The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-10-11
LEGEND OF a LAKE

or t0rn. around Which tradition has
cast a legend.
Years and years ago. when the tur-
bulent state Of Scotland rendered life
and property insecure. a large amount
of treasure was supposed 10 have been
thrown into the loeb. there TO escape
detection and to await the return OF
peaceful times to enable IL to be re
covered. 1t had been thrown into its
hiding place in the night by those who
possessed Il. and the secret had been
solemnly sworn 10 on the naked blade
of a dirk, an old form OF highland oath.
held TO be binding and sacred.
BY different routes in the lone hours
Of night the holders Of the secret as
sembled on the shores of this highland
tarn and vainly tried TO reach the bot
tom. The loch yielded nothing save
now the almost certain fact that it was
unfathomablc
Years rolled away. and no further
attempts were made. since. dispirited.
they agreed TO abandon the hopeless
toll Of trying TO fathom Lochan Kin
Dhoan, as they then styled it. Suisse
quently. however, to their last failure
an incident occurred that in that age
OF superstition cast around the loch
the weird belief that it was haunted.
In a baronial keep lived a chief I'm
all the rude pOmp of feudal pride His
lady had died and left an only daugh-
ter, who. now grown up to woman
hood, presided over the household. Her
fathers temper was naughty and i'm
periOus. and he ruled every one around
him with stern sway. As was the Gus
tom 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
son. who became cnamored of the
maiden. But how was the fatal gulf
of feudal strife to be bridged? Time
went on. Stsen interviews 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 occasional
ly prevented their meetings. the young
chieftain determined to beard the lion
in his den and demand the hand Of his
daughter. Accompanied by an escort.
he arrived before the drawhridge and
demanded an interview with the chief.
The interview over, the young chief.
tain, with heavy heart. recrossed
that drawbridge and doffed his bonnet
TO fair form on the battlements.
IL was some time before they again
met The chief had used harsh words
and harsh measures to his daughter
but love viii find out 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 hcartlcss home she was
about 20 leave seemed TO palliate the
act. The temporary absence OF the old
chief afforded opportunity.
On dark November evening about
two hours after sunset a horse bearing
the young chieftain and his intended
bride was vending its way with diff
Guilty along the rugged mountain path
amid the darkness when the sound OF
horses hOOfs was heard. To turn was
TO encounter foes behind as well as in
front, If foes they were, as doubtless
the flight of the lady had been discov-
cred at the castle. Besides the nature
of the ground and darkness rendered
flight hopeless To move a little to the
side and quietly await the chance of
being passed In the darkness was nj
that now remained 10 the youthful
lovers The night had hitherto been
dark, but still. The wind was now
sweeping over the bleak moor and hur-
rying the black clouds across the sky
with increasing violence The young
chief felt the fair hand that held his
girdle tighten as the sound OF the
scream, no signs OF fear. All had as
yet gone well, when a CLEAN of moon
light lit up the scene and revealed
party of hOrsemen scarce thirty yards
distant. There was no time for de
liberation. The young chieftain dashed
his spurs TO his horse, and with n
bound the noble animal was crossing
the now moOnlit moor at full speed,
holly pursued by the chief and his par
~. Capture, but don't firer was the
brief command.
At first the lovers outstripped their
pursuers, but the double burden began
to tell on the young chleftain's horse,
and the distance between lessened
The chief was gaining on them at
every stride, and the pale moon still
vi lllt Sttlt. us II
the earth had opened at their feet,
over the precipice that overhangs the
Lochan Kin Dhoan leaped the horse
and his riders. An exclamation of hor-
ror. wild yell of agony came from the
chief as he beheld this fatal leap.
dull, heavy splash I'm the deep, dark
water beneath was all that responded.
From that hour it was Stunned rs =
fatal spot.
The story of the treasure had been
handed down from father to son, and
n party Of stout hearts again resolved
to brave the dangers that surrounded
the scene of the hidden gold. night
was fixed, but scarce had the task be-
gun ere an arm, the hand holding a
naked dirk, is said to have risen from
the water and an unearthly voice to-
have calculated, "Forbearv'
A New Attraction.
man who had baau hired 70 vvrifo