Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-26
desirous of pushing things to a grand


climax.
Ta-tat, in accordance with an old
custom of the Washoes, sat in solitary
magnificence within her fathers wick
iup, awaiting her lords first command.
Her dainty, beaded moccasins tapped
the earthen floor nervously; there re-
mained 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
wedding guests were gorging them
selves in barbaric Indian fashion.
Three hours of feasting, two hours of
dancing, and then the surrounding of
her lodge by the revelers; the brief
ceremony of the Oldest medicine man,
and she would be Washoe Billys slave,
and her dreams of love with Hop-Foot
things Of the past.
The molten sun rested on the apex
of the loftiest cone-shaped peak; the
feast progressed beautifully. A rim of
fire, 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-tats 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
mel"
The words were but half-articulated,
and Ta-tat held her breath as if their
echoes startled her.
''Ta-tat, Ta-tat!"
The girls heart throbbed painfully.
"Oh, it's he! Hop-F Foot, here l ami"
Under the tepee's flap rolled a 1.-THE
body. 1t was Hop-Foot, me Piute, the
favored lover of Meloxi's daughter.
The brave and his dusky sweetheart
gazed at each other in profound silence
ipi q iloiuChl. DSE-ity uGLSu
the dauntless Piute; her wedding
tinery, her magnificent eyes, her su-
perb fgure All, she was well worth
the risk!
Quick, the moments fy!" breathed
Ta-tat.
Hop-Foot gave her a closely woven
basket. The young sQuaw raised the
lid, and took from It's shallow depths
a small lump of black and white
feathers-her magpie-Hop-Foot's first
gift to her.
you have saved me, Hop-Foot. We
are saved!' gasped the girl.
"Goodby, Ta-lat. Goodby." With
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 wicki-
up at the heels of Hop-Foot The katy
dds still chirped, 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
pyramidical 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 commodious tepee. The throng
encircled the wickiup, torches cast
glare CT light into every nook. Meloxi
threw back the entrance-fap, and
Washoe Billy rushed in to claim his
bride.
I'm Ta-tat, Ta-tat! Ta-tat's hun
cry! Ha, ha, ha, hal"
Tie laughter was demoniacal the
voice harsh and frightful. The eager
groom fell back in terror; a frenzied
yell curdled the blood of the encircling
braves and squaws. Washoe Billy
leaped sheer out the wickiup and fell
in a quivering heap at the feet of Me-
loXi The torcnes lit up the scene
with the brightness of day, and there,
in the doorway, the amazed Indians
beheld that most terrible OF all bad
medicine birds-a magpie.
I'm Ta-tat! Ha. ha ha, ha! Ia
tat's hungry. Ha, ha, ha hal"
Away up on the last curve of the
pyramidical mountains trail two
ponies halted, and their riders gaZed
down at the Cone Mountain village and
chucllled as frightful din rent the
quiet of this beautiful Indian summer
night Ta-tat, the Washoe princess,
enjoyed her romantic escape, for she
knew full well that her people would
forevermore look upon Ta-tat. the
magpie, as the transformed daughter Of
Meloxi.-San Francisco Argonaut.
Valuable Food Product.
INic, rnnrr,Inr ie. n la "a nd