The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-06-06


choruses of the same insects droned ,
forth from the mahogany shrubs. The
landscape had a peculiarly conical !
tendency; each individual hill was cone /
shaped; the nut-pines, punctuating |
their gray-blue slopes, tapered to dull !
green cone, and down at the base OF
pyramidical mountain clustered a few
peaked wickiups. A cloud of reddish |
dust arose from trail that twisted in
sinuous loops up and over the Cone
Mountains. as three ponies picked their
way along its winding course. n roam
poaf led the trio; he was ridden by
stern old Meloxi. an Indian of wide re-
p pute among the Washoe tribe. The
second animal, a strange little pinto.
bore the daughter of MeloXi and bring
ing up the rear came Washoe BILLY,
mounted on his sturdy bay.
The riders were silent, but. being In
dams, this seemed matter of fact; some
thing might be learned from the eX-
pressiOns stamped on the countenances
of the three redskins. Meloxi looked
stern and dignified; Ta-tat, his daugh-
ter rebellious and indignant; while
Wasboe Billy wore a victorious half
smile every time be looked at Ta-tat.
which was not infrequentiy. The ponies
were tired and dusty-the riders
cramped and dusty. too
Several dogs began to bark as the
tiny calvacade approached the wicki-
ups; half dozen fairly clad pa
pooses skurried up from the rickling
stream in the nearby arroyo, and stared
at the sorry looking party BY the
time the ponies were halted before
Meloxi's tepee, the whole village had
gathered about them. Neither Meloxi
nor Washoe Billy caused this unusual
interest; Ta-tat, the rebellious-counte-
nanced daughter of chief. had re-
turned into their midst; not willingly.
either, but forcibly brought home by
her father and her future husband,
Washoe Billy.
1t was this maiden, the pride Of the
Gone Mountain WashOes. that excited
the curiosity of the villagers. Ia tat,
from mere infancy, attracted consider
able attention. On her right temple
grew a glistening whisp of white hair,
which accumulated the raven duskiness
of her abundant locks This splotch OF
white among the shining black, re-
sembed q magpie's plumage, and fol
this reason she was called Ta-tat, the
Washoe word for the chattering mag
pie. Then Ta-tat was very clever, and
one day Meloxi listened to the appea
of home-missionary lady, which re
suited in his sending bright little Ia
tat away to the Carson Indian School
No other Cone Mountain papoOse haC
ever attended the school. consequently
the relatives and friends of Ta-tat tool
a deep interest in her progress at thu
institution.
For five years she had been acquiring
The book-lore of the palefaces; Otter
Meloxi received letters that were care
fully read to him by Rancher Bannon'
wife. who lived not far from Con
Mountain. All reports reaching Me
foxi's ears were good and quite credit
able even to big chiefs daughter 5
Meloxi spoke proudly of his clever Ia
tat, and deposited her letters in
dainty willow basket, from which h
took them to demonstrate to every Wis
tor the accomplishment of this Washo
princess.
But one day a startling revelatio
was made to the Cone Mountain Wasl
Oes. One of their own villagers, Will
visiting Carson, saw Ta-tat walkin
with Horace Hop-Foot, and prompt
reDorted the fact on his return hom
Now the Washoes did not object
Young praves-far from 1t; but Ta-tat
hand had long been promised
their maidens keeping company wit
Washoe Billy, and to think that 81
could so far forget herself as to wal
with another brave, and hea Piute
that. and one whose reputation ws
quite notorious, reused the wrath {
Meloxi and Washoe Billy. and all Il
villagers besides. After brief co
sultation, the old chief, accompanit
nv Ta-tat's intended and an extra pom
journeyed Carsonwards, intent upC
conducting the tickle and disloyal 81
to the paternal lodge.
That his mission terminated su
cessfully was clearly illustrated wh'
the expedition returned to Cone Mou
tain. Ta-tat deigned not to greet wi
any show of cordially the companio
of her childhood days She slid off {
weary pinto, shook out her dusty ga
MEMS, and walked with naughty
difference the gauntlet of inquisiti
Washoes. She did not halt until 2