The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-03-12

ES IL was beautiful n1EnC1l june, .ue
moon was at It's full and the heavens
we're clothed in splendor. A cool
breeze swept over the swaying trees and
from the shadowy copse the whip poor
will kept UP, hissplaintive calling. Dur
ing tie daysold Norton had been un-
usually grave and silent, seeming alb
sorbed in his own reflections. His man
ner towards his daughter had filed her
with vague dread. He had only an
swered her questions in monosyllables
and watched her every movement with
furtive scowling. But she attributed it
all to the fact that he had been apply
ing himself very freely to the brandy
bottle and was manifestly under its po-
tent influence.
about half-past eight o'clock he
grunted out a 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 fight and
marriage. After waiting half an hour
until al about the house seemed wrap
ped in slumber, she stole quietly out
and hurried lovingly over the path she
knew so we'll.
"But another one had been there be-
fore her: Her father after bidding her
e. cd night, had gone to his room. taken
down his heavily loaded gun and left
the house. By roundabout way he
| had cached the pool. Carefully and
softly creeping near and peering through
the bushes; he saw young Esterman
standing gazing thoughtfully into the
| peaceful depths where the moon had
left path of silver.
Raising his gun to his shoulder, he
took careful aim and fred. The young
lover gave quick, convulsive start and,
without a groan. fell heavily into the
water. Belle, half way to the place of
meeting, heard the shot and saw grim
form creeping out of the shadows. She
stopped moment and pressed her hand
to her heart in mute and trembling
! terror.
"Another moment and her father
gripped her arm and whispered hoarse-
Iy in her ear: Wretched girl, go look for
your lover in yonder pool"
with gasping cry she hurried by
him and soon gained the spot. AS she
gazed into the waters her lovers face,
all torn and mangled, came to the sur
face. With terrible shrek that woke
the birds IN their leafy coverts she
leaped into the pool and, grasping the
form of her murdered lover, both went
down together. The waters rippled and
swelled moment and then all was peace
and calm again.
"The next day the old father. recovered
from his drunken madness, went to look
for his daughter.
"ln the afternoon some negroes found
him lying fat upon the ground, stone
dead, his eyes wide open, gazing dread
fully into the pool.
"The bodies of the lovers were never
found. It W supposed that some un-
known undercurrent carried them far
away.
In one week marvellous change took
place in this pool and it's surroundin gs.
The flowers all died, the waters took
an inky blackness, the trees interlaced
their branches SO that no light of sun
or moon could enter and all life fed,
whether of insect, beast, bird or fish.
"The place became most desolate and
forlorn, and the negroes avoided it as
they would graveyard"
| He paused and relighted his pipe.
"That is very nice yarn" 1 said !;
"but you don't expect me to believe it,
do your
"Oh, no;" he replied. II didn't my
self when it was told to me, but as you
wanted to hear it I Thought I would spin
| it out for you. Going, eh? Try lit
tie of that rye before you saddle up. A
friend sent it to me from New York
city and think it's pretty good arti-
Gle. You'll find the sugar in than can
on the mantel."
Stranger, I tried it, and it was good.
HAMILTON JAY.