The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-01-10

the Fern as umpire, whose decision would
be respected by all. These propositions
were gladly accepted by Lone Wolf as the
trial proposed would afford him an oppor-
tunity Of displaying his acknowledged
( skill, and also of enjoying the society of
the Fern. On the following day, before the
| frosts had been melted by the rising sun,
the contestants met at the plncc dcsi i. mated.
The contest continued until the shadows
fell upon the roots of the trees, when Lone
Wolf was declared the victor. The crown
of laurel was placed on his brow by the
umpire, accompanied by few words COM
plimentary to the skill of the victor, and
seemingly expressive of personal interest
The Bird was excited to madness by the
seeming preference of The Fern for Lone
Vol, and remembering the insult suddenly
grasped his rival and rushing with the
speed of lightning to the edge of the preci-
pice, threw him headlong into the abyss
below. AS he was falling few plaintive
notes of the death song were heard, and the
voice of Lone Wolf was hushed forever.
The Bird made no effort to escape. Sub
misiiye to the immemorial custom and i'm
peraHve law of his race, he sternly awaited
the coming of the avenger, and would GER
taiDly have been slain, but for the nterpo.
sition of the Fern. Drawing from the
pocket of a belt which she wore the trinket
of two jewels that had not been damaged
seriously, she offered them to the sister of
Lone Wolf, his only surviving relative. as
an atonement for the blood of her brother.
The offering was accepted by her, as also
by her tribe That trinket of two Jewels
was the Ar and Thar, enormously supposed
to have been lost by the ancestors of the
present race of Indians in their migration
to this continent from the East. 1t had
been preserved in the family of Bald Eagle.
md highly valued, as its possession gave
prosperity, and conferred princely authori
ty and rule That the Fern should have
parted with such IL treasure is understood in
the light of the fact that she had cherished
an attachment for the Bird, and secretly
hoped to become his wife.
Three moons subsequently, at the feast
of the coming spring, always observed
when the first birds made their appearance,
there was another gathering of the tribes
ut the Rocks, to witness the celebration of
the nuptials of the Bird that Flies High
and of the Fern Shaken by the Wind
Following Immediately this ceremony was
tiie CONTAMINATION Oh design tHat BAH
Eagle had ling entertained. Aged and
wearied with the responsibilities and labors
pertaining to his position as chief ruler of
the confederate tribes, he addicted his
and nominated his son as his
successor His choice was ratified by all
the tribes. Conducted by the aged priest |
ofthe upper tribe to the seats on the Rocks, |
The. Bird-that Flies-High and the Fern
Shaken-by- the Wind, were formally de. !
clared King and Queen of the confederate
tribes.
They were the last King and Queen of
the Rocks of Deer Creek. Ere many moons
waxed and waned the pale faces came
Driven from their homes and from the
graves of their forefathers the confederate |
tribes fled to the land of the setting sum- |
finding their last hours and their graves |
among strangers in the distant wilderness. |
Lone Wolf whose romantic history and |
tragic death have been related, was buried |
on the banks of Deck Creek about six |
hundred yards above the present residence
OF Joshua Rutledge, Esq and often during |
the autumnal nights, in the faint light of |
the waning moon, is seen at that locality |
strange apparition. 1t is thought to be the |
spirit of the murdered chieftain, mingling
with the shadows that fall on the ripping
waters. = X #