The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-15
Moovis--- 7Gn indian legend.

Nepawhamis was the belle of the vii
| iage. There could be no doubt about
! that. The tribe of Indians to which
! she belonged had but lately returned
| from the summer fishing grounds, had
| built their lodges and spread their rude
| floors with skins and, had prepared the
! great logs which were to be burnt in the
/ winter to keep out the cold, one side of
| the lodge being left open to admit the
| log which was slowly drawn in as it
was consumed
Her fathers lodge was the largest of
them all, and here Nepawhamis present.
| ly set up a little court of her own, for
during that summer she had first donned
the red cap to betokep that she might
| now be wooed,' though it soon became
very evident that she did not intend TO
be lightly Won For Nepawhamis was
coquette, and her lightsome fancy show
ed itself in many ways. Her red cap,
contrary to custom, was ornamented
with beads wrought into various con-
celtS 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 defiance as though dar-
ing any brave to remove it. And she
wore her mantle of deerskins as none
other could wear one. The skins, sewed
together to make great length, were or
which bobbed and danced as she walked
trailing the great length of her mantle
Behind her as though she were queen
sacEem of her tribe
And many lovers came to WOO, but
with none would she wed Before the
door of her lodge were laid many Offer
lngs, until the little lodge was hung with
mats OF many and various Weayings -dec-
Grated with bowls and plates of curious
il,~cy !,
lures burned in their sides basins of
beaten copper and belts of wampum.
NO nunt was undertaken that SINE brave.
ala nor lay his offerings at her door, and
her faher WaXed fat and lazy, as all
Things were provided without his exer-
ton.
Now and again some brave, emboIdened
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 desire to marry her according
to the custom of the tribe; but to all
such, with merry laugh. Nepawhamis
would extend her hand with the tins of
her fingers pressed close together and
then, in the braves face, would slowly
and derisiveIy open them.
Then that brave would go away, to be
seen no more by her, and if she regretted
any Oh them she showed 1t not, for their
places were quickly filed and the same
story was repeated, until the gossips be-
gan to declare that Nepawhamis would
never wed, and to shake their heads dis
nally when they saw a new brave WOO
ing, as they. knew, in vain
AT last there were no braves who had
not tried their fortune, and Nepawha-
mis- father began to be disturbed for
their offerings ceased, the winter began
to press, and the old man was obliged to
hunt for himself. Thou willful girl. y he
said; sis there none in the village worthy
OF thee?' But Nepawhan1is only laughed
and babe him wait. And in the meantime
the fame of Nepawhanis and her beauty,
as well as her coquetry, had spread to
neighhoring villages. In one was a young
brave named Sakatehoc, the son of a
great chief. But though a 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 for
est. He told her the stories of the camp
and of the hunt but those she loved best