The clearest water in the state of Florida, or even in the whole country, was in Silver Keys - so say local residents. You can count all the pebbles at the bottom of this spring.
Its waters are colored not only with goldfish and chocolate turtles, but also with fragrant water lilies, water lilies and other flowers and algae. People come here from afar to admire the Silver Keys and their colorful aquatic inhabitants. Some years ago, an arrogant, rich man named Captain Harding Douglas lived in these places. He had an only son, Claire, a handsome man, a very noble young man. The father was proud of his son, as well as everything he owned.
One nice and pretty girl lived next door to them - Bernice Mayo. Claire fell in love with her at first sight. At first they thought of nothing but love. But people often saw them together, and gossip began to spread. Claire knew that his father would be furious when he told him that he wanted to marry Bernice Mayo, since she was from a poor family.
They met on the shore of the lake in which the Silver Springs flowed, near the hut of old Aunt Silla. One sunny day they sat by the clear water, admired water lilies and goldfish and discussed evil gossip that haunted them.
“I decided to talk to my father before these rumors reached him,” said Claire. - I will say that I love you and want to marry you.
Bernice didn't know how to talk much, but her eyes were more expressive than words. She looked carefully at the young man, smiled timidly and turned her gaze to the stormy stream gushing straight from the heart of the lake.
“Do what you think is best, Claire, and may fate help us.”
Claire talked to his father, and there were some angry words. The captain dreamed of a completely different choice for his son; he did not want his son to marry a poor girl.
The dispute between Captain Douglas and his son Clare lasted more than one day, but the son did not yield to the wishes of his father. In the end the captain decided that there are many ways in the world
lure midges - here you can try honey. And he said one day:
“I see, my son, that you love this girl very much.” Well, I won't interfere with your love. But before you get married, I will ask you to go to Europe and carry out one important assignment for me. Only you can I entrust this matter. And upon your return you will immediately have a wedding.
Claire told Bernice about this proposal. She had something to object to, but she remained silent.
The day of parting came, and they decided to take a walk in the forest.
“You know what, Bernice,” Claire said, “let’s take a boat and go for a ride on the lake.”
They quickly swam to the middle of the lake, where the springs flowed, and the water flowed upward in a sparkling dance, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.
Both were silent: it was difficult to speak at the moment of parting. Bernice had tears in her eyes. She had a premonition that they were parting forever. They looked without words at the silver bubbles of the gushing water, at the cheerful fish, at the water flowers.
Claire took a gold chain from his pocket and said:
- This is my gift to you, Bernice. Wear it on your hand like a bracelet until I return to you. I won't stay long. And I will write to you often.
He took the oars and rowed to the shore. They said goodbye and parted with sadness in their hearts...
In Paris and London, life is full of excitement, especially for a newbie. And Claire happily plunged into it. He wrote to Bernice, but his father tried to make sure that his letters did not reach her. And he planned things so that Claire would not return for as long as possible. Days, weeks, months flew by. Claire enjoyed life more than ever. He rarely thought of Bernice Mayo. She's the opposite.
Every morning she waited with hope for the letter, and when it didn’t come, she fell asleep in the evening with the thought: “Maybe
tomorrow! She stopped eating, avoided meeting people and slowly withered away.
She loved to sail in a boat to the place where the Silver Springs flowed. For long hours she sat and looked at the fish, at the algae and flowers, at the transparent streams of water and dreamed. Only these dreams were sad.
Sometimes Aunt Cilla would pass by Bernice's hut. She always consoled the girl. But words are bad medicine. Bernice felt abandoned and unhappy and became ill from grief. Her cheeks faded, the joyful light went out in her eyes, she grew weaker day by day, her end was near.
“I want to die near the Silver Keys, where we often sat together and where Claire promised me to return soon,” Bernice decided.
She went to the lake and sat down on the shore. She had no strength left to row.
Aunt Silla was about to go fishing that day and noticed Bernice on the shore. She was frightened when she saw how thin and pale Bernice had become.
“Don’t kill yourself like that, my darling,” she said, putting her arm around Bernice’s shoulders. - He loves you and will return to you.
“He promised to write to me and never wrote.”
“Don’t worry your heart unnecessarily.” There are others in the world who will be happy to make you happy.
- I don't need anyone. I want to die.
-You're too young. Death is for old women like me.
- I know that I will die soon anyway. Promise me that you will fulfill one of my requests, Aunt Silla. When I die, take me in a boat to the middle of the lake, where the Silver Springs flow, and lower me to the bottom there.
Aunt Silla cried bitterly, but when the time came, she did everything as Bernice asked.
Claire soon returned home. He was so full of impressions that at first he didn’t even remember Bernice. In addition, his father made sure that he would not be bored at home. He invited his cousin, a very pretty woman, to visit.
a girl whom his father hoped Claire would enjoy spending time with.
And in the morning the father suggested to the young people:
— I recently bought a sailboat here. Shouldn't we take a ride to the Silver Keys?
Only then did Claire remember Bernice. He thought for a moment, then said:
- Well, let's go.
And the cousin, of course, happily agreed.
The weather was sunny, calm, and the water in the lake was clear as crystal. Goldfish scurried back and forth, bright flowers burned in the sun and algae turned green.
The boat slowly sailed across the lake, approaching the Silver Keys. Captain Douglas and his cousin chatted merrily. Claire didn't say a word. Suddenly the girl exclaimed in horror:
- Look! There is a hand and a gold chain on it! Everyone looked down into the clear water.
Claire immediately recognized it: it was the same chain that he gave to Bernice when he said goodbye.
The underwater rocks suddenly parted, and they saw Bernice resting at the bottom.
- Bernice! - Claire exclaimed, and before his father could stop him, he threw himself into the lake.
Immediately the underwater reefs closed again, leaving Bernice and Claire together forever.
When people come to the Silver Keys and hear the water flowing and murmuring, they say:
- There's a wedding going on! Do you hear that water tells the love story of the bride and groom?
Sometimes mother-of-pearl shells float to the top, like Bernice's tears.
And on the rock grow white flowers that look like water lilies. They are called Bernice's wedding wreath. And if a girl is given these flowers, it means that in a year she will become a happy bride.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru