Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-04

past the base ball park, and a ride of
about fifteen minutes brought US to the
entrance, at which We alighted. Nv
companion put his hand TO his mouth
and emitted the cry of the screech owl.
A gutteral voice murmnred something
in the darkness, and the gate swung
open before us.
In moment the place was swarm
ing with Indians-every copper-colored
attache of the show was evidently on
hand. Somehow they seemed different
in the moonlight from what they had
appeared in the afternoon; their faces
wore hercer expression, they walked
with longer stride and freer move
ment, and much of their cheap modern
clothing bad been replaced with deer
and buffalo skins and a profusIon of
feathers.
braves and squaws,'' said my cap
tor to the crowd, which had surrounded
US closely, ''this is one of the accused
pale-faces, who have stolen our hunt
ing grounds, dug up the bones of our
fathers, and driven our tribe to the
barren mountains of the far West.
What shall We do with him?''
Several voices spoke confusedIy to-
gether, but L could not distinguish
what they said. and only knew that a
discussion was going on. Finally a
conclusion seemed to have been
reached. An Indian broke away from
the circle ana brought a square block
OF building stone, which he placed III
the centre of the group, while another
brought forward a sledge-hammer,
ordinarily used for driving tent poles.
L was wondering what this meant,
when i was firmly seized from behind,
and raw hide lariat wrapped around
me half dozen times and tied securely.
L was then laid upon the ground, face
downward, with my nose resting upon
the cold stone. Twisting my head a
little TO one side, saw "a burly brave
spit on his hands and grasp the sledge
fammer. Still / said nothing, for | was
curious to see how far the red devils
would go with their tomfoolery. Worm
ln-thc-Bud gave signal, and the
sledge hammer was raised, when
heard a shrill voice eXclaIm, in pretty
fair English:
Hold! He shall not diel will adopt
him for my husband!''
The sledge hammer sank to the
ground, and an expression of disap-
pointment gathered in the faces of the
crowd. But 1t WAS their custom, and
they did not think of opposing it. l
was raised to sitting posture, which
gave me an opportunity to get a good
look at the squaw to whom | owed my
life. AS l turned my head, l felt a
sinking of the heart, presentiment OF
evil which was realized when L Iecog-
nized in the speaker the old squaw
whom l had observed in the afternoon.
She looked ten times more hldeouS III
the moonlight than she had seemed in
the daytime. 1t was evident that she
had been forced TO adopt husband
for the reason that she could never
have obtained one in the natural and
ordinary way. The lariat had been
partially removed, when L remarked:
'Stop a moment. Is ttI5 tbs only
way | can escape death?i
''It is the only way" replied Worm
in-the- Bud.
"Cannot one of those younger women
be substituted for thisvenerable relic?''
by no MEANS" he replied, frown-
ing you must either marry Nokomis
or die"
Then let the execution proceed"
said calmly, but decisiyely, and laid
my head upon the block. Once more
the bronze chieftain gave the signal /;
once more the fatal sledge hammer
was raised, and had begun its descent,
when L awoke to find tie cold club of a
policeman resting quietly across my
up.turned nose. aud to hear blue
coated myrmidon of the law remark. il
peremptory accents:
"Well, now, move on, will You? This
park is no hotel.'
moved; and as L looked back,
could distinctly see scowl of dlsap-
poIntment on the bronze face or the
statue.-Chicdg0 Inter Oceda.