The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-07-04
A LEGEND OF LELEOTA.
HOW THE BIo MISSOURI RIVER
CAME TO BE MUDDY.
A wild. wicrd Tale Handed Down
Through Countless cenorations
OF tho PoaoA Indians
A Fiend's Death.

G.. In the Chicago Times. so many that
IL makes ones head ache 10 think OF
them. the chief town OF the Ponca ma
ton nestled at the eastern base OF a
low mountain about fifty miles, as the
crow flies, west OF whore now Is Sioux
City. Iowa This mountain stands at
the head OF "a chain OF smaller fellows
that stretches away TO the southwark.
Straight NJ It's base the Missouri hurls
its mighty flood with all the force
gathered In a fye-milc sweep from
the north; then. finding It's progress
barred. turns due east and continues
its seward way in ten thousand swirl
ing cddles. II is as IL the mountains led
BY this patriarch. had started on n
journey "a the north. and finding their
path blocked by the river and being
TOO obstinate TO turn aside. had sullenly
held their ground through all the long
ages.
In "a deep, narrow ~ravine. close 70
the river and u little removed from the
rest OF the village. was the tepee OF
Warpah Tcnka. tho medicine nan
Long years devoted 10 sacred mysteries
had bent his once 1.-the form and
plowed such deep burrows in his face
that the swarthy skin seemed TO de-
pend from the skull In folds. which
were curtaincd by snowy locks hang
ing far down upon his shoulders.
Never was a medicine man mt nee SC
beloved, feared. and respected by his
people or vouchsafcd such signal
marks OF favor by the Great Spirit.
So scdulously had Warpah Tonka de-
voted his life 10 his holy calling that
he found no time for matrimony: so
that now there was no childish laugh
ter In his tepee 20 cheer the long win
ter evenings, no bright eyes and MIN
BILE feet 70 exc nj his fading sight and
trembling step. Had II not been for
the consciousness OF a great duty.
nobly performed. Warpah Tonka
would have regretted his celibacy;
even as Il was he could not suppress "a
ycarning for the sweet co~mpanionship
OF the young, for he dearly loved chill
dren.
One sumner twilight as Warpah
Tonka wandered beside the river his
meditations were interrupted by "A
sound a or "A thousand mockiugbirds
singing. Looking up he saw a neecy
white cloud floating toward him. Soft
~ down II came until IL rested at his
feet. IL opened. and Warpah Tonka
saw lying upon a bed Of soft. golden
m-oonbeams, a papoose. As he looked
the babe grew until she had the ap-
pearnnce OF "a girl OF IL years. Then
she opened her eyes. smiled. and. look
ing at Warpah Tonka. said simply:
MY father" At this the cloud van
ished and the two were alone. Then
Warpah Tonka knew the Great Spirit
had sent him an especial token OF
favor in this little maid Ia brighton
the last days Of his journey to the hap
py hunting grounds.
Much the people marveled at this
great miracle. Whole tribes came
The Cloud Child and to beseech
Warpah Tonka TO make medicine for
thu.
FoEr ioy-la1en years sped by.
Lelcota was the light Of Warpah
Tonka'a tepec and the life OF the viii
lnge. All spots were cheerless, all
games dull. unless she was present;
the children were happy only when
with her. .cr "a.
Beautiful. did | sayp Why. until
Lcleota came. beauty was not; and now
that she is gone, beauty Is no more.
Though not the boldest young war
rior would have dared To speak 10 the
cloud obld,o f love, yet there was one
who regarded not sacred things. ok
shcla Seche, the storm devil. had
looked with coyetous eyes upon Leleo-
Ia. Many were the cunning plans he
laid 20 possess the cloud child. but as
often was he thwarted by WErpah
Tonka's medicine. Each time he was
baficd his disappointment and fury
wore doubled. How he tore up the
forest trees and buffeted the waves in
the transport OF his ragcl
As q lovely June day was drawing
20 n close Lelcota wandered away from
her young companions and climbed 10
the summit Of tho mountain back OF
iha village and stood with dreamy
cyef ~ was her wont, gazing upon the
glorious sunset landscape. After the
&c y orb her father had taught her TO
Worship had disappeared behind the
distant hills Lcleota still fingered,
drin'siug Ia the perfumed breeze and
listening 10 the evensong OF the feath-
ercl choir about her.
Orshcla Scche saw her standing
there and with a howl Of triumph was
40 her elbow. 'lIai hal my pretty
one be screamed; NOV YOU shall
60 nc with me and be my bride"
Ielcota was filed with loaihing M
SIGHT 81 the hideous apparition. but
sha know no fear. Cllnching her dim
plcl iist she struck Okshela Sachc
enn-s In the mouth. aayinC s,Bcgone.