Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24

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only during the weeks of the dance but the
journey to and from.
So at the proper season the Sans Arcs made
ready for the coming of the delegations. They
cut the sun pole and raised that and semi
circular dance lodge and the tepee of preparation.
Soon the people began to come, and there was a
great concourse. By the Indian reckoning there
and half times the great count"
fifteen thousand people, at this gathering.
- They camped in big circle around the sun
dance lodge, each delegation having its allotted
space. Their ponies were herded on the praries,
and as the buffaoes for counting. They
did not dance at once, but every day they rode
inside the circle, racing their ponies, playing
games, and displaying feats of craftsmanship and
of throwing the lance and knife.
Catches Eagles announced that at the close of
the sun dance he would give away fifty feathers
of the red eagles among the visiting warriors
And he was made master of ceremonies, an office
which could remember having been conferred
upon young.
After many days of SPORTS young and old rode
the circle in great company in preparation for the
dance. And that evening the young men and
women rode within the dance lodge circle, going in
pairs, man and maiden side by side, was the
custom
Beginning of Romance
catches EAGLES rode at the head of his line
- and at his side slim Arapaho maiden
dressed in fawn skins, beautifully ornamented. The
girl kept her face covered in the folds of head dress
Catches Eagles admired this girl greatly. She rode
well, and her figure was fine to look at. He desired
ardently to her face and often bent forward to
look into her hood He could see nothing however,
but pair of dark eyes looking straight ahead
The next day was begun the ceremonies of the
sun dance, and Catches Eagles, after dancing for
long time with the thongs in his flesh, suddenly
sprang backward, tearing himself loose, and
applauded greatly for his bravery although other
young warriors did Just as well as he did
When they had finished the dance the master
of ceremonies had his criers announce in all the
villages that the there would be
kind of dance. All the maids of fourteen win
tiers and upward and the young men should dance
in lines opposite each other They should shift their
positions, passing sidewise and doubling back and
girl in the circuit. young might at any time
leave the line and dance up to the girl opposite
When he had done this four times the maid must
show him her face 1t was in this fashion that
Catches Eagles sought to discover whom she was
that had ridden the circle at his side.
Determines Upon the Maiden
rT'l1E visitors agreed to this dance, and at the
proper time the young people turned out in great
numbers. When the dance Catches Eagles
watched eagerly for the Arapaho maiden. Pres
entity by the dress she wore, he discovered the girl
line and danced before her. This he did three tmes
but when he came opposite her for the fourth time,
the girl left her line and danced before Catches
Eagles. She uncovered her face, looking down.
ward This she did in fine manner, showing honor
to the master of ceremonies. Catches Eagles
ears.
Il will marry this girl! I will marry this grill"