TA-TAT'S TRANSFORMATION, f
3
The Grand Coup of
Br John Haboi,d Hamux.
The languorous mists of a perfect
Indian summer shrouded the purple
peaks of the Cone mountains. Locusts
eang shrilly from every grease-wood
bush, and whole choruses of the same
Insects droned forth from the mahog
any shrubs. The landscape had a pe
culiarly conical tendency; each indi
vidual hill was cone-shaped; the nut
pines, punctuating their gray-blue
elopes, tapered to a dull green cone;
and down at the base or a pyramidical
mountain clustered a few peaked wick
iups. A cloud of reddish dust floated
skyward and mingled with the shim
mering veil of autumn haze . that
blurred the hill tops. The reddish
dust arose from a trail that twisted
in simfous loops up and over the Cono
mountains as three ponies picked their
way along its winding course. A roan
pony led the trio; he was ridden by
stern old Meloxi, an Indian of wide
repute among the Washoe tribe. The
second animal, a strange little pinto,
bore the daughter of Meloxi, and
bringing up the rear came Washoe
Billy, mounted on his sturdy bay.
The riders were silent, but, being
Indians, this seemed matter of fact;
something might be learned from the
expressions stamped on, the counten
ances of the three redskins. Meloxi
looked stern and dignfied; Ta-tat, his
daughter, rebellious and indignant;
while Washoe Billy wore a victorious
half smile every time he glanced at
Ta-tat, which was not infrequently.
The ponies were tired and dusts' the
riders cramped and dusty, too.
Several dogs began to yelp as the
tiny cavalcade approached the wicki
ups; half a dozen airily clad papooses
skurried up from the trickling stream
in the nearby arroya, and stared at
the sorry-looking party. By the time
..the ponies were halted before Meloxi's
tepee, the whole village had gathered
about them. Neither Meloxi nor
Washoe Billy caused this unusual In
terest; Ta-tat, the rebellious coun
tenanced daughter of a chief, had re
turned into their midst; not willing
ly, but forcibly brought home by her
father and future hus Liana, wasnoe
Billy.
It was this maiden, the pride of the
Cone mountain Washoes, that excited
the curiosity of the villagers. Ta-tat,
from mere infancy, attracted consid
erable attention. On her right temple
grew a glistening wisp of white hair,
H?hlch accentuated the raven duskiness
of her abundant locks. This splotch
of white among the shining black re
sembled a magpie's plurflage, and for
this reason she was called Ta-tat, the
Washoe word for the chattering mag
pie. Then Ta-tat was very clever, and
one day Meloxi listened to the appeal
of a fcome missionary lady, which re
sulted in his sending bright little Ta
tat away to the Carson Indian school.
No other Cone mountain papoose had
ever attended the school, consequently
the relatives and friends of Ta-tat
took a deep interest in her progress at
the institution.
For five years she had been acquir
ing'the book-lore of the palefaces; of
ten Meloxi received letters that were
carefully read to him by Rancher
Bannon's wife, who lived not far from
Cone mountain. All reports reaching
Meloxi's ears were good, and quite
creditable even to a big chief's daugh
ter. So Meloxi spoke proudly of his
clever Ta-tat, and deposited her letters
in a dainty willow basket, from which
he took them to demonstrate to every
visitor the accomplishments of this
Washoe princess.
Ent one day a startling revelation
was made to the Cone mountain
Washoes. One of their own villagers,
while visiting Carson, saw Ta-tat
walking with Horace Hop-Foot, and
promptly reported the fact on his re
turn home. Now the Washoes do not
object to their maidens keeping com
pany with young braves far from it;
tut Tatat's had long been promised to
Washoe Biily, and to think that she
could so far forget herself as to walk
with another brace, and he a Piute at
that, and one whose reputation ' was
Quite notorious, roused the wrath of
Meloxi and Washoe Billy, and all the
villagers besides. After a brief con
sultation, the old chief, accompanied
by Tatat's intended and an extra
pony, journeyed Carson-wards,, intent
upon conducting the fickle and disloyal
girl back to the paternal lodge.
