Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-31
wAHNoWelN's THIRD BRIDE.
Not Pleased with Civilized Courtship. He
Buys Her with Eight Ponies.

Not Pleased with Civilized Courtship. He
Buys Her with Eight Ponies.
Mrs. r. S. Rust's line of work in connec-
ton with the Woman's Home Missionary
society leads her among the Indians, and her
reports concerning the progress of missionary
labor in that field are full of incidents. She
went into Kansas and thence into the Indian
territory, one point of visitation being about
thirty-five miles from Cedarville, Kan.
when we reached the Indian agency" she
said, in relating her experience on that jour
ney, 1--WE were welcomed by the teachers and
the Rev. B. G. Swartz, superintendent OF the
missions in the territory. While we were
talking, significant incident occurred. Tho
tall figure of a full blooded Indian entered
the school room, and was introduced as Shella-
pasha. He had como for his daughter Clara,
who attended the school and was general
favorite with teachces, and pupils. Shella-
pasha announced that he intended to take
her home with him and dispose Of her in
marriage The child wept bitterly, teachers
and friends demonstrated; every argument
was used TO dissuade him fy1A his purpose,
but the Indian only yielded so far as to say:
L will bring her back tomorrow il do not
marry her. We visited the Indian camp in
the afternoon, and found Clara Shellapasha
dressed in a blanket She fed as we ap-
preached to hide her anguish, and we were
informed that her father had sold her for
eight ponies, and the marriage was to b
consummated the next day. Tho young
Indian who purchased her for his wife was
Wahnowgin He had been at the school at
Lawrence, could SPEAK English tolerably
well, and seemed quite intelligent, but going
back to the reserv walton, as do most OF the
full bloods when they are educated at dis
tance from their homes. returned TO the
blanket and the heather habits OF his people.
He already had two wives
1.-THE prospective bridegroom, in preparing
for his marriage, after the ponies were given
over TO the brides father, retired from the
companionship of his people and remained
alone till near the hour for the ceremony.
Then he came back to the camp Of his friends
and to bis tent, where he remained upon q
rich blanket. plate Of cooked food was
placed before him, which he did not touch
The bride-elect, in her camp, had In the mean
time been dressed in her richest blankets, and
embroidered garments, beads, the plurnase OF
birds, and paint entering into the combine
ton. Snowy knicsnacks encircled neck and
arms, and were suspended from her ears,
while the tinkling silver bells Of her anklets
made music Ut every step. She was placed
on pony, and. as it vss led out by one Of her
people, gun was fired Oh started thepeny
carrying the bride, the firing Of the gun being
the signal FOR four feet women Of the camp
CT the bridegroom 70 start to meet her. Tie
one who reached her first had the honor o.
Leading bsr pony 10 the bridegroons tent.
Thus escorted. when within few feet Of the
bridegrocms tent, she was lifted from shs
pony and placed upon a wkite blanket. ths
four corners OF which were held BY the fsEI
women They bore her in and placed hsr BE-
SIDE the man who was soon 70 Be Ter husband
When the bride and groom had p2rtsken o.
food from the same plate they were corlsid
cred a beiag rsarri-d5
The honeymoon, Mrs Rust said, was nc:
very captivating. The next day she cozi-
tfnaed. the couple were taken back 20 TIE
camp Of the brides people, TIE bridegroom
riding the sssst horse nis family could provide
for him. which vas Afterwards given 10 hsr
people. AL tia beauriss. ciosEing ct the
bride had siresdy teea distributed among
members Of tie husbands family, and she
wcre, IS sha must ne1cefertE wear, t5e
coarsess AID conmeness Esz.eriaaa EeT
jewels ware guna. ner hal- u5hxsidss. sE1
ner life Of servics AID drudgery begun Fae
bridegroom uEs n54. according -so-s "a &zsSssa
catssnn, ose Of skee eAA.isy. and viii have no
special asScciati5n vita ki& speoEas. IN -
future s-lndisnapssb Jeaspsl