The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-01-29

Jennie was fearless as warrior, yet as ten
der and sympathetic as a maiden could be
Yet all looked in establishment at Jennie
who, resting her clasped hands on her faith
ers shoulder, turned composed glance Il
the group OF anxious settlers standing near
You need all the men you have here to
night. can make the journey more safely
and more surely than any one present
know the forest perfectly; can speak thu
Indian jargon as well as ! can English, anC
would rather risk my life in the forest to
night than remain in the stockade, for if on,
of the men is sent for help we are lost, for h,
will be captured without doubt" But wha
will save you also from capture" questioned
her father. God and my own Judgment
answered Jennie. II will personate Solemn
Face, the medicine squaw, who died foul
months ago. Tonight it will be easy tc
work upon their superstition, and pass the
Indian sentiies and camp as Solemn Face y
| Capt Moor folded her in his arms, saving
go, then, my child, and may God go will
you and bring you safe again to your old ia
Tiers AIMS" Amen" responded all pres
ent, deeply moved. They all knew if any
one could succeed in the task 'twould be Jen-
uie. So after hearty "God-speed" from those
present she wendell her way to her cabin To
| make the necessary preparations for the baz.
| ardous journey on which so many lives de-
| pended. Solemn Face was Jennie's facsimile
| IL all but hair and complexion, Jennie inner
iling the bright yellow hair and pure rose
| complexion from her Scotch ancestors: while
the squaw possessed rare combination found
| in the Saxon race, uniting the dusky hair and
complexion of her Indian mother with the
deep blue eyes and delicate features of her
English father, who had been trader amono
| the Indians. Solemn Face held a high place
among the savages from her superior intelli
gence. They believed her to be gifted with
some supernatural power. From childhood
she had hated the pale face, Jennie being the
only one she would speak to. Jennie was
soon made ready with dye and dress, and a,
the cleaning, stood ready by the gate. The
moment cane and amid tears of women and
the silent agony of her father, she went out
III the deep darkness, undaunted by the dan
gerous journey. She knew in reason She
would have to pass near the Indian encamn.
ment that she might secure Solemn Face
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 car caught the stcalthy tread of some.
thing, either brute or human, in 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.
Suddenly with quick bound, an animal
reached her side, and looking down she saw
Solemn Faces dog, magnificent hound
crawling at her feet A swift, silent PRAYER
went up from her heart for this new prolec-
zion, for the dog trotted along obedently by
her side, obeying her slightest call She
knew the Indian encampment must be near,
and, knowing Solemn Faces habits, called
the dog and moved boldly forward, and in a
few moments stood in the light of the camp
fires of the Comanches. The warriors let fail
their rifles with a prolonged simultaneous
Ugh and Frustrated themselves flat on the
ground, believing Solemn Face stood among
them in the spirit. Shaking her long hair
dyed deep black over her face and Shout
dcrs, she halted among them, and touching
one of the nearest warriors with her foot she
babe him rise. Then pointing to the sky and
suddenly fllnglng her arms tragically toward
the fort, initiating Solemn Faces actions and
words, she said: go tel your Chief War
lopa that the Great Spirit sends me from the
happy hunting grounds to advise him with
words of wisdom Tell him to see the clouds
floating like steeds above the breeze; it will
storm tonight and that he must not attack
the palctNce until he hears Solemn Face sing
the death.song; then he can succeed Tel
Warlopa TO obey Mantow. have spoken"
Then tuning quickly she was soon lost in
the forest.
A hundred yards farther on she came to an
ihdlah sentinel guarding the horses. She ad.
dressed him In quick tone of command, saw
ing: "Mantow sends me to YOU; bring me
my horse. have spoken"
Soon the Indian, trembling with fear. led
Solemn Faces pony 10 her side Mounting,
sic bounded away in the darkness, the faith.
iul dog at her side To make matters worse,
tempestuous night set in. The rain now
descended in torrents, hut on rode the weary
girl, never quailing beneath the heavy rain or
1ilnchlng from the terrific roar of heavens ar
tillery. She now emerged from the timber
and rode down the prairie valley like wild
fire, and soon thought that she must be near
ing the camp Of Capt. Ford's Rangers. Sud.
denly the sharp click of rifle lock, and the
low challenge, "Who goes there ?" answered
by The sullen growl of her dog, told her that
her journey was ended. Another moment
and the dog with fierce growl sprang at the
Rangers throat; short struggle and the
dog. lay dead at the Rangers feet, knife
having found vital part. Sliding from her
pony, she had no power to stand alone, but
fell fainting to the ground. The RANGER
bending over her, was surprised to see an
Indian squaw, but applying brandy to her
lips she soon recovered and in a moment
more the Rangers had surrounded her, to
whom she made herself known and the dan.
gerous condition of those left in the stockade.
Half an hour later hundred Texas Rangers
were riding swiftly to the rescue of the little
settlement, and just after midnight rode up
to the gates of the stockade Not an Indian
could be seen. The Indian scouts had noted
the advance of the Rangers long before thew
arrived, and had left in haste, forgetting to
wait for the signal (he Death Song) ofSoiemn
Face. Jennie Moor became the heroine of
the border. Although she has long slept in
her grave beneath the forest trees where the
stockaded hlock-house used TO stand, she lives
in the memory and hearts of those whom She
saved from the scalping-knife of the Conan