Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-02-19
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, FEBRUARY 10, Is
river ana round his friend.

i)ldCtN w Ofi Ol)t'Ilcti ulS utttTt W Cut O1hIi
and told him all his troubles, Ochilla ask
ing questions and giving advice IN though
to son. He had doubts rs to the fair
Ano-etka's fealty to her husband-he had
heard her, at several dances. loudly praise
Sa-han-te but this WAS nothing, for every
Sioux woman may praise whom she will in
the dance There were other things also
which gave him suspicion, bat he deemed
it unwise to tell his friend Of tEem at
present He hoped the Wolf would now
become more like other men and subjugate
Ano-et-ka as he Ochilla had subjigated
two wives So when 1.lack Wolf, almost
weeping. had finished speaking he only
asked quietly. Why has not my brother
given the woman the q1iirt?"
Black VOLTS blood seemed to rush to
his heart. What. Strike Ano et-ksis
Whip hermy wfe?" he exclaimed
why mott Women are strange crea
lures. and must he r!iled. That is my way
and look 1T my women.
The Wolf did not answer He knew
Ochilla's wives--thin. tired, bent creatures
worn with work and child bearing He
turned away and went back to the camp
Thenceforth the Wolf was more like his
old self. except that he hunted and raced
horses rs much lis the other men and spent
little time in dreaming. 70 Anoet-ka he
w;ts kind but nothing more. He paid no
more attention to her than to the slave
women who did their cooking
Their child a boy. was born. but he
merely smiled when it WAS shown him
and said no word to her. He had
begun to have the same uneasy feel
ings that OF her men do when their wives
are made love to For among the Sioux Il
man may make love to any married
woman, and to him her lawful husband
Cath mete no punishment. even if he choose
to kill the woman. Sa- han tie. Ano-et-kas
former lover. NOW owner of two wives, did
not attempt to conceal his efforts to induce
Anoet-ka to become his third. Indeed. it
was. when the time for the next fall hunt
came around. common talk in the village
The day before the hunters were to start,
Sa-han tie somehow dropped his knife and
hurt his foot very badly. 1t was curious
wound. which looked rs if it had been pur
posely made, hut, rs Sst han-te said it was
done by accident. there was nothing for
others to say. though all knew he would
now he obliged to remain at home with the
women and old men Though Black Wolf
had been grieving over that warriors at
tention to his wife. he still had faith in
her. and believed her virtuous and trust
worthy
And so the brave band went after the
buffalo and did not return for many days.
for they met the Pawnees and had several
battles in the hills, where, their foes out
numbering them. hemmed the Sioux in
and kept them away from the buffalo
herds Then. one bright morning they
rode proudly into camp, whittier IL courier
had preceded them All the people came
out to receive the hunters and the old
medicine man came up to Black Wolf and
took his hand. for the courier had told him
of the VOLTS prowess. and he was glad, for
the young ni;in had taken more scalps than
any Of his companions. at much greater
risk
Black Wolf looked around, hoping in
the thrCng Of women to see the glad face
of his wife. but she was not there The
people near him seemed to fear to speak to
him His heart standing still, he turned
and rode down to his lodge. All was silent
He diSmounted and looked about him. No
one had followed him. and he lifted the flap
of the tepee and looked in All was dis
order and desolation He understood His
own sister had left her husbands lodge in
the same way. while he was absent one fall,
and the man who got her had to pay twelve
ponies.
Some one came mp behind him. Black
Wolf turned and saw it WAS his old father
They embraced and the old man. weeping
told his son the story
Ano+,t ka. he said. had gone to live with
Si han te the very day after her husband
left. She took the child also The old
men had held council and decided that Sa
hante must leave the village. to await the
IS
had taken his women and children and
horses and pitched his lodge up the creek
past the herr! ground where he now was.
And said old TIA HI chin. IF you do
not cause the chief to maze this robber pay
dearly. you are not my SON"
Black Wolf did not answer hut leaped
on his horse and dashed up the creek He
passed Il woman. toiling under IL heavy
loud of wood it was Sa han tes oldest
wife. and she, seeing who the rider was
fell by the trail and began to wall piteous
ly Sa-han te. whose hair Ano-et- ka was
dressing before liz lodge. !eaped to his feet
and graSped his bow. bat let it fall when
Black Wolf raised his hand in token of
friendship
The deserted husband sprang from his
horse and looked at IA han t. searciingly
The other returned the gaze without finch
ing
HCall the woman" said Black Wolf
Ano-et ka. who had fed into the lodge and
was covering under a pile of skins. came
out trembling. her baby in her arms.
The Wolf reached out and took the little
one and StrOking its head asked Sa- han-te.
do you love her the wonlan?'
The other nodded.
"Do you love hims''
The woman. weeping. answered Yes
xviii you he good to her and the child
if leave them to you. Silver Fongue?'
s;a han ties voice was clear us he answered
simply. u will "
Down in the village the assembled men
and women were amazed when Black
Wolf. with IA han te and the faithless
Ano-etka rode in, but the Wolf did not no
tice their surprise. He RAW nothing. Be
fore the head chiefs lodge he halted and.
before all the tribe, joined the hands of the
guilty ones. Then he turned and rode to
ward the river.
lichlila u little later heard the voice of
warrior chanting his death song over in
the direction Of the big rock. He ran
down there with the speed of the wind, hut
he was too late, and from the great whirl
pool nothing ever comes up.-Translateti
from Sioux Legend by r. l.. ketchum
for Short slpriee