Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-12-26
A SUwANSEE ROMANCE.

Ehe Picturesque Country which n Co
be Psuna Along the River hanks
TIE starry OF n Florida CIri-A Lovers
l,Ool with n Strange ana Pathetic
Tst3ry.
The Suwannee river. curling like o
horseshoe, makes some strange inden-
tures 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
roscued from oblivion.
Riding out there the other day a
twelve miles jaunt brought me to
low-roofed cabin, fast going to. dt cav,
occupied BY an old bachelor friend of
mine, whose memory is q perfect en-
cyclOpedia of scenes aud 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 NJ once.
tnrned his mule into the djacent lot and
ensconced my tired horse in the stall
erstwhile occupied by the long cared
basso pro'undo OF the cotton patch
Then, lighting my favOrite p pc, started
for a stroll along the banks of the dear
old river. Ii was indeed lovely day.
Not a cloud O5scured the sky and the
wind. blown from OF the stream, was
cool and delightful 10 the senses.
The steep. precipitous banks were
lined with oria 5 and bush; strange
co!orcd giimpses of light betOkened the
presence of bud and Tower.
Prom swaying limbs and pendant
twigs the mocking-bird fluttered his
quaker garb and poured out his heart
Tn 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 a new one to
me. but a. it followed the river bank
closely and always In sight 1 had no
fears Of going astray.
A ROMANTIC SPOT.
-Four miles of this half dreamy wan
dering brought me to q strange, wild
spot, n pool of water curved in the
river hank about forty feet in extent, al
most hidden from sight bv 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 10 this pool,
whose waters were a. black as ink,
dark. gloomy and forbidding. To my
surprise. although il was evident that
my feet were the first to tread this path
I'm many DAYS, no grass grew thereon,
no weed or briar or bush found foothold
there. II was bare and smooth. a sandy
clay, hardened almost t. stoue.
Around the pool the underground was
wild and dense, but there was no sign
or trace of any life; al was quiet and
mOtionless, no hint of strOllirg 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 / turned
away and sought the sunlight again.
This feeling of gloom and depress on
clung to me all the way ON nv return tn
INV friends house, and he, noticing
this. inquired the cause. as he hustled
around preparing the bachelor dinner.
i briefly squainted him with the facts
Of the strange discovery had made.
go" said he, ''you have been at the
Lovers Pool There is q strange and
pathetic history connected with that, :"
he continued, musingly, "and it seems
70 have been cursed ever since that un.
happy day"
A romance; that was enough for me,
and bcseiged him at once for all the
particulars.
''Well. W said he, control your eager.
ness until after dinner, aud then Ill tel
you the tale as twas told 10 me-"