That his mission terminated suc
cessfully was clearly illustrated when
the expedition returned to Cone moun
tain. Ta-tat deigned not to greet with
any show of cordiality the companions
of her childhod days. She slid off the
weary pinto, shook wit her dusty gar
ments, and walked with haughty indif
ference the gauntlet of inquisitive
Washoes. She did not halt until the
flag of her father's wickiup hid her
from view. This was a far different
iKftne-coming than had been planned
for Meloxi's famed daughter. Her dis
grace assumed gigantic proportions;
the villagers were amazed to think
that Washoe Billy still desired to
siarry her. Washoe Billy understood
an Indian Maid.
matters better than his people. Ta
tat never pretended to care for him;
Meloxi made the match. Even though
he was a chief, the title proved , but
an empty honor, and Billy's numerous
ponies and three guns appealed to his
covetous nature; therefore, when Billy
sued for Ta-tat's hand, Meloxi con
sented upon learning that two ponies
and a ebot-gun would be his portion of
the wedding contract. In addition,
Meloxi possessed his quota of racial
pride, and never could lose his hatred
for the Piutes, so firmly had his father
instilled in his mind the bitter details
of the old feud existing between the
two tribes. And to think of Ta-tat's pro
fessed partiality to a miserable Piute
more than strengthened his desire for
a speedy marriage between her and
Washoe Billy. Ta-tat safe in his
wickiup, Billy eager to claim her as
his wife, and the ponies and gun with
held until after the ceremony these
facts prompted Meloxi to set an early
date for his daughter's wedding.
The nevs had apparently no effect
upon the sulky Ta-tat. She realized
how little sympathy would be forth
coming from her people; yet she de
termined to be the bride of no one but
Horace Hop-Foot, her noble Piute
lover. Ta-tat's schooling had taught
her to read and write; she had labo
riously waded through a highly col
ored novel in her career at the insti
tute, and from it had contracted ro
mantic ideas.
With all Hop-Foot's glaring faults,
she loved him madly, and was more
than willing to renounce her connec
tion with the Washoes, especially the
possibility of being bride, to that ug
ly Billy. Hop-Foot had acquired a
little learning at the Carson institute;
he owned a small shanty down near
Reno, and was the best gambler
among the Indians for many miles
around. To be sure, he imbibed freely
of firewater, but then that was not
such . a grievous fault, according to
Ta-tat's reasoning.
With the instillation of white men's
ideas, many of Ta-tat's superstitions
were eradicated. For instance, she
thought it wise to forget the old feud
long nursed between Piute and Wash
oe; she also laughed at the Washoe's
tradition that certain birds and beasts
were the forms assumed by good and
bad spirits. The magpie, for which
she was named, could be either a wick
ed woman in disguise, or the spirit of
a wise old man, so claimed the Wash
oe medicinemen; but the white teach
ers scoffed at those ideas, and Ta-tat
agreed with them.
Hop-Foot's first gift to her was a
scrawny young magpie (ho thought it
an appropriate token), which she
tenderly cared for, and taught to say
a few words, both in the English and
Washoe languages. This bird, with
the majority of Ta-tat's' belongings,
still reposed in her room at the insti
tute. Meloxi had allowed her scarcely
time to gather up a few necessary gar
ments when he rode up to the school
and abrutply carried her away.
Now, sitting in lonely dudgeon be
neath her father's peaked roof, Ta-tat's
mind worked actively, and she con
jured up mental pictures first of a
slave's life with Washoe Billy; then a
blissful vision of love in Hop-Foot's
shanty on the outskirts of Reno. Pros
pects seemed decidedly gloomy for the
uuskjr maiden.
Great preparations were gaily
planned for the approaching wedding;
the feast would eclipse any previous
similar attempt since the grand barbe
cue of 30 years ago, when 10 fat horses
were stolen from a dance hall at
Washoe City, and nicely roasted ere
the palefaces missed them. Invita
tions circulated freely among the Car
son Valley Indians, barring, of course,
the Piutes. The orgies would be ap
propriate for the nuptials of a prin
cess, even though that princess was
sadly disgraced; still her father com
manded universal respect, and the
Washoes were only too eager to seize
upon an opportunity for a big time.
While the preliminary arrangements
hummed merrily along, and the wed
ding morn but five days away, Ta-tat
hit upon a brilliant scheme. She
brightened up as a willing bride should,
and for the first time since her return
took a decided interest in the coming
event. That afternoon, in company
With Washoe Billy, Ta-tat tripped
lightly over to Farmer Bannon's. Mrs.
