Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-09-28
THE SUWANEE GHOST.


The doctor knocked the ashes off his
cigar. glanced regretfully at the few
drops of vino that remained in his
glass and half arose from his chair.
II suppose it is about time 10 retire, "
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 q
bottle of sparkling Italian, tapered off
with genuine old-fashioped roll of
tobacco"
looked at the clock myself. for /
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
little alcove at the top of the timepiece,
bowed gravely TO MS 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 scat. Deity drawing the
cork, filled his waiting glass and
casually remarked, as if / was totally
uninterested: 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 away?n
Lighting fresh cigar, he replied:
'sDid ever tell you about The Ghost
of the Suwaneep Mop Well, il is
said TO be absolutely true. Forty years
ago Nell Bryant was the loveliest girl
in the country, tall and lissome as a
young fawn; her golden waves of hair
framed a pair of blue, innocent eyes.
rs pure as the dainty soul mirrorcd
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 cultured and
refined home, she was splendid type
of the Southern girl of older days.
Although an acknowledged belle and
subject to the tiattery 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, tho tireless gallop
of her saddle horse and the coquettish
dancing of her little boat. Hour after
hour would she spend upon the beauti-
fnl river, sometimes idly floating
through a land of dreams, at others
trimming her trcssos with beautiful
flowers or watching the iiitting forms
of strange wild birds, whose joyous
warbling hardly rivaled her own.
The negroes fairly worshiped her,
and not one but what would have died
to save her from harm. To al pro-
posals of marriage she turned deal
ear. but so kindly was she in refusal
that no one could take offensc. At the
time of which speak she was about
nineteen years old, in the full glory oi
2 noble wOmanh0od. But 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. He was splen-
did-looking young fellow. knew him
well; about six feet in height. sinewy
aud well prDportioned, with Jet black
eyes and hair, long dropping nous
tache. conrtly and polished from travel
in other countries. he was well calcu-
lated to inspire . woman's love. He
soon became Hiss Nell = constant com
pani0n. A pretty rider. > lover Of
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