Evening star., 1902-03-01
THEIR PITY WASTED

She was real sweet young thing In eye
glasses, and was accompanied by two
others of her kind. all handsomely habited
and bearing the imprint Of cultured society.
That they came from somewhere down
Boston way" was unmistakable, for the
provincialisms of the city Of baked beans
are inimitable. They were evidently
5iners" for they had little recognition
badges of various kinds placarding that
fact, and they were evidently members of
some society that looks after the poor
down-trodden Indian, for when some of
these red sons of Befial made their appear
ance in the lobby the sweet thing in glasses
said animatedly: "Oh, girls! There are
some Of our wards right now! Let us go
and speak to them.
The other girls demurred. I'm afraid of
the horrid creatures objected one Of the
fair maids They are viIely dirty looking,
not at all picturesque like those lovely col
ored photographs 1 have in my study at
home. They must be some very inferior
representatives of their people
They do not present very cultured ap-
pearance,' assented the first speaker, as
she eyed the Indians, who were by that
time propped up against the wall. stoiidly
gazing into space their blankets wrapped
around them, and tan-colcred low shoes
cleaning on the mosaic floor like pumpkins
In prairie grass. II am going to speak to
L
dian before. and 1 really believe that it is
my duty to talk with them, and l can tell
about my little interview when l get back
to the club"
chimed in these girls from down Boston
way, just the High School Washington
girls would And then they solemnly
walked over to the trio of scalp-snatchers
and held out their hands. II am Miss b.
Of Boston," explained Margaret; this is
Miss R. of RoXbury and this is Miss NJ. of
Medford."
How" said two voices. and two red
hands with black-rmmed nails were sud-
denly thrust forth from the folds of two
blue blankets, while the third simply lifted
his SombrerO and touched the gloyed hand
of Miss NJ
"We-you see-we-are-why-you-know-
we'll, We all belong to the Indian Rights So
ciety. Margaret finally managed to say,
and We thought would like to talk to
some real-well, Indians. don't you know"
Me real thing. broke in the big fellow
with earrings like candelabra smiling be-
nignantly upon the frightened girl. who
had never done anything SO brash in all her
life before
Please Mr.. Indian. tell us what is your
name, pleaded little Miss NJ. from Medford
Me head chief. Me got name so long,
spreading his long oil-calico-covered arms
to their utmost limit, and then he ratified
OF something that sounded like 'Min-ni-ah-
col-gO-nah-g -ha-get-oh,' and folded his
arms again over his broad chest.
"Oh. my!' whispered one of the girls.
W. nat 90 you suppose 1t means in Eng
lish? 1t must be very impressive. How
wish he would tell us. What is it in-well,
in English, please, Mr.. Indian?'
English, he United State, mean?" Then
pattng himself in the region of a white
mans heart: he said loftily. Unite State.
me Pete Pig" and the girls nearly fell over
In their surprise, but they persisted.
Did you come to Washington to see the
Great Father questioned Margaret.
Ugh nodding his head till the earrings
ratified. Great Father keep Pete Pig
money. Pete Pig hungry, Pete Pig cor.'
and again he took in the landscape with
sweep of his arms.
"Oh. you poor dear fellow" cried the
three girls in unison. ''It is just dreadful
that the United States government treats
you so mean-shOving you toward the
setting sun till the great big water and
death seem all that is left you" Mar
garet cried with girlish Indignation But
the big Indian shook his head disdainfully.
Water! Me no like water. Whisky
good nuff for Pete!' And the second In
dian suddenly wakened up to say: "Betcher
life.' while the third only smiled at the
now astonished girls.
Tell us something about what you are
here for said Miss R. of Roxbury finally.
We are so interested in your woes and
sufferings, and We do so long to do some
thing towel, to really ameliorate your
condition"
Tomorrow, mebbe so. See Great Father
hrSt! replleu Pete, SententouSiy. I'VE get
money. we buy meal all right
Where you live?" asked the second brave
suddenly. And Margaret wonderingly gave
the address out on Connecticut avenue,
where they are visiting.
I'VE call!' announced the brave to the
now Mortified girls. 1--WE see Great Father,
get money an then We call. Good squaws,
Heap pretty! We tell story all right all
right
And then the third Indian wakened up as
the girls nearly fell over each other back
ing away from the talkative brave He
lifted his hat courteously and said in per-
feet English: 'Do not be frightened, ladies;
Pete and dim wouldn't harm a hair of your
heads. We are so used to being inter-
viewed that the boys take to it readily as
you see. We are here to press our claims
for some unpaid annuities These two, Jim
and Pete, are very rich. l have not so
much myself But by this time the trio
of Indian Fighters" We're fleeing down the
corridor and the trio Of Indians after their
rights once more lined up against the wall
to "a