West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-07-19
The Mountain Tarn.

In a lonely glen, surrounded by lofty
mountains, and miles from any habtaton.
lies small lOch or tarn, around which tra-
dltion hath cast legend of the olden time.
Situated amid the Grampians, the scenery
IS wild and rugged such a scene amid
which the wandercr 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, "A 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 TO en-
able II TO be recovered. IL had been thrown
into its hiding place in the night by those
who possessed it, and the secret had been
soemnly sworn TO on the naked blade of "A
dirk-an old form of Highland oath, held
TO DC binding and sacred Time Dassed
and quiet times or necessity induced those
who held the secret To attempt 10 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 yet give up the coveted treasure
II held within It's inky depths BY differ
cnt routes, in the lone hours Of night. the
holders of the secret assembled ON the shores
OF this Highland tarn, and vaniy tried TO
reach the bottom Fathom after fathom
went down, but 70 no avail Again and
again, with increased lengths Of rope, did
these midnight seekers after gold prosecute
their task, but 10 end in disappointment.
The lOch yielded nothing save now the al
most certain fact that IL was unfathOmablc.
Years rolled away, and no further attempts
were made, since dispiritcd they agreed to
abandon the hopeless toll 90 fathOm I,Ochan
Kin DhOan, or the bOttomless lOch. aa they
then styled IL nor was it ever again Mt
tempted by those who first essaycd IT, sub
scqucnt, however 10 their last failure. an
incident occurred that in that age Of super
siition, cast around The lOch the weird be
lief that it was haunted.
In "a barOnial keep lived n chief m all the
rude pomp Of feuda pride. Ills 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 impcrious and hc ruled
every one around him with stern sway. As
was the custom in those days, he had long
been al enmity with n neighbOring chief
but Love laughs NJ Highland pride as well
as at lOcksmiths. His ueighbOr bad son,
who became enamorcd with the maiden.
But how was the fatal gulf Of feudal strife
to Dee bndgcdt Time went on Stolen in
tcrvicws, 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-
cOmpanicd by AN escort, hc arrived before
the drawbrdgc, and demanded an interview
with The chief. The interview over. the
young chcitain with O heavy heart recrosscd
Che drawbndgc and dOffcd bis bonnet TO a
fair form ON the battlcmonts u was some
time before they again met The chief had
used harsh words and harsh measures 20 his
daughter but Glove will find the way ."
and ai The next meeting Of the lovers they
had arranged 20 eIopc The strong power
Of wOman's love uervcd her for the decd .
the cold hcartlcs home she was about 90
4 leave seemed tO pallatc the act The tenn
/ pOrary absence of the chief afforded oppor-
tunity On "a dark November evening.
about two hours after sunset % horse bear.
I ing the young chieftain and his intended
bride was vending its way with difficulty
| along fhe rugged mountain path amid the
darkness when thc sound of horses hOofs