The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-24
LEGEND OF THE FALLS.

places them on spirit slanu, winch lies
at the foot OF the falls. amid the rapids,
but the main part Of which has been
swept away by the floods 10 recent years.
However. they wero there somewhere,
and among them was the beautiful squaw,
Anpeta Sapa. whose name the pale faces
interpret Dark Day The Dark Day had
been reigning belle among her people.
She attended oil the plum stone parties,
Kettle drums, O'Clock teas and other
little affairs of the kind that were given
by Ecr friends, and ut the great dances OF
her tribe her beauties aud good qualities
of heart and mind werc praised In weird
chants. A bold AMI brave young war
rior fell desperately ia love with her,
and took her to lis tepee TO be his
wife. The ancient traditions do not ro-
cite the name Of the warrior, but to make
the tale run along the more easily he
shall be known IA ''The Lofty" for the
chronicles describe him as tall, athletic
Indian, with fiery eye and commanding
presence The pair lived very happily
together for few years, aud their union
was blessed With two children, boy and
girl. The Dark Day was model house
wife She kept the table standing and
the victuals warm while waiting for her
husband to come IN from hunt, and
when he scolded her In an aboriginal, un-
reasonable way about nothing Of all, In
stead Of calling on his mother-in-law to
squelch him, she simply cast her dark, PEN
sive eyes to the ground, heard him out,
and then ran up and gave him Kiss,
after which lie became more reasonable.
In the meantime The Lofty had become
a famous hunter, unrivaled In the chase
by any OF the warriors OF the tribe Game
was scarce when he could not go out and
bang in half dozen deer and few buff
falo. This made him popular among the
younc men who gathered about him, and
told him that on the death Of an old chief
they would make him chief OF the tribe.
He listened 10 them and very soon be-
came victim Of swell head" Now he
had passionately promised the beautiful
Anpetn Sapa that 10 her his entire affec-
lion would lie given; that be would ever
cherish her with q "FlorentiDe Fourteenth
century devotion" lor words 10 that
effect, and would never, never never,
desert her for another But his llatterers
and admirers began to poison lis mind.
They urged upon him that, for the IN
hy marriage with certain powerful
family, In order TO gain their support in
future tines Ambitious and anxious TO
retain himself ia the good graces Of his
friends he at last--but, oh! how reluct-
antly yielded to their opportunities and
entered upon a marriage OF expediency.
Now, for Sioux, The Lofty seems to
have been n very good sort OF fellow. IL
Is even related that he had n conscience,
Gnd that alter becoming bigaInist this
conscience gave HIM many tt little prick,
for had lac not told the beautiful Anpeta
Sapa that he was her ownest own, and
would never bestow any part Of his afiec-
Iions upon another Under the ciIcun-
stances he did not like TO break the news
of his recent marriage TO wife No. !; so he
made il appear to her that he was only
contemplating marriage, aud with true
Indian laziness tried to persuade her that
IL was all for his aud her good and for the
best interests Of the tribe that the mar
riage should take place. He tried to make
II out, too, that owing TO the numerous
receptions and levees 1t was becoming
necessary for him to hold In order to keep
up his popularity, the tax upon her as the
lady OF his household was becoming too
great for one woman alone 10 bear, and
that she must have some one to help
her out on these high society occa-
sions 1t was, indeed, dark day. The
stolid Indian wife wept and pleaded and
protested. She would do all the work Of
the household alone, and would slave day
and night II thereby she might retain the
undivided love of her husband and win his
approving smiles-for even a stolid Sioux
Will sometimes smile when lie is pleased
1t was in vain that he told her that tue
new wife would not be permitted to cast
any dark shadow upon the household;
that Anpeta Sapa would always be fore
most in his affections, and that she had
naught to fear The faithful pleading
wife, brushed aside all these subterfuges
as unworthy Of the bold warrior OH whom
her heart was fixed, and her chidings and
pleadings were more passionate aud de-
spairing than ever. The Lofty returned
from the Interview discomtlted and sor-
rowful, but at last be determined TO tell
her all She listened to his story--told
In gentle tones, for The Lofty was not
heartless OF cruel--but she uttered not q
word. Her heart was broken. She went
10 reside with her parents, taking her two
children with her, for there were no
divorce courts to resort to In those days.
In the fall Of the year great hunt was
organized, and the entire village, squaws.
papooses and all--went out upon the ex-
petition. When they were returning
down the river, we'll laden with the spells
Of their hunt, Anpeta Sapa In a canoe
with her two children hung behind the
rest OF the party. She ran the canoe
ashore on nm islsnd-probably the same
that Is now called Nic0llet--and here she
arrayed herself in the picturesque attire
I'm which she had been welded to the am
bilious warrior. A crown OF eagle feath.
ers rested upon her raven locks; great
strings Of wampum decked her bosom;
richly embroidered clothes constituted
her garments Then the children, too,
she arrayed In gorgeous attire. The little
boy, who already gave promise Of becom-
ing great warrior, and who was dearly
beloved Of bis father, che painted and
deckel ~ TIRE warrior style, and In his
hands she placed o bow and arrow. Then
stepping again with him into her frail
canoe, she pushed out into the middle Of |
the stream In moment the canoe was
IN the current, sliding slowly toward the
cataract.
Then, with her eyes fixed upon the far |
"A, knriznp nd headline pauohf stnuf |