Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-21
philadelphia Tunes Letter.

LIVE OAK, FLA, Sept. s.-The Suwan-
nee river cuTying like a horseshoe, makes
some strange indentures in its banks,
forming wooded pools redOlent OF romance
and song. Many are the myths and le-
gends 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 twelve
miles haunt brought me to low rooted
cabin. fast going TO decay, occupied by an
old bachelor friend Of mine, whose men,
DRY is perfect 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 erst-
while occupied by the long-eared bassO
prOfundO Of the cotton patch. Then,
lighting my tavorite pipe, L started for a
stroll along the banks Of the dear old
river. 1t was indeed a lovely day. Not
a cloud obscured the SKY, and the wind,
blown from of 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 pre-
sence of bud and flower.
RFrom swaving limbs and pendant twigs
the mOcking-bird fluttered his quaker
garb and poured out his heart in sweetest
melody. The drone of insect 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 il followed the river bank
closely and always in sight had no fears
Of going astray.
A ROMANTIC SPOT.
Four miles Of this half-dreamy wander
ing brought me TO a strange, wild spot,
pool Of water curved in the river bank
about forty feet in extent, almost hidden
from sight by immense trees, whose
branches twined and interlaced made a
canopy through which no light could
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 il 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 20 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.
THE LOVERS POOL.
Unaccountably depressed, l turned
away and sought the sunlight again.
This feeling of gloom and depression
cluug 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 l had made. "Oh!
said ne, you have been TO the Lovers
Pool. There is a STRANGE and pathetic
history connected with that" he con-
tinued. musingly, land il seems to have
been cursed ever since that unhappy day."
\ romance; that was enough for me,
and besieged him at once for all the par
ticulars.
..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 a heaping platter of fried
chicken, a huge pile Of roasted sweet
potatoes. q mammoth corn pOne and some
delicious cOffee-an the work Of his own
fair hauds-ahemi
After dinner we lit our pipes and adj
jOUrned to the wide, rOOmy piazza, where
my host proceeded to fulfill his promise.
FLORIDA GIRL.
sit happened thirty years ago, and
Belle Norton was one of the prettiest
girls in Florida. She was tall and slen-
der. 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; but he had
the temper of demon when aroused, and
knew neither law, gospel or 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 he had a houseful 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 gentlemanly and refined in all
his actions. His name was Harry Ester
man, and he became quite a favOrite in the
Harry and Belle met att ball given 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 a
terrible sgedy followed.
FATHERS OPPOSITION.
"Old man Norton had never liked
Harry-in fact the old fellow, even in those
DAYS. was a rank believer in secession
and hated every Of a Northern origin.
lie had tolerated the young teacher at
first out Of respect for southern hospitality
and the opinions Of his old friends, but
when he discovered that Harry had fallen
in love with bis daughter and she was
guilty Of the same fOOliShness, he was
furious, raved like a devil and sTOre by
all the gods that he would shoot ''the
id Yankee If he ever caught him on
his place again. He had a stormy scene
with his daughter, but she clung 70 her
faith and refused 10 give her lover up.
But henceforth the lovers were more
careful, and were obliged 10 cOnfne their
lOve-making to stolen interviews and
this pool was selected as the trysting
place. IL was then a beautiful spot.
The underground was a tangled mass Of
flowers. the trees allowed the moon TO
drop through their green branches and
battle in the water that was then as clear
as crystal TIE stolen interviews Of these
happy lovers did not long remain a secret.
They were betrayed by a negro and old
NOrtOn's revenge was an awful one.
Belle had been in the habit after all
the house had retired Of leaving her room
and spending a happy hour with her
young ana ardent lover at this pool.
AFATHER's CRIME.
at was a beautiful night in June; the
moon was at its full and the heavens
were clothed in splendOr. A cool breeze
swept over the swaying trees and from
the shadOwy cOpse the whip-pOOr-Wiu
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 filed her with vague dread.
BE had only answered her questions in
mOnOsyllables and watched her every
movement with turtive scowling. But she
attributed il all 10 the fact that he pad
been applying himself very freely TO the
brandy bottle and was manifestlY under
its potent influence.
about $3.50 o'clock he grunted out a
good night and went 10 his own room.
Belle also retired, but not to sleep. To-