Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-01-04


Gusts. Rabbits and fish and sage hen
were also conspicuously abundant as
preparations went on for the days
feast; and there upon the Goals. sput-
/ tered the elaborate piece de resistance
IA great, fat steer purchased by the
groom from Farmer Bannon.
! The suns rays lost their wonted
/ tierceness as they filtered through the
| soft, misty autumnal haze; che Indian
! braves glided here and there, vertable
sun gods, arrayed in scant breech-
clouts, their skins glstenng like bur-
nished copper, and their befeathered
! heads and painted faces resembling
those of warriors Of early days. MeloXi
and Washoe Billy were untirng In
| their efforts to do full honor to the oc-
casion, and the villagers felt equally de-
sirous of pushing things to grand
climax
Ta-tat, in accordance with an old
| custom of the Washoes, sat in solitary
magnhcence within her fathers wick
iup, awaiting her lords first command.
Her dainty, beaded moccasins tapped
the earthen floor nervously; there re.
manned but few hours ere the closing
of the ceremonies, and her claiming by
Washoe Billy. She cautiously peered
through the loose flap and watched the
festivities. Long shadows stretched
out from the cOniCal mountains; the sun
hung like a blood-red disk just above
the horizon the feast had begun in
earnest, and her people and the we'd
ding guests were gOrging themselves
in barbaric Indian fashion. Three hours
of feasting. two hours of dancing, and
then the surrounding of her lodge by
the jewellers; the brief ceremony of the
oldest medicine man, and she would be
! WashOe Billy's slave, and her dreams
of love with Hop-Foot things of the
past.
The molten sun rested on the apex
of the Hottest cOne-shaped peak; the
feast progressed beautifully. A rim of
fire. a sky of brass, and Sol sank on
Ta-tat's wedding day, and the aggre-
cation of redskins had all but removed
the last vestige of the barbecue. Katy
dds chirped; an owl hooted mourn
fully; stars blinked in the high, dark
ened vault of heaven; fires lighted up
the cluster OF wickiups, and the wild
dance was on In earnest. Two more
hours and Ta-tat's fate was sealed
The. black fringed, liquid eyes of the
Indian girl flashed; her bosom rose and
fell with suppressed emotion. He has
failed me! Hop-Foot has failed me!'
The words were but half articulated,
and Ta-tat held her breath as If the
echoes startled her.
"Ta-tat, Ta-tat"'
The girls heart throbbed painfully
"Oh, it's he! Hop-Foot, here | am"
Under the tepee's flap rolled a 1.-THE
body. 1t was Hop-Foot. the Piute the
favored lover of Meloxi's daughter
The brave and his dusky sweetheart
gazed at each other in profound silence
for moment Ta-tat's beauty dazed
the dauntless Piute; her wedding fin
cry, her magnificent eyes, her superb
figure! All, she was well worth the
risk!
Hop-Foot gave her closely woven
basket. The young squaw raised the
lid, and took from It's shallow depths
small lump of black and white feathers
her magpe-Hop-Foot's first gift to
her
You have saved me. Hop-Foot. We
are saved" gasped the girl.
Goodbye, Ta-tat. Goodbye" With
a farewell caress, the maiden placed
the uncanny bird on a heap Of rabbit
skins, snatched up the tell-tale basket,
and hurriedly slipped out of the wick
iup at the heels Of Hop-Foot. The
kaydids still chrped, the stars twinkled
knowingly, and the dizzy dancers were
almost exhausted as Hop-Foot and the
Washoe princess crept through the sage
brush, around the base of the pyramid
zeal hill to a nut-pine tree, where two
wiry ponies were tethered.
Tom-toms signaled the dance to
cease; torches were lighted, and the
procession, headed by Meloxi and
Washoe Billy, advanced toward the
brides comodious tepee. The thrOng
encircled the wickiup, torches cast
glare of light into every nook. Meloxi
threw back the entrance flap, and
! Washoe Billy rushed In to claim his
! bride.
I'm Ta-tat, Ta-tat! Ta-tat's hungry!
| Ha, ha. Ia. ha. ha, ha!"
The laughter was demoniacal, the
voice harsh and fearful. The eager
groom fell back in terror; a frenzied
yell curdled the blood of the encircling
| braves and squaws. Washoe Billy
| lnnnnd chnnr n11t tho NK-lnlrinn nd fnll