The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-03-12
A SUWANEE ROMANCE.

ASUWANEE ROMANCE.
The Story Of Florida Girl.
rom the Philadelphia Times:
The Suwanee river, curving like a
horseshoe, makes some strange indent-
ures in it's 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 it's name,
and one in particular deserves to be
rescued from oblivion.
Riding out there the other day a
twelve miles jaunt brought me to low
rooted cabin, fast going to decay, occu-
pied by an old bachelor friend of mine,
whose memory is perfect ency yclopedia
of scenes and times in Florida for fifty
years past. Ifailed to find him at home,
but with the perfect freedom born of
long acquaintance I took possession OF
his place at once, turned his mule into
the adjacent lot and ensconced my tired
horse IN the stall erstwhile occupied by
the long cared basso profundo Of the
cotton patch. Then, lighting my favor
ite pipe, I started for a stroll along the
banks of the dear old river. It was in
deed a lovely day. Not cloud OBJ
scured the sky and the wind, blown
from off the stream, was cool and de-
iightful to the senses.
The steep, precipitous banks were
fined with briars and bush; strange
colored glimpses of light betokened the
presence of bud and flower.
From swaying limbs and pendant
twigs the mocking bird futtered his
quaker garb and poured out his heart
in 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, that pirate of the air.
The path I pursued was new one to
me, but as it followed the river bank
closely and always in sight [ had no
fears OF going astray.
-Four miles OF this half dreamy wan
dering brought me to a strange, wild
spot, pool of water curved in the riv-
er bank about forty feet in extent, al
most hidden from sight by immense
trees, whose branches twined and in
terlaced made canopy through which
no light could enter.
Between two of the largest of these
trees an open path led to the pool,
whose waters were as black as ink,
dark, gloomy and forbidding. To my
surprise, although it 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 foot
hold there. It was bare and smooth, a
sandy clay, hardened almost to 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 it's
surface.
Unaccountably depressed, I turned
away and sought the sunlight again.
This feeling Of gloom and depression
clung to me all the way on my return
to my friends house, and he, noticing
this, inquired tho cause, as he hustled
around preparing the bachelors dinner.
I briefly acquainted him with the facts
of the strange discovery I had made.
"Oh!" said he, "you have been to the
Lovers Pool. There is strange and
pathetic history connected with that, -
he continued, musingly, "and it seems
to have been cursed ever since that un-
happy day."
A romance; that Was enough for mee
and I hesieged him at once c5r all the
particulars. s~~ sz4,
~ swell, SAID A;tes AH;e, acontrol yonr esger.
ness pnt1af after thinner, and then I'll
.teeJf telf you the tale as it was told to ne..s.
There was heapiDg rlattersoco
chicken, a huge pile of roasted sweet
potatoes, a mammoth corn pone, and
some delicious coffee-all the work OF
his own fair rhands-ahem!
After dinner we lit our pipes and ad-
iourned to the wide, roomy piazza, where
my host proceeded to fulfill his prom
Use.
"It happened thirty years ago, and
Belle Norton was one OF the prettlesl
girls in Florida. She was tall and
slender, but exquisitely formed, and o1
an unusually sunny temperament. Hel
hair was golden blown, 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 hal the temper Of a de
mon when aroused and knew neither
law, gospel or: reason. His house was
about mile from the:pool. You Cal
see the ruins now. The house was fret
by the negroes during the war, and thu
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 q Yankee from
Massachusetts to teach them. He was D..
right handsome young fellow, this
teacher, a graduate of one of the bes
colleges, and very gentlemanly and re
fined in all his actions. His name was
Harry Esterman and he became quit,
a favorito in the neighborhood.
"Harry and Belle met at a ball give,
by one Of the planters and the usual re
suits followed-love at first sight AM
all that sort of thing. I don't believ
in love myself, but these young peopl
did. and a terrible tragedy followed.
"Old man Norton had never like
Harry-in fact the old fellow, even il
those days, was rank believer in Sc
cession and hated everything Of a North
ern origin. He had tolerated the youn
toochar at first ont Of rasnect for SOnth
ern hospitality and the opinions of hi
old friends, but when he discovere'
that Harry had fallen in love with hi
daughter and she was guilty of tn
same fool1shness he was furious, rave,
like devil and swore by all the god
that ne wonld shoot "the id Yankee
if he ever caught him on his place again
He had stormy scene with his daugh
ter, but she clung to her faith and re
fused to give her lover up.
"But henceforth the lovers were NOR
careful, and were obliged to. conir