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


THE languorous mists OF a perfect
/ Indian summer shrouded the pur-
pie peaks of the Cone mountains. Lo-
Gusts sang shrilly from every grease
wood bush, and whole choruses of the
same insects droned forth from the
mahogany shrubs. The landscape had
peculiar conical tendency: each in
diyidual hin was conc-shaped; the
nut-pines, punctuating their gray
blue slopes, tapered TO n dull green
cone; and down at the base Of pyra-
midical mountain clustered a few
peaked wiclSiups. A cloud of reddish
dust floated sltyward and mingled
with the shimmering veil of autumn
haze that blurred the hill tops. The
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. A roam pony led the trio;
he was ridden by stern old Meloxi, an
Indian of wide repute among the
Washoc tribe. The second animal, n
strange little pinto, bore the daughter
of Meloxi; and bringing up the rear
came Washoe Billy, mounted on his
sturdy bay.
The riders were silent, but, being
Indians. this seemed matter Of fact;
something might be learned from the
expressions stamped on the counte-
nances Of the three redskins. Meloxi
looked stern and dignified; Ta-tat, his
daughter. rebcllious and indignant;
while Washoe Billy wore a victorious
half-smile every time he glanced at
Ta-tat, which was not infrequently
The ponies were tired and dusty--the
riders cramped and dusty, too.
Several dogs began to yelp as the
tiny cayalcade approached the wick
iups; half dozen airily clad papooses
skurricd up from the tricl<ling 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 Melox nor
Wnshoe Billy caused this unusual in
terest; Ta-tat, the rebelious-counte-
nanced daughter of chief, had re-
turned into their midst; not willing
ly, either, but forcibly brought home
by her father and future husband,
Washoe Billy.
u was this maiden, the pride of
the Cone mountain Washoes, that ex-
cited the curiosity OF the villagers.
Ta-tat, from mere infancy, attracted
considerable attention. On her right
temple grew a glistening wisp OF
white hair, which accentuated the
raven duskiness OF her abundant
locks. This spot OF white among the
shining black resembled a magpie's
plnmage, and for this reason she was
called Tn-tat. the Washoe word for
the chattcring magpie. Then Ta-tat
was very clever, and one day Meloxi
listened 20 the appeal OF home-mis-
sionary ladyEwhich resulted i'm his
sending bright little Ta-tat away TO
the Carson Indian school. No other
Cone mountain papoose had ever at
tended the school, consequently the
relatives and friends OF Ta-tat took
a deep interest in her progress at the
institution.
For five years she had been acquir-
ing the book-lore of the palefaces;
often Meloxi received letters that
were carefully read 60 him by Rancher
Bnnnon's wife, who lived not far from
Cone mountain. All reports reaching
Meloxi's ears were good, and quite
creditable even Co a big chiefs daugh-
ter. So Meloxi Spoke proudly Of his
clever Ta-tat, andalepositcd her letters
i'm dainty willow basket. from which
he took them 70 demonstrate to ev-
cry visitor the accomplishments of
this Washoe princess.
But one day startling revelation
was made TO the Cone mountain
Washoes. One OF their own villagers,
while visiting Carson, saw Ta-tat
walking with Horace Hop-Foot, and
promptly reported the fact ON his
return home. Now the Washoes do
not object to their maidcns keeping
company with young braves--far from
Il: but Ta-tnt's hand had long been
promised TO Washoe Billy, and to-
think that she could so far forget her
self as TO walk with another brave,
and he piute az that, and whose rep
utation was quite notorious, reused
the wrath OF Meloxl and Nashoe Bill