The Iola register., 1902-03-28

the expedition returned to Cone
mountain. Ta-tat deigned not to greet
with any show of cordiality the com-
panions of her childhood days. She
slid off the weary pinto, shook out
her dusty garments and walked with
naughty Indifference the gauntlet of
inquisitive Washoes. She did not halt
until the flap of her fathers wickiup
hid her from view. This was far
different homecoming than had been
planned for Meloxi's famed daughter
Her disgrace assumed gigantic pro-
portions; the villagers were amazed
to think that Washoe Billy still de-
sired to marry her. Washoe Billy un-
derstood matters better than his peo-
pie. Ta-tat never pretended to care
for him; MeloXi made the match
Even though he was chief, the title
proved but an empty honor, and Bill
ly's numerous ponies and three guns
appealed to his covetous nature;
therefore, when Billy sued for Ia
tat's hand, MeloXi consented upon
learning that two ponies and a shot
gun would be his portion of the we'd
ding contract. In addition, MeloXi
possessed his quota of racial pride,
and never could lose his hatred for
the Piutes, so firmly had his father
instlled in his mind the bitter details
of the old feud existing between the
two tribes. And to think of Tastat's
professed partiality to miserable
Piute more than strengthened his de-
sire for n speedy marriage between
her and Washoe Billy. Ta-tat safe in
his wickiup, Billy eager to claim her
as wife, and the ponies and gun
withheld until after the ceremony
these facts prompted Meloxi to set an
early date for his daughters we'd
ding.
The news had apparently no effect
upon the sulky Ta-tat She realized
how little sympathy would be forth
coming from her people; yet she de-
termined to be the bride of no one
but Horace Hop-Foot, her noble Piute
lover. Ta-tat's schooling had taught
her to read and write; she had labor
iously waded through a highly col
ored novel in her career at the in
stitute, and from it had contracted
romantic ideas. With all Hop-Foot's
glaring faults, she loved him madly,
and was more than willing to re-
nounce her connection with the
Washoes, especially the possibility of
being bride to ugly Billy. Hop-foot
had acquired a little learning at the
Carson institute; he owned small
shanty down near Reno, and was the
best gambler among the Indians for
many miles around. To be sure, he
that was not such "A grevious fault,
according to Ta-tat's reasoning.
! With the installation of the white
meSs ideas. many of Ta-tat's super
stitions were eradicated. For in
stance. she thought il wise to forget
the old feud long nursed between
| Piute and Washoe; she also laughed
at the Washoe's tradition that certain
! birds and beasts were the forms as
| sumed by good and bad spirits. The
magpic. for which she was named,
| could be either a wicked woman in
| disguise, or the spirit of a wise old
man. so claimed the Washoe mcdi-
| cine men; but the white teachers
scoifed at those ideas, and Ta-tat
| agreed with them.
Hop-Foot's first gift to her was a
scrawny young magpie Che thought
! il an appropriate token), which she
tendcrly cared for, and taught to say
n few words both i'm the English and
| Washoe languages. The bird with
the majority of Ta-tat's belongings,
! still repoSed i'm her room at the insti-
! tute. MeloNi had allowed her scarcely
/ time TO gather up n few necessary
garments when he rode up to the
school and abruptly carried her away.
Now sitting in lonely dudgeon be-
meath her fathers peaked roof, Ia
tat'sJ mind worked actively, and she
coniured up mental pictures-frst of
a slave's-lifesw with WHshoe Billy; then
II blissful vision ofilove in Hop-Foot' s
shanty on the outskirts of Reno.
Prospects seemed decidedly gloomy
for he dusky maiden.
Great preparations were gaily
planned for the approaching weddings;
the feast would eclipse any previous
similar attempt since the grand bar
becue of thirty years ago, when ten
fat horses We're stolen from dance
hall at Washoe City, and nicely roast
ed ere the palefaces missed them. In
vitations circulated freely among the
Carson Valley Indians, barring OF
course. the Piutes. The orgies would
be appropriate for the nuptials of a
| princess, even though that princess
was sadly disgraced; still her father
commanded universal respect, and
the Washoes were only too eager to
seize upon an opportunity for a big
time.
While the preliminary arrange
ments hummed merrily along, and the
wedding morn but five days away, Ia
tat hit upon brilliant scheme. She
frightened up as willing bride