Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-03-19
LEGEND OF A LAKE.
It Tells How a Princess Was Lost with
Her Humble Lover.

Her Humble Lover.
For some past a series of explora-
tions has been carried on at the bot
tom of Lake Nemi, an extinct crater in
the Alban hills, about Is miles from
Rome. The place is most picturesque,
and n little village, with a tall
medieval tower and red and yellow
roofs. regards its tsreflection in the limpid
waters of the lake far below.
The dwei'ers along the banks Of the
little lake, the nymphs and satyrs OF
the chestnut alleys" have thrown the
poetry of their vivid imaginations
around the story of lost ship and have
woven around it a strangely pic
turesque legend.
This legend in it's brieiest form re-
lates that once upon time in the misty
ages of the past a king lived here with
his one only child, the fair Princess
Diana. She was a noted huntress and
went daily TO the chase, attended by
group of girls, spirits kindred to her
own.
One day the fortunes of the chase
separated her from her companions
and after wandering about, tired and
hungry, she saw in the distance a
Youth engaged in whistling, initiating
the birds of the forest, especially the
nightingale, whose ripping notes he
had carght exactly. lie was as hand
some as a dream and was a strawberry
gatherer. lie gave the princess
basket filled with strawberries and
pretty bunch of cyclamens, which
abound in these woods. 1t may be
noted here that Nemi rs celebrated for
the flavor of its wild strawberries.
Next day the princess separated
again from her companions of the
.hase. but now it was by design and not
by accident. She again met the peasant
youth with the strawberries and the
cyclamens. The wandering away OF
the princess from her companions be-
came as mach habit with her as meet
ING with the handsome Young man
who whist,ed like a nightingale. These
two became fond lovers. The king was
informed OF the matter and the hunt
ing was stopped and the princess was
relegated to a sort of mild imprison
ment.
She wandered about in wooded
garden. open on the lake side. but if
closed with great walls on the lane
( side.
\ great barge or beat was moore6
| near ths land. aud when the days were
warm she sought the GOODNESS of thi
retreat. The barge, according to th'
legend. was an enchanted island, united
I TO the shore 10y well-guarded draw
/ bridge 1t was a retreat just suited TO
| lovers and had sort of resemblance q
shat dreamed of by Claude Meinotte a
a fitting residence for his bride Pauline
Love laughs at locksmiths and over
! passes grea- obstacles. On wide. low
spreading plane-tree that hung ever tn
water. the strawberry youth with tn
nightingale notes walked along tn
spreading branch and dropped dow
.nto the barge. lie saw Diana and h
was happy.
One evening every one was overcom
with the hot sirocco wind. \ storm
arose. The princess and the straw
berry lad were on the barge. The hug
/ shin broke from her moorirgs. Sh
.prung leak and began gradually t
settle down in the water. The storr
RACED and the terrible darkness wa
only broken by the flashes of vivid light
ming which illuminated the scene for
brief moment. Wher the Inornin
nroke the lake was smooth and tran
quill. but 10 boat broke the shine c
rs surface. The barge, with Princes
Diana and ner lover with the nightir
gale notes had persisted. and no nor
was ever heard OF the hapless pair
baltimore sun.