhappy day.
A romance; that was enough Tor
me, and ! beSieged him at one for all
the particulars.
well" said he, control your
eagerness until after dinner, and then
I'll tell you the tale as twas tod TO
me"
There was n heaping platter of fried
chicken n huge pile of roasted sweet
potatoes, mammoth corn pone, and
some delicious coilee-an the work
of his own fair hands-aheml
After dinner we lighted our pipes
and adjourned to the wide, roomy
piazza, where my host proceeded to
fulfill his promise.
1T happened thirty years ago, and
Belle Norton was one of the protest
girls In Florida. She was tall and
slender. but exquiSltely formed. and
of an unusually temperament. Her
hair was golden brown, her eyes
were like pausy blossoms and her lips
were twin ouds, just ripening into
bloom.
Her father. old Abel Norton, was
one of the richest planters i'll these
parts, and fairly worshippSd his only
child; but he had the temper of
demon when aroused, and new neither
law, gospel nor reason. His house was
about a 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 hehad a house
full of little children he imported
Yankee from Massachusetts to teach
them. He was right handsome
young fellow, this teacher, a graduate
of one of the best colleges, and very
gentlemanly and refined In all his
actions. His name was Henry Ester
man and he became quite favorite
in the noighborhood
Harry and Belle met at ball
given by one of tho planters and the
usual result fellowtd-love at first
sight and all that sort of thing. |
don't believe in love myself. but these
young people did, and terrible trag-
edy folio we'd.
"Old man Norton had never liked
Harry-in fact the old fellow, even In
those DAYS, was a rank believer in
secession aud hated everything of a
northern origin. He had tolerated
the young teacher at first out of re-
spect for southera hospitality and the
opinions of bis old friends, but when
he discovered 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 wosld shoot
the id Yankee if he ever caught
him on his place again. He had q
stormy scene with his daughter, but
she chung 10 her faith and refused to
give her love up.
But hepceforth the lovers were
more careful, and were obliged to
confne their love making TO stolen
interviews and this pool was elected
as the trysting place. 1t was then a
beautiful spot. The underground was
a tangled mass of flowers, the trees al
lowed the moon to drop thro ugh their