The Iola register., 1902-03-28

lectable Indian eatables, those
parched locusts. Rabbits and fish and
sage-hen were also conspicuously
abundant as preparations went on for
the days feast: and there upon The
Goals, sputtered the elaborate piece de
resistance-a great, fat steer, pur-
chased by the groom from Farmer
Bannon.
The suns rays lost their wonted
ferceness as they filtered through the
soft, misty autumnal haze; the In
dian braves glded here and there,
veritable sun-gods, arrayed in scant
breech-clouts, their skins glistening
like FURNISHED copper, and their be-
feathered heads and painted faces re-
sembling those of warriors of early
days. Meloxi and Washoe Billy were
untiring in their efforts to do full
honor to this occasion, and the viii
layers felt equally desirous of push
ing things to grand climax.
Ta-tat, in accordance with an old
custom of the Washoes, sat in solitary
magnificance within her fathers wick
iup, awaiting her lords first com
mand. Her dainty, beaded moccasins
tapped the earthern floor nervously;
there remained but few hours ere
the closing of the ceremonies, and her
claiming by Washoe Billy. She eau
tiously peered through the loose flap
and watched the festivities. Long
shadows stretched out from the con-
ical mountains; the sun hung like
! l,Ia Il al, ho
the feast had begun in earnest, and
her people and the wedding guests
were gorging themselves in barbaric
Indian fashion. Three hours of feast
ing, 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, a sky of brass, and Sol sank
on Ta-tat's wedding day, and the ag-
gregation of redskins had all but re-
moved the last vestige of the barbe-
cue. Katydids chirped; an owl hooted
mournfully; stars blinked in the high,
darkened vault of heaven; fires light
ed 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 mel"
The words were but half articula-
ted, and Ta-tat held her breath as if
their echoes startled her
"Ta-tat! Ta-tat!"
The girls heart throbbed painfully
"Oh, 'tis he! Hop-Foot, here l ami"
Under the tepec's flap rolled a 1.-THE
body. It was Hop-Foot. the Piute,
the favored lover of MeloXi's daugh-
ter.
The brave and his dusl<y sweetheart
gazcd at each other in profound ST
encc for moment. Ta-tat's beauty
dazed the dauntless Piute; her we'd
ding tinery, her magnificent eyes, her
superb figure! All, she was well
worth the risl<
Quick; the moments fly!" breathed
Ta-tat.
Hop-Foot gave her closely-woven
basket The young squaw raised the
ia and took from its shallow depths
small lump of black and white
feathers-her magpie - lIop-Foot's
first gift to her.
''You have saved me, Hop-Foot. We
are sayed," gasped the girl.
"Good-by, Ta-tat. Good-by." With
a farewell caress, the maiden placed
the uncanny bird on heap of rab-
bit skins, snatched up the tell-tale
BASKET, and hurriedly slipped out of
the wickiup at the heels of IIop-Foot.
The katYdds stiIl 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
We're tethered.
Toms-toms signaled the dance to
cease; torches were lighted, and the
procession, headed by MeloXi and
Washoe Billy, advanced toward the
brides commodities tepee. The throng
encircled the wickiup, torches cast a
glare of light into every nook. Me-
loXi threw back the entrance-hap, and
Washoe Billy rushed in to claim his
bride.
I'm Ta-tat, Ta-tat! Ta-tat's hun
CRY! Ha, ha, ha, hal"
The laughter was demoniacal, the
voice harsh and frightful. The eager
groom fell back in terror; a frenzied
yell curdled the blood of the encir-
cling braves and squaws. Washoe
Billy leaped sheer out the wckiup
and fell in a quivering heap at the