The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-04-22
EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR IN T1tb
'. HEART OF MONTANA.
Evolution Into n Tartar of Shy
Indian Bride-PartinS or Billy
Morse and Isabel Bear-Wa1king-
Over-the-Hi When the Breaking
Point Camc-S1mple Exit Of the
notwithstanding OF the Indian
e. SLrew-Rules Her With n Club.


SLrew-Rule. Her With a Club.
Not long after ruInor said that Billy
Morse and Isabel Bear-walking- over-the-
hill were to be married, the four hundred
of the reservation-that is to say the
squawmen and the Engnsh-speaking half
breeds-received written invitations to at
tend the ceremony and the dance to be
given in honor of the event. The notes
were deciphered with some effort and
were found to read: ...
Your hereby Invite to Dance in, debatin hall
next chuesday evenin, if you want to
git Marrcs come to the mission at clock
dancin begins at 7.
Billy Morse, 1893. I'd.
Isabel Bear Walkin Over the Hill.
The debating hall was large, barn
like structure which had been built by
popular subscription. The full-blooded In
dams had borne their share of the ex-
pense, but had been frozen out by the
four hundred. At the appointed time the
latter were all there in good season, the
women sitting demurely on benches
ranged along one side of the hall. the
men occupying similar seats on the other
side. Some full-bloods were there, too,
perhaps relatives or friends of the bride,
but they stood outside and looked in
through the windows.
The women, of course, wore their best
gowns Of 1bright-hued calico or Bingham.
Their long black braids of hair were fas-
tened at the ends with huge bows OF red
TtbbOn. Many had on shoes, IN wh:ch they
moved about rather aw'kWardly; tie
others wore embroidered moccasips. The
mem were dressed in sack suits of somber
color-black or brown. Their boots were
of that high, pointed heel pattern SO dear
to the people Of the plains. Some wore
white shirts and collars; some. white
shirts without collars. The rest had on
soft neglige shirts of wool, but, white or
wool shirted, cOllared or collarless each
one displayed a necktie of flaming red
and magnificent dimensions. Their Short
stiff hair, so difficult to part and keep
parted. was plastered with liberal quanti-
ties of oil. The Sitting odor Of musk
filled the room. THUS runs a New York
Sun story from Blackfeet Reserva ton.
MONTH Three musicians occupied the ros-
1rum at the far end of the hall. The two
violins had been tuned to the key of the
accordion, and it lacked but the presence
of the bride and bridegroom for the dance
to begin. The women whispered to one
another and gigg1ed, or sat staring at
the floor in stolid silence. The men, more
at case, conVersed together loudly about
their everyday affairs. One could hear
such fragmentary remarks as: Worst
bronco I ever see." Eyes, quarter circle
bar is his brand" Found her and her
calf yesterday
Presently the door opened and the bro.
and bridegroom appeared. At the sud
den hush which ensued as every ont
turned to stare at them, they stopped
hesitatingly on the threshold for an in.
slant, and then the bride, with a shawl
hnv, = 1,o11
her features except the eyes, walked
swiftly to the nearest bench and SAT-
down. The bridegroom, handsome
young fellow, neatly dressed, was not in
the least disconnected. AS ne advanced
down the hall he called out loudly:
"Howdy, fellers! Glad to sec yer all
here tonight. Musicians, let 'er rip
Take yer pardners fer a quadrille boys
The men crossed to the other side of the
hall with rush, secured their partners
and formed the sets. The bridegroom
stationed himself by the musicians to
call off, and as they strlck up a lively
tune he shouted: Balance ALL! The
dance was on. g.
One Of the young men chose the bride
for his partner. In vain she protested
and held back; he took the shawl from
her anu hurried her to a place in the
nearest seat. Being a full-blood, this was
her first appearance in society. Through
her half-breed husband she was now en-
titled to be numbered among the Four
Hundred. She had never danced, but
somehow, by being pushed this way and
told to go that way, she got along very
we'll. The shutting of heavy boots and
the clank and jingle of spurs, which some
men still wore, drowned all sound of the
music at times, but that didn't matter;
the dancers managed to catch enough of
1T to go through each figure in unison.
And such dancing! When the order was
given, balance to your partners" or
balance all" the men danced jigs or
double shuff1es with such energy that the
perspiration streamed from their faces,
and to wind up they seized their partners
by the waist, whirled them off their feet
and dropped them into their places as the
music ceased. During one of the inter-
1udes in dance a tall. bespurred indi-
v1uuaI, IN the exuperance OF MS JOY,
jumped high in The air with yell, and as
be came down shouted out: "Dis is the
best time I'm never had. What"
The supper which had been piled up in
2 corner behind the stove, was served in
tin dishes and cups at midnight. 1t con-
visited of canned salmon, tongue, ham,
apricots, strawberries and crackers. Fall
Justice was done to it, and when the very
last can had been opened, the last crack
er devoured. dancing was at once re-
summed, and continued until dawn The
rising sun saw the dancers tired but
happy, speeding over the plain on horse
back or In wagons, on their way home.
The bride and bridegroom, in brand
new Blackboard, drawn by pair Of spot
ted ponies, were just passing the brow
of the long hill which sloped down to
Bear creek, by the side of which stream
their unpretentious cabin had been built.
AS time passed on the women began to
whisper about that in marrying Isabel
Bear-W alking- cover the-Hi1l Billy Morse
had caught tartar; that she was always
sulky and trying to quarrel with him.
At first this. was thought to be mere
wornen's gossip; it didn't seem possible
that any one could quarrel with Billy.
He was the most popular young man on
the reservation. Every one, from the
United States Indian agent down to the
halnDOlest fula,blOod met him with a smile
and hearty shake of the hand; he was
50 Eght-hearted, so goodtempered, SO
generous and obliging, no one could help
liking him. People were slow to believe,
too that his voamg wife, a elenfer, pleas
antfaceG Slip of a GIRL could be quarrel
some. Since his. marriage Billy had spent
all his little savings and earnings in i'm
proving his ranch and providing food and
clothing for himself and his wife II his
cabin was small and plainly furnished
It was at least warm and comfortable,
Food there was in plenty, and his wife
was the best dressed woman on the res.
ervatton. What more could q woman
want? fttl
One Sunday Billy, with his wife, drove
over to visit Mis- friend, Tom Abbot Az
irving at the ranch they were Hospitality
received. and whtle the women 9nsainad
Sogerner about their little affairs. Billy
and Tom put in the afternoon bIayiua
crfbbage and talking OF their boyhood.
4ae m:an'ss they had plaxed. the. sorapes
ss VIZ sss ssss