Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-08

fires on the opposite side of Clear crock. Mes.
eengers had been sent 10 the Southern Utes q
tell where the battle was to be fought weno-
sene heard 70 her horror that IL was to be sew
eral miles down the canyon, where the river was
deep and the ford marrow. She saw theil
scheme, Toolooloosa's men were brave and
many In number, % the Uncompahgres feared
to fight openly and we're going to use cunning.
would anord them safe hiding places, and
where they could shoot from ambush Tooloo-
single Ale
towards! towards! I would rather die with
my brave Toolooloosa than live longer with
these people," thought the unhappy Weno-
him.
IL was long after midnight and the moon had
sunk before the last tired Indian had gone to
sleep. Wenosene, watching, but unmatched.
stole quietly from the wick-i-up and away from
sne camp so cautious was she that not even q
dog challenged her.
When out Of sight of any keen eye that might
happen to open she frightened her belt and
started like deer over the prairie and hill
toward the creek.
She reached the stream, the beautiful Clear
creek, tnat she had not seen since that day
that her loverhad told her his hopes and plans.
She looked for the tiny canoe that she had lef,
there In the old happy DAYS It was conc
she was not to be daunted. Far up the stream
lived Perquinump, whom she knew had several
canoes, and one was always in the water near
ms wlck-i-up. stumbling over rocks so sharp
that ere long her bare feet were bruised and
bleeding, past the cruel brisrs that tore her
face and hands, on she went till the canoe was
found. She sprang in, caught the paddle. and
pushed 1t out in the stream. The current was
SO strong and the water rushing so fast that the
distance she had run was covered in as many
minutes as the walk had taken hours.
Already the east was growing gray. Would
she be too late? The battle was to be Jus,
when the sun was we'll above the mountains
She bent herself to the paddle and the canoe
cut the water like an arrow. She would reach
her lover in time to prevent him entering the
ford
Hark! what was that sound? That rushing
and roaring that grew more distinct each
moment! Oh! the falls. the falls. She had
stood just below them that day she promised
her life to Toolooloosa. She pulled her boat
the side where the Southern Utes had made
their camp and run the remaining distance
that still separated them.
While she hesitated, the sun-as IL reprovins
her slowness-burst with red, angry light over
tho mountain tops. As if that had been the
signal for the march, the Southern Utcs
already in line for battle, advanced to the
ford. Wenosene hesitated no longer, but, with
a prayer to the Great Spirit, pushed her canoe
into the deep water above the falls. Her eyes
were fastened on her lover, who was leading
his braves. Would she reach him? She called
Wait, wait for Wenosene. Listen; your bird
tells you to wait" but the rushing waters
drowned the sweet voice.
Bee! he advances, he has stepped to the ford
she is too late! No; he has seen her and stops.
She can yet save him! Her canoe has almost
reached the edge Of the falls. Hark. tina,
sound "a singing, whirring. buzzing sound that
Is made only by arrows cleaving the air.
A scream Of "Wenosener' from the lips o,
Toolooloosa and he falls pierced by score Of
the poisoned points.
And Wenosene2 In the middle Of the stream
Just at the edge of the falls, partially extend
ing over them, as IL to shoot down to the rapids
below. still sits Wenosene, an image in stone
in canoe Of solid rock. Her mouth is slightly
open to call; she is bending forward with up
lifted paddle to send the boat over the falls
Here she will remain till the rushing waters OF
Clear creek will have destroyed all the image
OF canoe and the maiden occupant.
This legend was told me by an old Indian OF
the Southern Ute tribe. He showed the old
ford, the place whore the lovers had stood
when the medicine man had found them, the
rocks behind which the treacherous Uncom
pahgrcs lay in ambush. As a proof of all hit
tale he pointed to the image of the Uncompah.
gre maiden in the middle of Clear creek.
LoA y. MCINTYRE.