Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-11-25
THE sUWANEE GHOST.


The doctor knocked the ashes off his
cigar. glanced regretfully at the few
drops of wine that remained in his
glass and half arose from his chair.
II suppose il is about time to retire, y
he said, peering at the quaint old
clock above the mantel. You know
the old adage, early to bed and early
to rise makes man healthy, etc, al
though / don't believe my esteemed
friend Franklin ever sat down to n
bottle of sparkling Italian, tapered off
with genuine old-fashioned roll of
tobacco"
/ looked at the clock myself, for l
admire anything that goes on tick.
The hands were fast becoming sociable
and drawing together as lovers often
do under the pale glimpses of the
moon.
A quarter of moment more and an
impossible cuckoo stepped out from O.
little alcove at the top of the timepiece,
bowed gravely to US twelve times and
with melodious voice told off the
hours
stepped to the ice box and drew
from its refreshing depths another bot
tie, dewy and fascinating The doctor
resumed his seat. Deity drawing the
cork, / filled his waiting glass and
casually remarked, as if / was totally
unihterested: Doctor, is there no
romance connected with this beautiful
sheet of water-no tragedy to curdle
the blood, quicken the beat of pulse
and drive dull care awayp"
F~c.L n:x~.... L.
''Did ! ever tell you about The Ghost
of the Suwaneep' Mop Well, it is
said to be absolutely true. Forty years
ago Nell Bryant was the loyeliest girl
in the country. tall and lissome rs
young fawn; her golden waves of hair
framed pair of blue, innocent eyes,
as pure as the dainty soul mirrored
therein. An only child. she was wor-
shipped by her parents and was allowed
every advantage that wealth could
bring. Education at Northern
school. and after graduation receiving
all the advantages of a cultured and
refined home, she was a splendid type
of the Southern girl of older days.
Although an acknowledged belle and
subject to the Hattery and alteration of
the young gentlemen of the neighbor-
hood, who were her willing subjects,
she yet remained heart whole and
fancy free, and seemed to find her
greatest pleasure in the romantic
scenes around her, the tireless gallop
of her saddle horse and the coqnettish
dancing of her little boat. Hour after
hour would she spend upon the beauti-
full river, sometimes idly floating
through land of dreams, at others
trimming her tresscs with beautiful
flowers or watching the Hitting forms
of strange wild birds, whose joyous
warbling hardly rivaled her own.
1.-The negroes fairly worshipel her,
and not one but what would have died
to save her from harm. 10 al pro-
posals Of marriage she turned deaf
ear, but so kindly was she in refusal
that no one could take offense. At the
time of which speak she was about
nineteen years old, in the full glory of
q noble womanhood Blu. at length
she met her fate. Lieutenant Rodman
King, of the United States army, came
down there to spend the summer with
some of his friends. lie was i splen-
did-looking young fellow. knew him
well; about sir feet in height. sinewy
and well proportioned, with JET black
eyes and hair, long dropping NOUS
tache, courtly and polished from travel
in other countries, he was well calcu-
lated to inspire q woman's love. He
soon became Miss Neil's constant CON-
panion. 4 pretty rider. q lover Of
song and poetry and flowers. their
tastes seemed all in common, and but
one result could follow. The whole
heart Of the young girl went out to
him, and hencef0rth he became master
Of her inmost thoughts Yonng. hand
some. brilliant man of the world, he
fascinated her as the snake charms the
bird. and his credentials being Of the
highest order both parents smiled upon
his suit The young men of the neigh
borho0d accepted the situation with
true Southern chivalry and gave him
an open 1ield. This reverence and
loyalty to Miss Nell forbade them 10
throw any obstacles il the way Of her
happiness. So thc couple enjoyed u
perfect elysium Of Joy Il was FOOLS
paradise. however. and soon there was
70 be : rude awakening. Under his
pleasant and magnetic exterior the
young oflicer had I nature callous and
crtael - that of thc arch iien8 himself