Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-11
AN INDIAN AND HIS CHILD.

ths uno& notorious Of the Sioux chiefs, vbo0
record during the late Indian war; excited
horror among the whites and envy among
his avase rivalA Rain-in-theFare IL today
the most famous Of the Sioux, with the ex-
csptious of Sitting Bull and Gall 1t was be
Who, while under arrest at Fort Lincoln for
Q crime which would have insured his death
On conviction. broke from the guard houss
and escaped. although the guards were keep
ing careful watch about the building Tai,
handsome, fierce and daring be was The
pride Of bis follower He knew no fear and
recognized no danger. Always ready for ths
warpath. be wrs looked upon by the Indians
q an ideal chief; and by his vigorous prose
cuticn Of the war which ended disastrously
to the immortal Custer. he gained . world
vide reputation
But to turn from war to the story OF bis
domestic Life With the admiration Of the
chiefs warriors came the love Of q maideo-
one Of the most beautiful Of another, but
friendly, tribe Rain-in-theFace returned
tho love and accepted the object Of his
affection for his bride, The marriage We
An event Of great importance among the In
dians, and many were the gifts bestowed
upon the envied pair With bis fame as .
warrior and his loving bride, the darin; chief
seemed to have reaped the full reward OF 40
active and TN the Indian mind a noble career
Life Vas filed with happiness for Rain-in-
the Fsce The sun never kissed q happier
pair. Without the cares and burdens Of 70
cety. with no exacting rules OF etiqustts,
with only the whispering wind for music and
the starry heaven for a roof, tas Indian brics
and groom could drink the full and Lavish
sweetness Of their love.
But wherever found. whether in the palace
Of the king or the wigwam of the savage, love
y inconstant After a period Of true devotion
70 his wife, sudden change came over Rain
in-the-Face lie learned that the maiden
whom he had taken unto himself was not the
object upon which his love could center lie
sill regarded her witt kindness, but bis
affections were transferred To snother-not to
another maiden. hut to the chubby boy who
bad come to crown his life with pride and
glory.
Tho babe was yet q bit Of tawuy, express
ionless flesh. when be saw il bis minds eye
pictures of greatness for tho infant warrior.
From this time Rain-in-t the Face was changed
His thoughts returned to the chase and the
warpath lie aimed TO lead such a Life that
the boy, emulatiny his example, might grow
up the leader Of his race. What rosy pic
evening camp fire, when recountins his bat
ties and victories would he speak with pride
of Koska the name given the boy and mean
ing YOUTH for whom he predicted brill
iaat and glorious career. With true Indian
superstition. he bad watched the signs. and,
wi j the inevitable deductions Of q father, he
knew that they all meant greatness ard re-
now-u for Eoska.
So ran the proud days for Is.in-in-the- Face
until civilization began its work Of contract
ing the Indian field. In every field it enters
civilization is IN iconoclast. but nowhere Is
its destruction Of IDOLS and hopes 81 RELENTLESS
and 50 complete es among the Indiana
When the Sioux nation was placed upon the
immense reservation west Of the Missouri
river tho tribes were separated. 1t SO hap
pSned that the tribe to which Eaiii-in-the-
Face belonged was stationed ct Standing
Rock, while lis wife's tribe was sent to the
lower agency, Above all things that N In
dian resents 1t Is ref1oval from his tribe
The tribe Of Raln-in-the- Face being located
at Standing Rock, he insisted on remaining
while the young wife and mother pinned for
the company Of those with whom she bad
been reared She had realized that Rain-in
the Face had little love for her. He was
even jealous Of the affection which she re-
ceived from her pretty boy, who had now
grown to the tOddling ace.
Having remained at Standing Rock until
patience was exhausted. the wife departed
for her tribe, 800 miles distant, taking ths
boy with her. She left while Eain-in-the-
Face was absent on hunt. When the chief
returned he could learn nothing Of the where
abouts of his boy-te made few inquiries
concerning the wife, for her desire to return
10 her trihe rather than remain with him had
extinguished the last spark Of his love for
her. although he still regarded her jealousy
for the sake Of his child. 1t was a month 10
fore he learned the truth. Day and night
bad he searched He had scuuRed the reservar
ton. but no Eoskn did he find, and at last be
learned that the boy had b-en taken to the
lower agency. He knew Of the boys attach
ment for the mother, and was aware that she
would be defended in her claim to the son by
every Indian in her tribe, where she wus now
safely fortified To add to his sorrow, his in
nuence among his Indians had been broken
by the agent, who found this tho only way to
make him submissive.
For months he studied, planned and
dreamed devices for the return Of little
Koska The proud head dropped. Eainin-
the-Face was not himself The hunt no
longer had charms, nor did he Join in the
shouts and dnnces- His boyl He wanted his
koska Wherever be went, whatever he did,
his mind was on the hoy How humble and
how meek was Rain-in-theFace now In
former years he spoke 10 the whites with con-
descenson and disfiain- Now he sought them
for advice and consolation
In conversation with one Of his white
friends, he impaired the secret of his plans
He had decided to go to the lower agency.
and. arriving in the night, steal the boy b.
fore the camp could be aroused He wanted
the assistance Of his white frends How he
quivered, and how his eye followed every
motion Of his friend, while he spoke He felt
that the man was his friend, but he WIS not
positive and he tremblsl lest his confidence
would be betrayed But he proceeded He
wanted his friend 10 Inform smother trusted
friend ut the lower agency, who would give
him Information regarding the location and
surroundings Of the SPOT where his wife and
boy were campet LAYING laid bare bis
plans, he awaited q reply The friend was
nonplused at first, but having = high re-
gard for Rail-in the Face, and knowing how
deeply he was aSSrieved consented
Rain-ln- the Face sprang to us feet in exul-
tation Al last ray OF Light pierced the
gloom which had enshrnuGcd Lis life for
sot,s and laughter. he paused and gazed at
the man Who tal given him the first kind
word-the first hops-that hGal checred hin
since the day lie lost his Toy. When be
stepped from the threshold Of his good
friends home to depart for bis camp. that
evening strange CLEAN II savage Joy radi
ADJ from his fierce DARK sJea His step was
h-Shter than when be came Grooming q
little Indian lullaby Is be mounted his II
nous spotted pony. be was picture TO
Tempt an artist Far different was the home
ward ride from the sad. uncertain journey to
the agency lie came With fear. he returned
with hope.
Slurnber WIS . stranger to Eain-in-the-
Face that night. for he was planning his
journey to the lower agency. SiI wees mad
scarcely passed when be was ready to start
Re had teen Informed - to the locality Of
the tent IN which his ruant wife A--i Eosl.a
alept He knew the direction fro1i which TO
enter in order to avoid arousing the camp
Tbs morning for his departure having ar
rived, Rain-in -thsFare rode into Standing
Rock and with words Of gratitude thanked
the man who had assisted him In perfectinS
bis planA His breast sweiled with emotion
and his words were soft and low as he graspsd
his friends hand and bid him adieu
Al the crack Of his rawhide the pony
dashed away to the southwark, and ne disap-
psAred beyond the hillA He bad q long jour
ney ahead Of him, but be did not spar< the
pony. He knew the mettls Of the uavy
animal. and tie pony. - II aware that be ws
90. a