Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-31

When her husband returned at sun
down she told him her fears and made
him 60 out with his gun to scour the
planes, while she stood at the cabin
door with aching heart waiting for
her boy, the bestowed of all. Her
husband returned with sorrowful face
and dared not go out again, as night
had already lowered DER the planes.
So they two sat with aching hearts over
the dying wood fire striving to comfort
each other with false hopes. As Jack
saw the sun go down behind the hills,
his heart told him that he could now
do nothing u save his loved ones, and
all must die, victims to the Indians
rage. He closed his eye while great
tears struggled down his cheeks in spite
of him, for this brave lad was but thir-
teen years old. He opened them quick
w, however, in alarm as he felt a gen.
tie Juggling at his arm and a soft kiss
on his cheek. 1t was Deer Heart" his
own little squaw, as he always called
her, who had now come to his relief.
They had kept her away from him all
day, as they were afraid she might
help him, but now. at sunset, she had
come to him, holding J~uaniata's bride,
but keeping her que of sight of the In
dams. She had a great dagger in her
hand, which she had stolen from her
father. the Indian chief, and with 1t
she now cut off the cruel ropes
which bound him and had SO hurt her
beloved Jack all day. She whispered
in his ear that the massacre was plan
ned for 2 o'clock In the morning. and
that he had yet s hours in which to
save his people. AS Jack heard these
awful words he gave a shudder, out
only stopped to place n long, thank
full kiss on his savior's sbrown cheek
before he was up on ~Juanitas bare
back ~galloping away for dear life over
| the plains. He had not gone o than
200 yards before a terrible yell reached
him and told him he was pursued, and
| also that his life and his peoples lives
| hung on Juanita's speed, for they had
| taken his arms from him at once and
| he had nothing with which to defend
himself. Leaning low yer his mares
| neck he whispered words Of encourage
ment to her and the dear beast bound
| ed forward as if she knew that so
many lives hung on her swiftness.
Over the smooth plain she sped with
| ten Indians in pursuit, shooting their
fatal arrows to left and right. At last,
however, Jack felt a swift, sharp pain
in his right shoulder and his arm
dropped useless by his side. On, on,
he sped with the Indians ever drawing
| closer until Jack imagined he felt their
hot breath on his cheek. But in reality
Juanita, who had not been used all day
was in splendid trim for her race for
life. while the bronchos OF the Indians
had been securing the plains rallylng
| forces for the nights deadly work. on,
! on. they went, until it seemed to JACK
that he must fall by the way. But
then the though of Deer Heart" and
her brave work encouraged him, and
| glancing back he saw the Indians
gradually dropping behind, except one,
who still kept up the chase. But at
last Jack saw the welcome lights OF
Dead Creek shining in tn distance, and
looking back once more he saw no
signs of any Indians, and with a thank
full heart, guided his tired beast
straight up to the cabin door, and fell
almost fainting into his mothers arms,
/ with only breath enough left to gasp:
THE Indians: the Indians are coming
tonight to kill us ALL" and fell back
! into his mothers arms.
That night the fight waged fierce and
strong. but by Jacks timely warning
| the settlers had time to prepare them
selves and finally, after a long, bitter
! struggle, the Indians were subdued,
and only a few refugees fed back TO
the camp to tell the story of that
nights awful work. Several days af-
ter Jack rode over again to the Indian
camp but this time with an escort, and
when 20 yards away from the camp an
old Indian squaw strolled forth and in
harsh, grunting tones told him the fate
of his own little Deer Heart" ruth
lessly cut down when 1t was found that
she was a traitor to her people, but
how with her last breath She had said
she would some day meet her Jack In
the Happy Hunting Ground"
IRENA KRAFT.
Wheeling, W. Va, December 28, 1899.