The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-08-25
MYSTERIOUS IRON.

this circumstance, after the deity or per-
sonifcation Of thunder. The elder was
called Shakes-the-earth-as-h e-walks and
the younger His-voice-is-heard-com
They grew up to boyhood in close compan-
ionship, but at the age of about twelve
years the elder 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 the earth.
At an early age the youth announced
his determination to go forth alone upon
the warpath--a remarkable undertaking
among the Dakotas, who seldom attempt a
solitary expedition until they become ex-
perienced warriors This feat was to be
undertaken upon the advice Of the elder
twin, who had promised success TO his
younger brother If he would follow strictly
his directions. The young man accord
ingly set out on foot upon his hazardous
journey, carrying with him his gun and
ammunition and several pairs of moccasins.
On the second day he shot a deer, and
having cut out the tongue and heart for
food offered the entire animal as a sacri-
flee to the thunder god, after the manner
of his people. He stretched and pinned IL
to the ground by the four extremities, of
fered prayers for safe and victorious re-
turn and then slept beside the embers of
the fire. At dawn he resumed his journey
toward the north.
After many days of wearisome travelling
the wanderer discovered one morning in
the distance solitary tepee. 1t seemed to
flicker white through the scintillating
heat along the far horizon He approached
it more nearly. 1t proved to be a tent Of
skins tanned to beautiful whiteness and
painted with symbolic figures. A man
and woman were depicted at full length
on either side of the doorway.
Cautiously the youth crept still nearer
to the tent, but without detecting any sign
of life in its neighborhood save the pres.
ence of horde of beautiful spotted ponies,
which were grazing near by. No smoke
issued from the aperture in the top, and
not even n dog thrust his nose under the
gayly tasseled door.
The young Indian accordingly concealed
his body behind a tuft of sagebrush on a
little eminence which commanded the
mysterious tepee and scanned the horizon
for the approach of its expected owner and
the tent itself for the revelation of n posi-
BILE inmate. If it should be occupied by q
man and his wife only, the man would re-
turn at evening from the hunt and ere
that time the woman would doubtless ap-
pear outside the tent. II several men
were within, one or more of them might
soon show themselves. Absolutely mo-
tionless he lay prone in the long grass and
waited.
At last his patience was rewarded. The
swinging door was pushed aside and from
within there stepped young and hand.
some woman. Her dress was Of fine deer
skins, deliberately embroidered, but of a
fashion unlike that of the Sioux women;
her Jet black hair was arranged in two
long plaits that fell over her shoulders
and her features were the prettiest and
most delicately formed that the delighted
youth had ever beheld. Shading her eyes
with her hand she gazed earnestly out
along the horizon, as If expecting some
one, and then retired once more within the
tent.
Satisfied now that the woman was alone
and her husband out following the deer or
the buffalo, the young man rashly resolved
to surprise the fair occupant of the soli-
tary tent before the hunters return, He
stole as noiselessly as possible to the door
way and placed his hand upon the tasseled
time, partly from fear of the sudden ap-
proach of his unknown enemy and partly
from his eagerness to see more nearly the
charming face that had captivated his
fancy.
Suddenly, with a last hurried glance
over his shoulder, he flung the door aside
and bent his plumed head to the low open
ing. His eyes fell instantly upon the
I,.g Y. u.
broidering moccasin. She lifted her eyes
at his unexpected entrance and greeted
him with charming smile, which greatly
increased his confusion. Surely" he
thought, "this is an elk or deer in woman
shape, or else one of the fairy sisters. Any
mortal woman would scream at the sud
den appearance of a stranger while alone
and unprotected in her lodge"
"Who are you," he exclaimed, at last.
"Are you Dakota"
The girl smiled again and shook her head.
"Where is your husbandS" he asked.
She told him in the sign language that
she understood not the Sioux tongue; that
she was with her younger brother, who
would soon return from his days hunt.
She also informed him that she was the
daughter of powerful chief, whose vii.
lage was several days journey to the
north, and that on the third morning they
would return thither
After promising to come again when the
brother was at home, the young warrior
took his leave, with a alingering look behind
him, which sufficiently announced to the
girl the impression she had made.
He now resumed his watch from behind
the tuft of sa9ebrush, and as the sun was
near setting a rider appeared in sight, as q
moving speck on the horizon. In few
minutes a handsome young man rode uT
to the lodge and dismounted from his
pony. His sister Immediately came out tC
meet him, released the body of the young
doe from his saddle bow, removed saddle
and bride and watered and picketed the
pony. She then followed her brother into
the tent, from which thin trail Of smoke
soon issued and lost itself in the blue air
After they had supped the pair reap
peared and seated themselves 10 enjoy The
sunset and the cool Of the evening. They
held an animated conversation, accom-
panied by the most expressive gestures, al
of which were closely observed by the un
seen watcher, who concluded that the gir
had said nothing to her brother concerning
her mysterious visitor.
The night passed without incident, ant
the young Sioux watched the Blackfoo
depart in the morning before presenting
nImsen AZ Une Iod5c or r-t7 rc;----. r-7c
smiled archly as she saw him, and ceased
her embroidery long enough to ask in the
sign language, "Why did you not come, as
you promised, before my brother leftP
The artful youth responded with another
question, "Why did you not tell youl
brother of my visit yestesdayS" Upor
this both laughed aloud and continued t.
converse with more freedom. The nader
exhibited her finely worked robes ant
other possessions, while she coyIy tool
note meanwhile of the brilliant paint, un