The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-11-07
! AVA
!: MOOWIS !;
An Indian Legend of Maiden !,
Who Loved Man of Rags.
! BY ATHERTON BROWNELL. !
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

about that. The tribe of Indians
to which she belonged had but late
ly returned from the summer fish
ing grounds, had built their lodges
and spread their rude floors with
skins and had prepared the great
logs which were to be burned in the
winter to keep out the cold, one side
of the lodge being left open to adj
nit the log, which was slowly drawn
in as it was consumed.
Her fathers lodge was the lar
gest of them all, and here Nepa-
whamis presently set up a little
court of her own, for during that
summer she had first donned the
red cap to betoken that she might
now be wooed, though it soon be-
came very evident that she did not
intend to be lightly won.
For Nepawhamis was a coquette,
and her lightsome fancy showed it
self in many ways. Her red cap,
contrary to custom, was ornamented
with beads wrought into various
conceits Of birds and animals, and
in it she wore red feather, and she
perched it jauntily upon her glossy
black tresses with an air of def
ance, as though daring any brave to
remove it.
And she wore her mantle of deer
skins as none other could wear one.
The skins, sewed together to make
great length, were ornamented with
the tails Of many deer, which bob
bed and danced as she walked trail
ing the great length of her mantle
behind her as though she were
queen sachem of her tribe.
And many lovers came to woo,
but with none would she wed. Be-
fore the door of her lodge were laid
many offerings until the little lodge
was hung with mats of many and
various weavings, decorated with
bowls and plates of curious design;
jars of earthenware with pictures
burned in their sides, basins of
beaten copper and belts of wam-
pun. No hunt was undertaken
that some brave did not lay his
offering at her door, and her father
waxed fat and lazy, as all things
were provided without his exertion.
Now and again some brave, en-
boldened by show of greater favor
than was given to the others, would
lay his first and second finger by the
side of his nose, thus indicating his
lifelong devotion to her and his de-
sire to marry her according to the
custom of the tribe, but to all such,
with a merry laugh, Nepawhamis
would extend her hand, with the
tips of her fingers pressed close to-
gether, and then, in the braves
face, would slowly and derisively
open them.
Then that brave would go away,
to be seen no more by her, and if
she regretted any of them she show
ed it not, for their places were
quickly filled and the same story
was repeated until the gossips be-
gan to declare that Nepawhamis
would never wed and to shake their
heads dismally when they saw
new brave wooing, as they knew, in
vain.
At last there were no braves who
had not tried their fortune, and
Nepawhamis' father began to be dis
turbed, for their offerings ceased,
the winter began to press and the
old man was obliged to hunt for
himself.
"Thou willful girl" he said, els
there none in the village worthy of
thee ?"
But Nepawhamis only laughed
and babe him wait. And in the
meantime the fame of Nepawhamis
and her beauty, as well as her CO.
quetry, had spread to neighboring
villages.
In one was young brave named
Sakatehoc, the son of a great chief.
But though brave, he was gentle
and loved the arts of peace more
than those of war. He was tall
and straight as an arrow, but his
dark eyes were soft with a lustrous
light rather than with the fire of
passion.
Finally he, too, came a-wooing
the fair Nepawhamis, and he sat for
long hours without the door of her
lodge waiting for her to appear.
And he sang to her the love songs
of the forest.
He told her the stories of the
camp and of the hunt, but those she
loved best were the folk tales of the
tribes.