The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-22
BLACK WOLF.

Every evening, when they were not away
and his friend, Ochilla, used TO come and
| sit on the big red rock by the river 20
smoke and talk and watch the shadows Of
the tall hills on the other side deepen and
grow longer as the sun sank.
Black Wolf loved the spot. He loved
the darling shadows the signing of the
evening breeze rs it stirred the leaves
among the trees about him. The terrible
whirlpool at the foot of the rock was fas-
| cinating. 1t twisted and swirled and ate
into the rock with horrible kissing sound
Black Wolf would sometimes lie and look
at it for hours, never taking MS eyes from
it. He and Ocfilla had cast many things
into the pool, and not one had ever come
out
The Wolf loved this spot also because
here he could come and dream and think
whenever he liked, with nothing but the
birds and squirrels TO disturb him, and they
went to sleep early. For Ochilla was a
| silent man, and never spoke unless he had
something to say. There was no charm for
him in the woods and hills and river. He
enjoyed most the silence and his friends
company. Sometimes the Wolf would try
TO tell him what he saw in nature, and
what the leaves whispered to him. Then
Ochilla would take his pipe out of his
mouth and grunt, and call the Wolf an old
woman and dreamer, and ask him how
he thought he would look carrying wood
and dressing skins And then they would
both laugh little and become silent
again.
Sometimes the Wolf would retort and
tell Ochilla that he was mole, because he
could not see and hear all that the Wolf
enjoyed, and that it spoiled man to be
married.
This would make Ochilla quite sober, be-
cause he had two SquAws and the Wolf
had none though the two men were of the
same age For. although the Wolf was
one of the braveSt warriors in the nation
and had killed many men; though he had
hung five days in the sun dance, never
fiinching; though he had made more sin
gle handed raids and run off more horses
than any other man in the tribe, and was
successful hunter-his friends had begun
to make sport of him and the women
looked at him askance, for among the
Sioux it is disgrace for man to be IN
married, especially if it be from his own
choice. Black Wolf had plenty of horses
and weapons and saddles and robes, and
could have married many girls if he would,
for he was tall and strong and handsome
But he would not, and Ochilla sometimes
became very cross at him.
One evening in the hot weather Ochilla
went down to the rock, but Black Wolf
did not come. He did not come the next
night, nor the next, and the fourth night
Ochilla did not go there, because he knew
that the Wolf would not come for many
nights His heart was glad, because he
knew why his friend did not sit on the
rock any more. He knew that every even
ing the Wolf. with two or three other
young men. sat in the lodge Of old Si-chi-
ton-ka, whose daughter Ano-et-ka was the
prettiest girl in the tribe. And few days
later, Ochilla's youngest squaw told him
that Si-chi-ton-ka's family had had a talk,
and could not decide between the Wolf
and his rival Sa-han-te, and that both men
would now lie outside Si-chi-ton-ka's lodge
and take their chances.
Ochilla's heart sank Sa-han-te had one
wife already, but he was said to be good to
her. and the Wolf, being untried, be feared
for him. Besides Sa-han-te was as hand
some rs the Wolf. almost as rich and had a
silver tongue. Into a girls ear he could
whisper sweet things of which Black Wolf
knew nothing and cared less. 1t would be
hard struggle, and Ochilla knew it. So
when Black Wolf came past his lodge
few evenings later. and motioned to him
to come to the rock, he was not surprised,
only sorry.
Long time they sat on the rock before
oft hoy SyNnl 10 -nrH
"Well?"
Son of Long Arrow it is not we'll. He
of the silver tongue wins. | am no love
maker have given up, and will go away
to the Blackfeet. This is no place for me"
Ochilla looked at him sternly Soft
head! Coyote! The girl is playing with
you. She sits with Sa-han-te. but not un-
der his blanket. She is making you play
the fool Go back and be man"
Black Wolf sat few minutes longer in
silence, then rose and went back to camp.
Ochilla looked after him and smiled
The Wolf walked straight through the
camp to the willows by the creek. He
might be too late for this evening If so,
he could talk to old Si-chi-ton-ka and trade
horses or saddles as an excuse for coming.
From the clump of willows on his left
tall figure rose suddenly. 1t was Sa-han-te,
and the rivals stood with folded arms, gIar-
ing at each other in silence.
Presently form emerged from the lodge.
and Ano-et-ka ran up the path.
Sa-han-te stepped forward with a con
temptuous glance at his rival and seized
the girl IN his arms
Did the heavens fall' Did the Wolf
dreamt For Ano-et-ka struggled in Sa-
han-te's arms and called TO him With one
bound be was at her side. Sa-hau-te, with
curse. stalked away
Ochilla, coming down to the creek to
soak some arrows, met Sa-han-te going
back to the camp, and later saw two per
SONS sitting under one blanket down By the
willows and be almost leaped for JOY.
When people are first married all goes
well Both the newly welded ones are
anxious to please. and so they are happy.
After r time, when II Is an old stOrY-tkis
being married-it is different.
Black Wolf never went 10 the rock now
and even staid at home from the hunt, 30
he could lie in the lodge and smoke and
watch Ano-et-ks's nimhle fingers a. they
deity few back and forth over her bead
work He liked 70 help her sometimes.
too, when he thought nobody saw him
But they did see him. and soon il came TO
be told that Black Wolf was becoming al
Old woman and worked ike a sou4w, and
they made fun Of hlm-bshind his back at
first. then openly TO his face. AT least the
squaws did There was something in the
Volts eagle eye ana close mouth which
prevented any Of the men but the chiefs
and old warriors and his TREND O.hilia
from deTiding him
But Black Wolf did not seem 70 mind
He staid in bis lodge Is much a. he co1ld
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