The morning call., 1891-03-01

Cloudy Sky has made you, or do you wish
to say that you are ashamed TO break the
promise you made me to be my wife,"
nave come to say again that L Will pc
your Wife,, she replied; land for the
presents Cloudy Sky left me, / have
trampled them under my feet See, L wear
near my heart the presents you have given
me-"
linen she told him that she bad seen the
fairy OF the waters, who had determined to
aVenge the death of the son of Unktane. He
WAS TO ale oy her hand on the morrow, and
ms SOU would travel long journey. to the
iahu OF SPiEltS, where he might drink and
poast 10 his hearts content. She had him
90 lar away, lest they should accuse him of
the deed, and then she would join him later
on. men she left him, and taking his bow
ana arrows, lie told his mother he was going
on long Journey to visit the Tetons.
mat night Harpstenah plunged the ready
steei INTO the heart of Cloudy Sky while he
slept, ana as she washed the stains from
her knife IN the waters of the lake the voice
OF the "hter-fairy whispered that Unktahe
was avenged
Thus we see that vein of tragedy runs
through all the Sioux legends, which is
further exempified in
THE FOLLOWING TRADITION:
Where tho Chippeway River enters into
tne MlsssiSslppl there is high bluff, known
as the "Malden's Rock" whose top seems
10 leah over toward the water. With this
rock Is associated one or the most interest
ing TRADITIONS of the Sioux. About $50
Years ago a DacOtab maiden. named Wenona,
lived near Fort Smelling. She had received
many oHers OF marriage from a Dacotah
Iuuidn, named Cheske, whom she hated as
much as she loved his rival. Cheske was
young ana brave, and said to be the best
hunter Oh MS tribe. Trusting to time. and
10 ner parents influence, Cueska did not
feel discouraged.
one day, as a band of hunters were leav-
Tag lhe village for a hunt IF many days,
Oheske came 10 plead his suit once more,
ana loaded the parents of Wenona with
presents pre- 1hese they joyfully accepted,
ana compelled Wenona to promise Cheske
TO oe his vile, and she reluctantly gave her
consent. She saw that resistance was USE
less, anu she calmly submitted TO her late,
Dut ner heart was broken. She preferred
death TO becoming the wife of Cheske.
as the hunters went on their way they
encamped beneath the Maiden's Rock TO
rest from their journey. Their women were
crossing the river in their canoes to join tile
hunters, when suddenly they were startled
by loud cry. It was the mother of
NenOna, who saw her only child standing
on the projecting ledge of rock. She was
Singing her funeral dlTge, and as CheSke
hastlly Climbed the rock i'll pursuit she
turned to him with a smile of scOrn on her
lips;
- GU nave forced me to do this" she
Said, DltterlY; you have been cruel to me.
GU nave turned my beloved from the wig
wan. lslall not marry the man | hate. L
woalu rather go to the house of spirits.
aud with a wild gesture of despair she
threw herself into the Seething waters be-
low Ike dead bird, while the air re-
sounded with tine mingled shreks of the
hunters and the mUurnful wall Of the SOr
rUwful mother.
Sacred is the spot where Weuona sank to
rest and spirits are ever lowering near the
scene. The laugh of the Daeutah is hushed
as his canoe glldes near the spot and some
nave ayerred that they have heard the voice
OF W enona as she calls TO the spirits of the
rock. AS the traveller passes by the bluff
he VIII ever remember the wondrous beauty
OF the picturesque spot, and remember the
story of the lovers leap.
Indian legends abound with such stories
ana numDerleSS traditions OF the mighty
deeds OF the Great Spirit. Many Of these
Legends originate in strange dreams, In
which the DacOtah Indian dixie many wiser
people) place great faith. Their religion
is q superstition including few elements of
truth and reason as perhaps any other of
which the particulars are known. They
worship they know not what, and this
from the lowest motives Uf SeifShness and
greed. They only fear the spirits of the
dead whom they have offended, and whom
they hope to proptiate with peace offerings.
Here is peculiar race, of most unfathOm-
able origin, possessed Of the qualities which
have always prompted poetry and living
lives which are to us as shadoWy as those OF
Dsslanlc heroes; and they are passing away
from us-while we take no pains to arrest
their ieetiDg traits or to record their pict-
uresque tTaditions.-Mary Proctor in st.
Louis Republic.