Year: 1878




ED LOVE FOR A PALE-FACED Soil
DER.


During the latter years of the war
part Of Spotted Tails family was at
Fort Laramie, and with them was his
favorite daughter, young girl oil 10.
The fort was gafrisoned by companies
of an Ohio volunteer cavalry regiment,
and among the officers was a handsome
Young lieutanant of pleasant manners
Spotted Tail's daughter fell violently in
love with this man. Her passion does
net seem TO have been reciprocated, ,and
! il is said he did all he could to convince


her he could not marry her, and there
fore it would be wrong for him TO visit


her or receive visits from her. But the


infatuated girl would not be convinced,


and could not see why she, princess


and the daughter Of the most powerful


chief on the plains, was not a suitable


wife for the young soldier. Day after


day she would dress herself with scru-


pulous care, and come to the fort to see
her beloved. 1t was pitable to observe


her as, hour after hour, she would sit
on the doorstep ofthe officers quarters,


waiting for him to come out. At other
times she would follow him about like


a dog, seemingly happy to be near him,


and enjoy the poor privilege Of looking


at him.


! Spotted Tail, hearing of the strange


conduct of his daughter, and deeply NOR


tilted at her want Of self-respect, has


tened to the fort, and, putting her in


charge ofsome kind friends, bid them


carry her into the Rocky Mountains,


where he had little camp, and q por-


ton cfhis people dweltin the fall and
winter time. They were told to divert
her in every way, and, if possible, en-
doavor to make her forget her foolish


passion. She went away meekly enough
but fell into q deep melancholy, from
which no efforts Of friends could rouse
J her. Presently she refused to take food
and pined away until she was a mere
skeleton.


One day a courier whose horse was
covered with foam, sought the chief t
tell him his daughter was dying ofa bro


ken heart, and wished 10 see him once


more before she pass to the spirit land


Away, over mountain aud stream, hur-
ried the great chief, and paused not BY
night or by day until he reached thu
bedside ofhis beloved child. He founC
her alive, but sinking very fast, and sh'
/ bid him sit close beside her and holt
J her hands in his while she told him al
, the simple story Of her love suffering


and broken heart. She said: Il shall
! soon be at rest, my father, and will
! those Of our kindred who have gone
! before. In that beautiful land | viii
, wait for you, md you will soon come tC
: join me, dear father, for your hair il
, white with years Of care and toll, ant
you are growing old and tired. You arr
a great chief, and have many warriors
but pray you not to quarrel with thu
, whites, who are more numerous thar
the leaves on the trees Of the forest
2 Spare your pc ople, my father, and res
E yet little while in peace, when you vii
, have reached the end Of the journey o
life, and to join me in the happy hom'
where 1 am gong. The pale faces arr
. the people Of him loved so well, ant


between you and them l hope wa
! will never come again. And, oh, m.
J father and my chief, when l am deaf
, take my poor wasted body and lay it t.
. rest on the hill besides the fort where
learned TO love so well.


! The chief promised he would do a
she wished, but bid her live and sh'
. might yet be happy. She fingered
) few days, and then the faithful hear
ceased to beat. Almost heart broker
Spotted Tail bid his attendants prepare
the body for burial, and bear 1t as rap
) idly as possible on their shoulders t.
the fort. Rev. A. Wright, then Post
Chaplain at Fort Laramie describes th'
funeral as follows in letter to the wri
ter of this sketch:


THE CHAPLAIN's STORY.


1t is now over 10 years since the