St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-11-29

pathetic history connected with that, :"
he continued, musingly, land 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 I'll tell
you the tale as twas told to me-"
There was heaping platter of fried
chicken, huge pile of roasted sweet
potatoes, a mammoth corn pone and
some delicious coffee e-all the work of
his own fair hands -ahem.
After dinner we lit our pipes and ad-
iourned to the wide, roomy piazza,
where my host proceeded to fulfill his
promise.
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 golden brown, her eyes were
like pansv 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
bv 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,
full of little children. he imported a
Yankee from Massachusetts, to teach
them. He was a right handsome young
fellow, this teacher. a 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 favorite in the neigh
borhood.
"Harry and Belle met at a ball Civ
en- by one of the planters and the usual
result followed-love at first sight and
all that sort of thing. l don't believe
in love myself, but these young people
did. and q terrible tragedy followed.
FATHER OPPOSITION.
"Old man Norton had never liked
Harry-in fact the old fellow, even in
those DAYS, was a rank believer in Sc
cession and hated everything of q
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 aud she was guilty of the
same foolishness, he was furious, raved
like devil and sworc by all the gods
that he would shoot the 'cussed Yam
kee' if he ever caught him on his place
again. He had stormy scene with
his daughter. but she clung to her faith
and refused to give her lover up.
.But heaceforth 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 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 rs crystal. The
stolen interviews of these happy lovers
did not long remain secret. They
were BETRAYED by a negro and old Nor
toms revenge was an awful one.
"Belle 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.
ut 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
her questions in n1onosylia-
bles and watched her every movement
with furtive scowling. 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.
s'About half-past eight o'clock he
grunted out 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
After waiting half an hour.
until all about the house seemed
wrapped in slumber. she stole quietly
>ut and hurried lovingly over the path
s,e knew SO well.
But another one had been there be-
fob her. Her father, after bidding her
gool night. had gone to his room, taken
dowLhis heavily-loaded gun and left
the huse. BY roundabout way he
reachet the pool. Carefully and softly
creepins.near and peering through the
bushes, h saw young Esterman stand
ing gazlnsthoughtfully into the peace
full depths Were the moon had left q
path of siive.
''Raising tn gun to his shoulder he
took careful ali and fired. The young
lover gave a Click, convulsive start
and, without gAan, fell heavily into
the water. Belle. .alf way to the place
of meeting, heard e shot and saw
grim form creeping ut of the shadows.
She stopped momei and pressed her
hand to her heart in aute and trem-
bling terror.
Another moment al her father
gripped her arm and whis. red hoarsely
In her ear: "Wretched giri oo look for