Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-03-23
For the SPECTATOR.
A LEGEND OF MT. SOLON.

Doubtless very few, if any of the in
habitants of this peaceful little village
have ever heard of this legend as it
Happened many years ago, long before
this green landscape was SO thickly
dotted over with the habitations OF
man. This second Eden was in it's pris-
tine purity and loveliness, and was very
sparSely settled, there being only few
houses where now nestles this thriving
little city. Our city's pride-a beauti-
full lake-was the chief attraction of
this sylvan paradise and it is on this
lake that the scene which formed this
legend took place. In this isolated
hamlet lived a maiden ''pure as Syche,
ere she became a BRIDE" who was noted
for her beauty, modesty. Terpsichorean
attainments, and all that goes to make
up true womanhood. AS a matter of
course, she had lovers by the score, but
their worship was fruitless, for heart
never responded to the eloquent and
| amorous pleadings of her numerous
| devOtees.
Finally upon bright, sunny April
morning, there came to the little vii
lage a stranger, a perfect Apollo in ap-
pearance. He met the beautiful maid
en-, and from the first, their wooing out
rivaled the sweetness of the birds of
heaven. Such love is beautiful to be-
hold, yet as it always proves, held all
the sadness of earth as we'll as the sweet
ness of heaven. For awhile all went
happy as a wedding bell, but a misun-
derstanding arose, followed by GOODNESS
and separation, yet with each loving
the other dcarer than all the word be-
side. Infinite the pity of such misun-
derstandings, which, after hearts have
lavished the richness and purity of
their only love, rudely shatter the
pride which had sustained the maiden
at the hour of parting, did not suffice
to drown the voice of memOry-was not
strong enough to tear her lovers image
from her heart. She grew weaker and
more ethereal each hour-a broken
heart was killing her. Every day she
would go to their old trysting- place, a
rock at the head of the lake, where she
and her lover had spent such happy
hours together. One day she was seen
to go to the rock, as usual, but
failed to return home in the evening.
Search was made for her, and soon the
sad truth of her death was made evil
dent. Her hat was seen gliding along
on the smooth surface of the lake, sym
bolical of her sad spirit floating over
the sea of eternity to haven of peace
and rest. The sad tidings were sent to
her lovers home, when it was discover
ed that he had been killed on the same
day his sweetheart had passed away to
rest.
The years rolled on, and the circum-
stances narrated above, were almost
wholly effaced by the hand of Father
Time, but were recalled with vivid and
l,4o -. 4Ixo ,1.1, 20
the seventeenth of July, 1871.
The night was one of pure, moonlit
beauty, and almost as bright as day.
All at once it turned to Stygian dark
ness, and with the darkness came a
burst of grand, solemn music, snch as
we imagine belongs to some higher
sphere. These awe inspiring chords
changed to a bright, airy movement,
and with the change the lake was lit
up by beautiful glow of light. The
scene which met the eyes of the be-
holders transfixed them with mingled
feelings of awe and admiration. There
appeared to be tiers upon tiers of seats,
one bove the other, until they reach
ed the clouds, and upon these were the
most beautiful beings imaginable, with
golden harps in their hands, from
which issued the most lovely and en-
trancing strains of more than terrestri-
al harmony. This music gradually
melted into a soft, slow, pulsating
movement, and as the measure rose
and fell, beautiful figures were seen to
range themselves all around the lake,
seeming to glide over its bright sur
face with the ease and grace of an an
gel bent upon an errand of peace and
love-
fyI1v Il %bo
crystal depths, and opened her arms to-
ward the East her lips moved, but the
sound of her fiute-like voice was not
heard on the shore, as the music had
reached it's highest note of sublime
harmony. AS if in answer to her voice,
the form of her lover was seen floating
down into her outstretchod arms, until
they met in long, loving embrace, in
which "heart beat to heart in its pas
sionate fold.n The long-parted lovers
were again united; slowly they drew
apart from their close embrace, and all
was again dark and quiet. All thought
the beautiful scene was over, but 10
| it is again light and venerable gray
headed priest is standing at a golden
altar; before the altar stood the lovers,
hand in hand. The solemn words of
the marriage ceremony fell from the
lips OF the priest in a voice clear as a
silver bell, reaching the ears of the
watchers as gently as the dew descends
upon the flowers. When the ceremony
was concluded, the beautiful throng
caught up the new united lovers, and
carried them off to some far-away
spirit-land where they will enjoy the
happiness they were denied upon
earth. With their upward flight faded
away all traces of the beautiful scene,
yet leaving such a weirdly beautiful
picture impressed on the minds of those
who were fortunate enough to witness
it, that nothing but the hand of Death
could ever erase it. ERMA DOKA.