The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-04-17
Stories of ain Inland State.

The trader who struck Misty Dawn left
the reservation. The other traders were
| angry and vowed vengeance. The Agent
knew this and prepared for trouble anu
COMMUNICATIONS from the department in
Washington. He resolved. also. to do some
thing at once to dam the rapid current or
, Misty Dawn's zeal. He knew that the trad
ers were circulating lies in regard 10 the
| relation of the girl and himself.
He must take precautions 10 defend him.
self. and strangely enough he felt it his
duty 10 protect an Indians good name
strange, passing strange-but he felt that
The traders were not inactive Misty
| Dawn might be removed. There might oe
dance out on the edge of the reserva-
ton. and plenty of liquor and an Indian
| trawl, shooting.
Misty Dawn never attended a dance, for
it was never given. And the Agent was
not investigated He and the traders be-
came friends again. The squaws replaced
the corn husks between their babies heels
and the Indians. Little Robe and the rest,
went on surrendering their checks TO the
| licensed traGers.
For Misty Dawn's mother died. The In
dian wife of Jake Beffel, wrinkled and
bent died peacefully. Misty Dawn went
to the savage funeral and came back again
in tears, but without the black pigment
en- her face which was so hldeously dis
played in mourning by her brothers.
Running Bull. her eldest brother, came
back from the funeral intoxicated.
In the evening Misty Dawn went into the
, parlor of the Beffel cottage This room
might have been called a parlor as il was
| the front room. But il was not parlor.
Here Misty Dawn had slept with Waving
!, Hair: here was sewing machine which
Waving Hair had paid 500 for; here a cook
ing stove worth almost its weight in silver
! as she purchased it. Sitting here with a
tiny lamp at her side. Misty Dawn looked
at the floor wondering. She did not feel
her grief keenly.
, Running Bull came in, reeling slightly.
Tall, yellow and sinewy. with his black,
bristly hair reached off his forehead, his
cheek bones prominent and eyes far apart,
horizontal eyebrows, he looked much as
the pictured Indian in the school history
looks, for he had blanket wrapped about
him.
He sat down on the floor, although there
were several empty chairs about. He look
ed upon Misty Dawn steadily with an eye
that frightened perceptibly the longer ne
| looked.
Presently he said, in Indian: 'Shall Run
ming Bull sing?''
| She did no. answer him.
Taking this for assent, he began:
81 sing to you, this is my voice and my
song.
My power is within me-in my pres
ence.
81 sing 10 the beautiful maiden.
, | 81 read your heart-blush-
ct sing to your naked heart
Misty Dawn took no notice OF this, al
though she was surprised. This was an
Indian Iove-song. Why should he be sing
ing it to her?
, He waited quite awhile for response
Then he stumbled to his feet and said in
Indian:
Misty Dawn, come TO Running Bull as
his squaw?'
He reached for her hand and instantly
she drew back her face burning. her hand
trembling. She understood her Indian
! brothers. desires now.
F 81 sing to you,'' he began again.
'I do not talk Indian" she said. "Run-
nIng Bull, am your sister. Leave me-"
; The Indian arose to his heighth and said
slowly, in English:
, Misty Dawn not Running Bulls SIS
1
ter
The young woman stared Speak" she
: cried, 81 am not?"
Her mind was making a terrible strug-
, gle now with the dark past Was she not
then the Indian child of Jake Beffel? What
secret his the dark hours of her infancy
enfold? All! Had not the young white
, man said to her, You are not Indian ?'
Had not the Agent said: You are not
Ind;an?" And this brother with whom
!, she had no sympathy. for whom she had
no love, had known it always She rushed
towards him imploring.
But tact, Misty Dawn, tact, No man,
rot even an Indian, ever forced a secret
from Indian.
She stopped short and said quietly:
Eyes. Running Bull, 'I am your sister
Leave me-"
NO, Misty Dawn not sister" he answer
ed, smiling cunningly. Running Bull is
great. He is strong. He heap rich. He
| treat wife good
He drew from under his blanket a scalp
and held it up before her.
"A scalp. Running Bull. The Agent
does not allow that
He scowled and tucked IL away again
With any other Indian woman his trophy
would have had effect.
Heap brave
Then he turned sullenly.
She must not let him go with his ee-
| cret.
YES" she said, softly, Running Bull
is very brave
He turned and looked upon her, strobe
up TO her and took her in his arms and
patted her cheek. She patted his cheek in
| return smiling lovingly upon him
Then Misty Dawn Gomez" he asked
"And be your WIFE All, Running Bull,
/ am your sister.''
| ing her to him.
! great neck OF the In6ian and looked him
In the eyes, smiling sweetly as she did
so.
Then STE unclasped her hands and step
ped away and said:
Misty Dawn VIII come and be your
wife Tell me first who I am
He reached his arms 10 her.
NO" she answered sweetly, Not TIL
you tell me-
He stood there studying. Then he began:
MANY sleeps ago. Black Wolfs lodge
go far away. Broken Trees papoose died
Broken Trees wife heap sad. Black Wolf
see white mans house. Broken Tree crawl
| to house. He come back with papoose and
| give wife. II Is sixteenth
Wei! wellr' Misty Dawn cried, impet-
uously.
You sixteenth,
He smiled the broad unmeaning smile
Of the Indian.
''But that was Broken Trees capturey'