Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-10-07

BILE 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
a little alcove at the top of the time.
piece, bowed gravely to us II times
and with melodious voice told off the
hours.
stepped to the ice box and drew
from its refreshing depths another
bottle, dewy and fascinating. The doc
tor resumed his seat. Deity draw
ing the cork, l 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 ?"
Lighting fresh cigar, he replied :
"Did | ever tell you about The Ghost
of the Suwanee No? Well, it is
worth relating and is said to be abso-
lutely true. Forty years ago Nell
Bryant was the loveliest girl in the
country, tall and lithesome as young
fawn /; her golden waves of hair franz
ed pair of blue, innocent eyes, as
the dainty soul mirrored therein. An
only child, she was worshiped by her
parents and was allowed every ad-
vantage that wealth could bring.
Educated at a Northern school, and
after graduation receiving all the ad-
vantage of a cultured and refined
home, she was splendid type of the
Southern girl of older days. AL
though an acknowledged belle and
subject to the ffattery and alteration
of the young gentlemen of the neigh
borhood, who were her willing SUBJ
jects, 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 coquettish
dancing of her little boat. Hour af-
ter hour would she spend upon the
beautiful river, sometimes idly floating
through land of dreams, at others
trimming tresses with beautiful flow
ers or watching the fitting forms of
strange wild birds, whose joyous war
bling hardly rivaled her own.
"The negroes fairly worshiped her,
and not one but what would have died
to save her from harm. To all pro-
posals of marriage she turned deaf
ear, but so kindly was she in refusal
that no one could take effense. At
the time of which l speak she was
about 10 years old, in the full glory
Of noble womanhood. But at length
she met her fate. Lieut.. Rodman
King, of the United States army,
came down there to spend the summer
with some of his friends. He was a
splendid-looking young fellow. l
knew him well; about six feet in
height, sinewy and well proportioned,
with jet black eyes and hair, long
dropping mustache, curtly and polish
ed from travel in other countries, he
was well calculated to inspire a
woman's love. He soon became Miss
Nell's constant companion. A per-
feet rider, lover of song and poetry
and flowers, their tastes seemed all in
common, and but one result could fol-
low. The whole heart Of the young
girl went out to him, and henceforth
he became sole master of her inmost
thought. Young, handsome, a bril-
liant 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
borhood accepted the situation with
true Southern chivalry and gave him
an open field. This reverance and
loyalty to Miss Nell forbade them to
throw any obstacles in the way of her
happiness. So the couple enjoyed
perfect elysium of joy. 1t was fools
paradise, however, and soon there was
to be rude awakening. Under his
pleasant and magnetic exterior the
young officer had nature callous
and cruel as that Of the arch fend
himself. The brief, bright, happy
summer was soon over and he propos-
ed to take his departure to his post of
duty. The lovers parted with many
vows and protestations of love and
affection, pure and holy on her part
but false as hell on his.
after his departure, light and
happy of heart as any bird that sang
in the groves near by, she went about
her daily pastimes. There was a
bright color in her fair young cheeks
and the happy light of trusting love
shone in her eyes. Life had newer
meaning for her now, and with eager
trust she awaited for the loving letters
he had promised so faithly to write.
They never came. Day after day