The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-02-15


disloyal girl back to the paternal
lodge.
That his mission terminated sue
cessfully was clearly illustrated when
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 wiclSiup
hid her from view. This was a 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 n 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
instilled in his mind the bitter details
of the old feud existing between the
| two tribes And TO think of Ta-tat's
professed Partially TO a miserable
Piute more than strengthened his de-
sire for a speedy marriage between
her and Washoe Billy. Ta-tat safe in
his wicldup, Billy eager TO claim her
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 10 read and write; she had labor
iously waded through a highly col
ored novel in her career at the in
stitute, and from il had contracted
romantic ideas With all Iop-Foot's
glazing 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 institutes; he owned small
shanty down near Reno, and was the
best gambler among the Indians for
many miles around. To be sure, he
imbibed freely Of fire-water, but then
that was not such n grevious fault,
according TO Ta-tat's reasoning.
With the installation. OF the white
mems ideas, many OF Ta-tat's super
stitions were eradicated. For i'm
stance, she thought Il wise to forget
the old feud long nursed between
Piute and Washoc; 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 n wicked woman in
disguise, or the spirit of wise old
man, so claimed the Washoe medi-
cine men; but the white teachers
scofred at those ideas, and Ta-tat
agreed with them.
Hop-Foot's first gift to her was n
scrawny young magpie (he thought
il an appropriate token) which she
tendcrly cared for, and taught TO say
a few words, both in the English and
Washoe languages. The bird, with
the majority of Ta-tat's belongings,
still reposed in her room az the insti-
tute. Meloxi 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's mind worked actively, and she
conjured up mental pictures first Of
a slaves life with Washoe Billy; then
blissful vision OF love in Hop-Foot's
shanty on the outskirts of Reno.
Prospects seemed decidedly gloomy
for the dusky maiden.
Great preparations were gaily
planned for the approaching wedding;
the feast would eclipse any previous
similar attempt since the grand bar
becue Of thirty years ago, when ten
fat horses were 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
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 big
time.
While the preliminary arrange
mpnfa bupfnp1 t,tarrtlv nlourr opI tho