West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-03-19

bC certain death to those unacuuainted
with the forest. the iicndi>h arts of the
Indians. and, above all. their language.
do not know of man who can speak
the Comanchc language that's fitted to
20 otherwise.
Il will 90. said clear. firm voice.
All looked i'm mute surprise AT the
speaker, Jennie Moor Jennic's father
(thcu quite old) had lived long ON the
border. and She had no remembrance
of other home than the border She
could ride the widest mustang. handle
the rifle skillfullN or drive "A canoe
across the rushing waters Of the Bio
Wichita, equal to Comanche brave.
and, from years of friendly inter
course with Solemn Face. medicine
>quaw. could speak their language
hucntlN. Jennie was fearless ~ a war
rior. vets a. tender and sympathetic a.
maiden could be- Yet all looked i'm
aStoni>hmcnt at Jennie, who. resting
her cla~pcd hands on her father shuui-
der turned composed glance at the
group ut anxious settlers standing near.
You need all the men YOU have
here Tonight. ! can make the journey
more safely and more surely than any
one present. | know the forest per
trctlN; can speak the Indian iargon aS
we'll a> can English. and would rath-
en- risk my life i'm the forest tonight
than remain in the stockadc, for if one
OF the men is sent for help We are lost.
for hc Will be- captured without doubt"
"But what will save YOU also from
caputrc?' questioned her father.
God and my own Judgment an
>wcrcd Jennie II will personatc
Solemn Face, the medicine squaw. who
died four months ago. Tonight twill
bc easy to work upon their supcrsti-
ton, and pass the Indian scntrics and
camp a. Solemn Face"
Captain Moor folded her i'm his arms.
saying: Go. then, my child and may
God 90 with YOU and bring YOU safe
again 10 your old fathers arms
Amen, responded all present.
deeply moved.
They all knew that if any one could
succeed i'm the task il would be Jennie.
~ after a hearty "God-spccd" from
those present She wcndcd her way to
her cabin to make the necessary prep
aratiOnS for the hazardous Journey on
which 50 many lives depended Sol
cmn Face was Jennie fac simile i'm all
but hair and complexion, Jennie inhcr-
iting the bright yellow hair and pure
rose complexion from her Scotch an
ccstorS; while the ,quaw possessed
rare combination found i'm the saxon
race. uniting the duSky hair and com
plcNion of her Indian mother with the
dccp-blue eyes and delicate features of
her English father, who had been "A
trader among the Indians. Solemn
Face held high place among the saw
ages from her superior intelligence
I lao l..ts -. l.. - gtI
some supernatural power. From child
hood she had hated the palc-face. Jen-
ME being the only one she would speak
TO. Jennie was soon made ready with
dye and dress. and at the cleaning
stood ready by the gate. Tho moment
came and amid tears Of women and the
silent agony of her father, she went
ont in the deep darkness, undauntcd
| by the dangerous journey. She knew
IN reason she would have to pass near
the Indian encampmcnt That she
might secure Solemn Faces pony, the
beautiful little horse had been trained
to obey her call as readily As it would
its own mistress
She pressed on steadily through the
deep, dark underbrush, when her quick
ear caught the -teaIthy tread of some
I Thing either brute or human, i'm the
bushes near her. She stood still
Against human foes She felt that she
was proof but she had no argument
with which to meet panther. Sud
denly, with quick bound, an animal
reached her side, and looking down she
saw Solemn Faces dog, a magnificent
hound, crawling at her feet A swift.
silent prayer went up from her heart
Tor this new protection, for the dog
trottcd along obedicntlv by her side.
obeying her slightest call She knew
the Indian cncampmcnt must be near.
and. knowing Solemn Faces habits.
called the dog and moved boldly for
ward. and in few moments stood i'm
the light of the camp-iircs Of the Co
manchcs
The warrior, let fall their rifles with
q prolonged Simultaneous Ugh"
and prOstrated themselves Hat on the
grodfrd believing solemn Face stood
among them in the spirit Shaking
her long hair. dyed % deer black. over
her face and shoulders. she halted
''among them. and, touching one Of the
nearest warrior, with her foot. she
badc him rise Then pointing To the
shy and suddenly nmging her arms
! tragiCallv toward The fort. initiating
''fifiiii y fii'i Il Nf-liffIi~ ana WflIfl~. AfIf
said q Go tell your Chief WarIopa
that the Great Spirit sends me from
the happy hunting-ground- to advise
him with words Of wisdom. Tell him
to sec the clouds floating like steeds
above the breeze; il will storm to-
night and that hc must not attack the
palc-facc until hc hears solemn Face
sing The dcath--Ong. then he can sue
ceed. Tell WulOpa 90 obey Monitow
] have Jkcn Then turning quick
ly She was soon lost in the forest
a hundred yards farther ON She came
90 an Indian sentinel guarding The
horses. She addressed him iu quick
tone Of command. saying Monitow
sends me io you bring me my horse. !
have spoken.
soon the Indian. trembling With fear.
led solemn Face pony to her side.
Mounting, shR bounded away m the
darkness, the faithful dog at her side
To make matters worse. % tcmpe-tuous
night set in. The rain now descended
boo torrents but ON rode the weary Girl.
never quailing beneath the heavy rain
or iinching from the terrific roar of
loaVcn artillery. he now cmorVcd
from thc timber and rode down thc
prairie valley like wild fr, and soon