Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-31

shrinking nature. and, like her. was a
slave to the old mans iron will.
In the beautiful city of Ocala lived Ber-
nice Mayo whose blonde beauty won, at
first sight, the heartsof Claire Douglass.
Although of Virginia ancestry, Bernice
was a true child OF the Land of Flow
ers," passionate, and impulsiVe. Her eyes
were blue and clear as the waters Of Lake
Munroe, beside which she had spent her
childhood in the fair little city of Sanford,
| Her hair was as golden as Florida's own
sunshine.
For six months Bernice Mayo and Claire
Douglass were constant companions, and
Silver Springs was their favorite resort.
For half day at a time they would drift
about on the bosom of this splendid, placid
curiosity of nature.
Bernice never seemed to tire of gazing
through the waters into the subterranean
world revealed there.
"Tf 1 were a mermaid, Claire" she
would say, Giving in that crystal cavern,
and some fair day should wander forth
| among the palmettoes and MOSES of the
springs and while sitting on yonder ledge
of rock, combing my golden hair with a
shell, you should see me in the water be-
meath, would you love me well enough to
plunge to the depths to WOO me?'
Then would Claire stop her merry chat
eternal love, as they drifted over the
transparent mirror of water, pausing
now and then to study the rocks and
shells, the MOSES, palmettoes and fish,
which were as visible eighty feet beneath
the water as were the trees and wood
land about them.
There Is nothing fairer than Ocala's
Lovers Lane" and yet no spot held for
these young people the attraction of Sill
yer Springs, their constant trysting spot.
There came fatal day, destined to sep
arate them-a day when Claire Douglass
declared to his father his love for beau
tiful, penniless Bernice Mayo and his de-
| termination to make her, his wife.
Strongly his father vowed this marriage
should never be and secretly planned a
separation.
When Claire Douglass had been speedily
dispatched abroad on important business
for his father, then 1t was that Bernice
learned the truth and her proud, delicate
nature lay crushed and bleeding beneath
the cruel blow of separation. Vainly she
strove to rally, but all life seemed empty
without Claire. .-
A year. dragged YEARLY by and the
| scenes frequented by merry Berniee Mayo
| knew her no more. Paler and thinner she
( daily grew. Fragile she was as the white
blossoms that grew about her well-loved
| springs. The little charm of gold Claire
had locked upon her arm would nave
| slipped across the wasted, transparent
hand but for the ribbon that held its
links. One day the girl by dint of despe-
rate energy crept to the station and board
| ed the train for Silver Springs Aunt
| silly was unprepared for the white
/ annotated little creature that tottered into
her cabin door and fell fainting into her
| arms.
| Consciousness soon returned, but II was
! apparent even to the old black woman
seal upon the young face.
Aunt Silly" gasped the girl, II have
| come to you to die, and you must obey
my last request; the grave divulges nc
| secrets. Before the sun sets, / shall be
| in heaven. This separation from the man
| love has been my death-but in that
death, we shall be reunited. have asked
| God and he has heard me. But you,
! Aunt Silly-you must obey my request.
| You loved me-you will do as l ask you.
! Tonight, when the moon comes out, row
my body to Boiling Spring, and bury me
there. You know the spot. Make no mis-
take. DO this ard God shall attend -
the rest"
Good Cord Almighty, chile. you think
Aunt Silly am gwine to tote dat body off
in the lonesomely night?" asked the old
woman. her very teeth chattering with
the superstitious fear peculiar to her race.
The girl realized the risk Of her plans