The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-02-19
OLD SUMS VILE

Al IHGIzn Maiden who Won the Three
Trophies OF o VgzrrioF-
old Suns wife sits in the council OF
her natiOn-the only woman, white,
red, or black, Of whom I have ever
heard who en- ioEz such a Prsrogative on
this continent She earned her peculiar
privileges, if any one ever earned any
thing Forty or more years ago she
was q Piegan maiden known only in
her tribe, and therefore nothing more
than her good origin, her cOmeliness,
and her consequent value ina horssE-
She met with outrageous fortune. but
she turned it TO such good account that
she was speedily ennOblsd- She was at
home In a little camp on the plains one
day and had wandered away from the
tents, when she was kidnapped It was
in this wise: Other camps were scat
tered near there. On the, night before
the day OF her adventure a band of
Crows stole a mum Der of horses from a
camp of the eros VentFes, and very art
fully trailed their plumber toward and
close 20 the Piegan camp before they
turned and made their way TO their
own lodges When the Gros Ventrea
discovered their loss, and followed the
trail that seemed TO lead to the Pisgan
camp, the girl and her father. an aged
chief, were at a distance from their To-
pees, unarmed and transporting. Down
swOOped the Gros Veutres. They killed
anu the oAAA IAAeLl
CHIEF swung the young girl upon his
horse behind him, and binding her TO
him with thongs Of bucicslziut dashed of
triUmphantly for his own village. That
Las happened TO many another Indian
maiden. most of whom have behaved as
would a plaster image, saving a few
days Of weeping. Not such was Old Suns
wife When she snd her captor were in
sight of the Gros Vsntre village, she
reached forward and stole the chiefs
scalping-knife out Of its sheath at his
side With &c still wet with her father
blood, she cut him IN the back through
to the heart Then she freed his body
from hers, and tossed him from the
horses back. LeapinE TO the ground
beside his body she not only ssalPsd
him. but cut on his right arm and picked
up his gun, and rode msdly back to her
people chased most OF the way, hut
bringing safely with her the three
greatest trophies . warrior can vyrest
from q Vauquiahed enemy. Two OF
them would have distinguished any
brave, but this mere village maiden
I came with all three. From that day
she has boosted the right TO wear three
eagle feathers,
Old Sun was a young man then, and
when he heard Of this fact ne came and
hitched the requisite number of horses
/ TO her mothers travels poles beside her
| tent / do not recall how many steeds
/ she was valued at, but have heard OF
/ very high-priCsd Indian girls who had
/ nothing except their feminine qualities
! to recommend them. In one case
/ knew that a young man. who had been
4 casting what are called Sleeps eyes
/ at q maiden, went one day and tied four
! horses TO her fathers tent Then he
stood around and waited, but there was
/ no sign from the tent, Next day he
/ took four more, and SO ne went on until
he had tied aiEteen horsss 90 the tepse.
At the least they were worth twenty
dollars, perhaps thirty dollars, apiece.
At that the maiden and her people came
/ out, and received the young man 90
/ gFaciousiy that he knew he was ''ths
/ young yvoman's choice, " as we say in
/ civilized circles sometimes under very
I similar circumstances.
At all events, Old Sun was rich aud
| powerful, and easily got the savage
heroine for his wife. She was admitted
| TO the EIacIrfoot council without a pro
test, and has since proven that her
valOr was not sporadic, for she has
taken the war-path upon occasion, and
other scalps have gone to her credit -
/ Julian Ralph, in Harpsr'z Magazine.