The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-23
A vIncINIAN "LOvER,s LEAP"

Hardly a famous historic glen or wild
| scene of traditionary romance exists in the
country but has a lovers lcapin it. An in
teresting legend connects itself with one of
these poetic jumpingoff places in the Old
Domnion--a chimney-shaped rock, rising
over frightfu gorge, known as "the tun
nell" In 49,, what is now called Rye
Cove, small settlement near the Natural
Tunnel, was occupied by a fierce Indian,
tribe, probably the Wyandots.
Masoa, the daughter of the chief, was
enamored of a young warrior of her tribe,
aud their trysting- place was on the wild
heights that overhung the subterranean pas
sage of the mountain. HIRE it was her Gus
tom to gather flowers, and to meet her lover
in the inspiration of the beautiful, solitary
scene.
But the old chief had other designs for his
daughter. lie had promised her in mar
riage to the chief of nghboring tribe, and,
scrupulous as is The Indian in such affairs,
he was relentless to the entreaties of his
daughter, and angry when he discovered
her affections had been engaged by another
Masoa told her lover, in the accustomed
place of their meeting, of the fate that had
been determined for her. He advised, as the
only means of averting their dsappoint-
ment, that on the day appointed for the
neighboring chief to claim his bride, Masoa
should escape, ascend the sharp, high rock,
and there with her lover proclaim him as
her choice to her father, and to the party
who would probably pursue her. The two
were to threaten TO cast themselves from the
rock if compassion was not had on their
love, and the maiden released by her father
from his hateful compact. 1t was hopeful
that the prospect Of self-immulation might
touch the heart of the old chief, and save
Masoa and her lover.
The day came for the celebration Of the
marriage which the father had designed.
The neighboring chief,who was to bear away
the prize, attended by many followers.
1t was an occasion OF barbaric splendor, to
which all were invited but Masoa was
missing Search was made. Her romantic
habit ofvisiting the wild scene on the noun
tain was known, and it is said th OF little
brother, who had frequently accompanied
her there, now innocently directed the party
of pursuers. These, TO the number of sever
al hundred, had searched through the cav
ernous recesses of the tunnel.
Auuapnk1al in he hnIa
which we have described, closly mingled in
the ardor of pursuit, an appalling sight fell
on their uplifted eyes-Masoa and her lover
on the high stem Of rock, his strong arm up
lifted above the screen Of woods, in clear re-
lief against the sky, and embracing it the
afirighted but unshrinking maiden, who
had aseendod with him the awful altar Of
immolaton.
She had commenced to speak to the spec
tators below, and she was yet speaking, loud
ly and vehemently, in the last eager hope of
reconciliation with her father, and Of safety
for her lover, when an arrow whizzed
through the air, 1t had been strung by the
jealous and disappointed chief below.
A stream of blood gushed from the breast
Of the warrior-that breast from which she
bad separated herself but little space to
rise TO the proclamation of her love. She
was seen to clasp him in her arms, to look
long and tenderly on his face, as il finquinng
of the death that passed over and sealed it
and then, embracing him more tightly, and
uttering wild ,long shriek, she leaped down
into the air, falling mangled corpse on the
rocks below, and bearing in her not yet
loosened arms the dead body of her lover.
The scene is not yet ended. Another
death completes ii, Even while Masoa
leaped, her broth er,exasporated, in the quick
agony of his revenge has stridden behind
the assassin chief, and with one blow killed
him. All three of the dead bodies are said
to have fallen nearly together Baiioh's
Monthly.