The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-07-10

odl ! tOull never uIaW II. al
tweTed Nahsig.
Did you come here for my help OF
to tell me what | already knuw?"
growled the hear.
So Nahsig went off and did as the
oear told him.
Now it happened that old Somgo
was just as much in love with Koko
as any of the rest of them. but. being
only IA bear at the best, and a demon
who was no better than he should be
at the worst, he knew he could never
hope to win her. So what should en-
ter his heart, which was not so much
unlike the heart of a devil. but this;
that if he could not have her himself
no n else ever should.
Well, that same day what should
happen but that Koko should say to
herself: Hes truly the dearest and
the handsomest and the best man in
the world, but the truly dearest and
the handsomest and the best man in
the world can shoot nc farther than he
ran. 1t seems to me that it would be
very proper to get help" So she went
to d pool hard by and laid the whole
case before the head stork of the place
and implored assistance.
THE matter is simple as eels,' an
my place behind the sail bush, and
when his arrow comes down swift as
the wind. | will catch /, in my beak be-
fore it strikes the ground and cast it
over at our door. Ho. no: you did
quite right to come to me. quite right.
I'm the sharpest creature h~ereabout."
For the stork also loved Koko, but
having a good heart, he was willing
to help her.
SO the stork wen and ooh his
place behind the sail bush. when old
Nantoneka wasn't looking, and cooked
up one eye for the arrow, but with the
other on koko, who stood in front of
her door, more beautiful than even be
fore, so that the winds turned from
their course in order to touch ner
cheek.
Nahsig came up to where the gold.
tipped arrow stood in the ground. Soon
Somgo started out from some bushes
and began creeping close behind him
so that he could not be seer from old
Nantoneka's house. The young man
placed his knee against the arrow in
the ground. Then Somgo rose up and
put his paw against Nahsig's left ell
bow and seized the other with his
right claws and drew the arrow back
to Nahsig's left ear. Twin-n-n-g.
went the cord. and the ARROW
shot away faster than the light
when it comes over the mountain in
the morning after rain; and the wick.
ed bear made Oft, eve with his demon
heart unable to look upon what he
had done.
For the arrow. going like the sun
beam, was speeding straight for the
bosom of Koko. standing there too
beautiful to tell. Over the old stork it
whiZzod like lightning. This old
grandpa made a mighty leap for il,
but his great bill clapped together on
itself like the swapping of the bamboo.
The cruel arrow found its mark, and
koko fell down as one whom her
friends would zeal out to the grave.
Nahsig had seen what would hap
pen when it vas too late. He had
thrown down his bow and followed lit
tie less swift than the arrow itself.
When he came up and saw the Very
terrible thing which was done he stood
and cried out: "Nantoneka, take Ulu-
meet and shoot me through"
The old man leaped up and seized
Ulumeet and drew an arrow to his
ear. But just then the stork, getting
his Door wits together at last, rushed
forward and cried in his own language.
which they all understood: Hold"
and he seized the arrow in the bosom
of koko and plucked it out. and then
snapped off a wind-bell blossom and
said: The koko is her own flower.
and must love her more thar any of
u.s." and clapped it over the wound,
and the blood was staunched and the
girl opened her eyes and sat up. Nah,
sig rushed up and knelt beside hel
and clasped her in his arms.
"Ha,' cried the old man. why did
you never shoot so we'll before?'
81 have always been afraid to let
myself out" said Nahsig.
But didn't | see old Somgo standing
behind you?" asked Nantoneka, With
a scowl on his face.
"Ies. he tripped me as ] drew back
the arrow to my ear. otherwise it had
gone Ver the house and harmed nc
one"
So they We're married. and the old
stork came and danced a taoi on the
green before the house. very awk
wardly. and his bin Gathering "A good
deal: but he meant we'll enough. Then
the wedding company went, with Nah.
sig at the head. and hunted ont the
bear who was really the demon less
good than he should be, and shot him
with a fight of arrows like grass
stems driven before the wind: and he
was as a man is when no longer alive.
-HAYDEN CARRUTH.