Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-07-23
The Mountain Tarn.

In a lonely glen, surrounded by lofty
mountains. and miles from any habitatiOn,
lies a small loch or tarn, around which ira
ditiOn hath cast a legend Of the olden time
Situated amid the Grampians, the scenery
is wild and rugged; such a scene amid
which the vanderer may pause and feel that
the hand OF man has never disturbed Nature
in her solitude. Years and years ago, when
the turbulent state of Scotland rendered life
and property insecure, large amount of
treasure was supposed to have been thrown
into the lOch, there to escape detection, and
to await the return of peaceful times 10 en-
able it to be recovered. Ii had been thrown
into its hiding place in the night by those
who possessed it, and the secret had been
solen.nly sworn to on the naked blade of a
dirk-an old form of Highland oath, held
to be binding and sacred. Time passed,
and quiet times or necessity induced those
who held the secret to attempt to recover
the treasure. In those primitive days appli-
ances were limited, and the first attempt
failed from inability TO reach the bottom.
Months were spent in the manufacture of
rope from hides, in hopes the dark wa
ter would vet give up the coveted treasure
it held within its inky depths. By differ
ent routes, in the lone hours of night, the
holders of the secret assembled on the shores
of this Highland tarn, and vainly tried to
reach the bottom. FathOm after fathOm
went down, but TO no avail. Again and
again, with increased lengths of rope, did
these midnight seekers after gold prosecute
their task. but TO end in disappointment.
The loch yielded nothing save now the al
most certain fact that il was unfathomable.
Years rolled away, and no further attempts
were made, since dispirited they agreed to
abandon the hopeless toll to fathOm LOchan
Kin Dhoan, or the bottomless loch, as they
then styled it; nor was it ever again at
tempted by those who first essayedit. Sub
sequenT, however, TO their last failure, an
incident occurred that in that age of super
stitiOn, cast around the loch the weird be
lief that il was haunted.
In a baronial keep lived chief IN all the
rude pomp of feudal pride. His lady had
died, and left him an only daughter, who,
now grown up to womanhood, presided
over the household. Her fathers temper
was naughty and imperious, and he ruled
every one around him with stern sway. AS
was the custom in those days, he had long
been at enmity with neighbOring chief !;
but Love laughs at Highland pride as well
as at locksmiths. His neighbor had a son,
who beGame enamored with the maiden.
But how was the fatal gulf of feudal strife
to be bridged. Time went ON. Stolen in
terviews, when by accident they met, or
when her father was absent, were all that
the young hearts could CLEAN from the stern
hate of both the parents; till, unable to bear
the long, weary weeks that occasionally
prevented their meeting, the young chief
tain determined to beard the lion in his den
and demand the hand of his daughter. Ac-
companied by an escort, he arrived before
the drawbridge, and demanded an interview
with the chief. The interview over, the
young chieftain with heavy heart recrossed
the drawbridge, and doffed his bonnet to a
fair form on the battlements. Ii was some
time before they again met. The chief had
used harsh words and harsh measures to his
daughter: but "Love will find the way;
and at the next meeting of the lovers they
had arranged to elope. The strong power
of woman's love nerved her for the deed ;
the cold heartless home she was about TO
leave seemed to palliate the act. The tem-
porary absence of the chief afforded oppor-
tunity. On a dark November evening,
about two hours after sunset, horse bear
ing the young chieftain ano his intended
bride was vending its way with difficulty
along the rugged mountain path, amid the
darkness. when the sound of horses hoofs
washeard. To turn was to encounter foes be-
hind (as well as in 'front.' if fees they were, as
doubtless the flight of the lady had been dis
covered at the castle; besides, the nature
of the ground and darkness rendered flight
hopeless. To move little to the side, ano
quietly await the chance of being passed II
the darkness was all that remained to the
youthful lovers. The night had hitherto
been dark, but still. The wind was now
sweeping over the dark moor, and hurry
/ ing the black clouds across tie sky with In
creased violence. The young chief felt thu
fair hand that held his girdle tighten as thu
sound of the horses hoofs were heard; bu