The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-25
Of lac davs La 80 gone.

All his time the young girls, scattered
here and there among the braves. in al
the glory of new skirts and ribbons. stood
breathless without so much as a hint Of
gossip passing their vermilion lips.
They We're silent. very much the same
feeling that many one has in the pres
ence Of death. -dary's wedding day pre-
saged their own What would she do
How would she look?
Meanwhile their glances were riveted
upon a spot as sacred as that which held
the auctioneers rock and hammer. There
We're gathered in q row seven dis
tinguished warriors. They had 10 their
credit youth and money. None were in
that line who could not bid ponies, the
pride and wealth Of the Usage clan, 20
win bride.
How many each was prepared 10 give
to secure to himself the buxom Mary
for wife was locked IN the recesses OF
his own heart. 10 be called forth present
~ by the ringing voice Of the auctioneer
The gaze of many dusky belle soughi
TO penetrate the thought of the seventh
perhaps. or the third, or the second Of
that line, as the case might be. They
were all there TO bid-their first choice
openly revealed. Mary falling who would
be second? Fancy having a husband who
could never vow even by 1.-THE inconsist-
ent moon that you We're his first choice
Dressed in theih best these seven sat
with what feelings heaven alone knows
They looked out upon the vast throng
gathered in the bleak wind to DO one OF
them honor with festivities that would
last three days Il was the wedding dag
OF him whose ponies outnumbered those
of his rival Love was at an open dis
count unless balanced by horseaesh.
How mnch mould they bid?
The excitement grew with the moments
As in every auction conducted on proper
principles the worth OF the object spread
from lip to lip. Marys beauty was ex-
toIled till her coraI-tipped ears must have
redeemed in the frosty air. She was al
this while concealed somewhere behind
one of the great bluffs in a tepee erected
for the occasion, ready 20 spring forth a
the auctioneer's cry OF Gomez
Had she herself a choice? There were
those among her companions there as
sembled to see her knocked down 70 the
highest bidder who knew she had They
saw him sitting second in the line Of ser
en-. His name was Duncan. Had
he ponies enough? Did hos heart beat
true? Would he give his all to Win her
He was as handsome as a groom should
be. That yon may picture him, know
that on the day called Is courtesy
Mary's wedding day he wore leather
I ell
tons on the sides, and undeh HIS blanket
2. beaded shirt Of bucksldn. His face was
gloriously painted. and from his ears
hung copper discs almost the color OF his
skin His hair was 'raided and IN Is
coils were two red feathers. He stood
six feet. the taliest in the nne-the pic
ture of a bhave worthy the name
In his set lips was determination. n
his eye a volcano Of fire. smolderihg now,
waiting to shoot forth and carry all in
the stream Of its burning ardor.
The last in the line was John. He
IS close upon forty by the calendar Of
his tribe-too old by all customs for an
Usage groom. Besides. ne f. iu-favoTed
mis- face is disfgured by a horrible scar
won perhaps honorably, but none the less
ugly to gaze upon. The sun shoEe upon
him pitllessly. showing one Of his should
ers 10 be slightly lower than the other
He stopped, while his rival Duncan
sat straight as an arrow.
But John smiled 70 himself ever
while he must have realized the contrast
in their looks This was not contest
of beauty. but race for ponies. Ht
lips. too were set with determination. Jill
acres were broader and his herds az least
double the number OF those % any brave
in the line.
in a moment % Intense silence. as IN
tense as an out-of-door scene may ever
hone 70 reach, the auctioneer took his
place behind the rock. He was known
place behind the rock. re was
of a skin dark even next % his hair.
which was coarse as the name 81 the
Ills nose WIS alnost besk He Was
chosen fo- aBotioneer on this occasion
because ne was o. al the tribe NOS; Ct
ted
He had learned auctioneering 81 Kan
gas City. whore f9r wears hack
he had carried Indian goods 20 SCH. He
had. too. the git - expression. II was
tenacious. energetic: be rad a VOICE so
n8rous enough 10 carry even 20 Tire hiil
tops with the greatest dl9u5ty. wrap
lnz his blanket aboat him bis aeaS
thrown back. be- stood a moment. - 6.
70 command attention
Il wa Absolutely unnecessary. Excsrt
FAR the valslllug win6 ~ auetioneee
rom Park r9w - wet Ens avenae ever
evoked such attention.
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