Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-10-07
THE MYSTERIOUS IRON.

Twin boys were born to n certain
woman OF the Sioux tribe in the midst
OF a terrific thunder storm. In accord.
ance with the old custom the children
were named from this circumstance,
after the deity. or personification of
thunder The elder was called
'Shakes-the Earth rs He Walks. ;"
and the younger His Voice Is.
Heard Coming" They grew up to
boyhood in close companionship but
at the age OF about y the older brother
fell sick and died. The other was for
time inconsolable and he never
, ceased to communicate with the spirit
: OF his brother. as though he were still
upon earth. At an early age he
announced his determination to go
forth alone upon the warpath--a re-
markable undertaking among the Da-
kotas, who seldom attempt u solitary
expedition until they become expert
, enced warriors. This feat was to be
undertaken upon the advice of the
elder twin. who had promised success
to his younger brother il he would
follow strictly his directions. The
young man accordingly set out on
foot upon his hazardous journey car
rying with him his gun and ammuni-
ton and several pairs of moccasins.
! After many days of wearisome trav-
elling the wanderer discovered one
morning in the distance q solitary
! tepee. IT seemed to flicker white
through the scintillating heat along
the far horizon. He approached it
more nearly. 1t proved to be tent
OF skins tanned to IL beautiful white
ness and painted with symbolic fig
ures. A man and woman were de.
picted at full length on either SIDE of
the doorway.
Cautiously the youth crept still
nearer to the tent but without de-
tecting any sign of life in its neigh .
| borhood save the presence Of a horde
, OF beautiful spotted ponies which were
grazing near by. No smoke issued
from the aperture in the top. and not
even dog thrust his nose under the
gayly tassled door Tho young Indian
accordingly concealed his body be-
hind II tuft of sage brush on IL little
eminence which commanded the mys
! FERROUS tepee. and scanned the horizon
for the approach OF its expected
owner and the tent itself for the rev.
4 citation OF a possible inmate. Ii it
should be occupied by q man and his
wife only. the man would return at
evening from the hunt and ere that
time the woman would doubtless ap.
pear outside the tent If several men
were within. one or more OF them
might soon show themselves. Alb.
solutely motionless he lay prone in
the warm grass and waited
At last his patience was rewarded.
The swinging door was pushed aside.
and from within there stepped IL
young and hand ONE woman. Her
dress was of fine deer skins elabor-
ately embroidered. but OF fashion
jet black hair was arranged in two
long plaiis that fell over her Shout
ders and her features were the pref
test and most delicately formed tina.
the delighted youth had ever beheld.
Shading her eyes with her hand. she
gazed earnestly out along the horizon.
as il expecting some one. and then
retired once moro within the tent
Satisfied now that the young woman
was alone. and her husband out fol-
lowing the deer or buffalo tho Young
man rashly resolved to surprise the
fair occupant OF the solitary tent be-
fore the hunters return. He stole
no selessly as possible to the doorway
and placed his hand upon the tasseled
door his heart beating violently
meantime partly from fear OF the
sudden approach OF his unknown en-
envy and partly from his eagernesS TO
see more nearly tho charming lace
that had captivated his fancy.
suddenly. with IA last hurried glance
over his shoulder he flung the door
aside and bent his plumed head to tho
opening. Ills eyes fell instantly upon
the woman seated on IL buffalo rob
and Introducing moccas n. She
lifted her eyes at his unexpected en-.
trance and greeted him with charm
ing smile. which greatly increased
his confusion.
She told him in the sign language
:
tongue, that she was with her young
or brother. who will soon return from
his day s hunt. She also informed
him that she was the daughter of a
powerful chief whose village was sew
eral days Quincy TO tho north. and
that on the third morning they would
return thither.
Pointing TO his gun. which was al
ways within reach shs questioned
him rs to its use. Smiling at her ig
norance he made signs expressive o.
its death dealing force but she looked
aside incredulously. Finally the youth
boldly asked the maiden TO become
his wife and to accompany him home.
She appeared TO consent but stipu
lated that no should first return with
them to her fathers lodge. To tes
her lovers faith she proposed also &c
conceal him in large par fleche
(rawhde trunk). there to await hel
brothers return. Although the young
warrior fully realized that he was
placing himself in Il perilous and even
humiliating post on, for loves sake
he submitted one evening 10 be
crowded into the narrow space within
one OF these painted trunks where he
lay helpless and unable 10 move,
breathing through small opening
which was turned toward the oute
circumference OF the lodge.
The hunter returned at the usual
hour and was informed by his siste,
that strange young man OF another