Bannon had always been extremely
fond of the girl; and, since the bride-to-be
requested Washoe Billy's attend
ance, no one objected to the visit, and
every one felt highly pleased at the
happy turn of attairs. t
Mrs. Bannon and Ta-tatcarried on a
very ordinary conversation, with
Washoe Billy. a close listener. He heard
nothing to alarm him; but, just before
departing, Ta-tat stepped into the
kitchen, placed a letter in Mrs. Ban
non's hands, and begged her to mail it
that very day. Washoe Billy failed to
observe this little side play, and grunt
ed in serene contentment as the twain
walked batk io the village.
Shrill and sweet sounded the locust
choruses in the thick sagebrush; happy
insects that could sing in blissful igno
rance of slain comrades parching under
the September sun at the Cone moun ¬
tain village daintiest of delectable In- -
uian eatables, those parched locusts.
The sun's rays lost their wonted
fierceness as they filtered through the
soft, misty autumnal haze; the Indian
braves glided here and there, veritable
sun-gods, arrayed in scant breech
clouts, their skins glistening like bur-
nished copper, and their befeathered
heads and painted faces resembling
those of warriors of early days. Me
loxi and Washoe Billy were untiring
in their efforts to do full honor to this
occasion, and the villagers felt equally
desirous of pushing things to a grand
climax.
Ta-tat, in accordance with an old !
custom of the Washoes, sat in solitary
magnificence within her father's wick
iup, awaiting her lord's first command.
Her dainty, beaded moccasins tapped
the earthen floor nervously; there re
mained but a few hours ere the closing
of the ceremonies, and her claiming by
Washoe Billy. She cautiously peered
through the loose flap and watched the
festivities.- Long shadows stretched
out from the conical mountains; the
sun hung like a blood-red disk just
above the horizon ; the feast had begun
in earnest, and her people and the
wedding guests were gorging them
selves in barbaric Indian fashion.
Three hours of feasting, 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 Billy's 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 aggre
gation of redskins had all but removed
the last vestige of the barbecue. Katy
dids chirped; an owl hooted mourn
fully; stars blinked in the high, dark
ened vault of heaven; fires lighted 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
me!"
The words were but half-articulated,
and Ta-tat held her breath as if their
echoes startled her.
"Ta-tat, Ta-tat!"
The girl's heart throbbed painfully.
"Oh, 'tis he! Hop-Foot, here I am!"
Under the tepee's flap rolled a lithe
body. It was Hop-Foot, uie Piute, the
favored lover of Meloxi's daughter.
The brave and hi3 dusky sweetheart
gazed at each other in profound silence
for a moment. Ta-tat's beauty dazed
the dauntless Piute; her wedding
finery, her magnificent eyes, her su
perb figure! Ab, she was well worth
the risk!
"Quick, the moments fly!" breathed
Ta-tat.
Hop-Foot gave her a closely woven
basket. The young squaw raised the
lid, and took from its shallow depths
a small lump of black and whue
feathers her magpie Hop-Foot's first
gift to her.
"You have saved me, Hop-Foot. We
are saved!" gasped the girl.
"Goodby. Ta-utu Goodby." With a
farewell caress, the maiden placed the
uncanny bird on a heap of rabbit
skins, snatched up the tell-tale basket,
and hurriedly slipped out of the wicki
up at the heels of Hop-Foot. The katy
dids stil 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 were tethered.
Tom-toms signaled the dance to
cease; torches wer lighted, and the
procession, headed by Meloxi and
Washoe Billy, advanced toward the
bride's commodious tepee. The throng
encircled the wickiup, torches cast a
glare of light into every nook. Meloxi
threw back the entrance-flap, and
Washoe Billy rushed in to claim his
bride.
"I'm Ta-tat, Ta-tat! Ta-tat's hun
gry! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
The laughter was demoniacal, the
voice harsh and frightful. The eager
groom fell back in terror; a frenzied
yell curdled tho blood of the encircling
braves and squaws. Washoe Billy
leaped sheer out tne wickiup and fell
in a quivering heap at the feet of Me
loxi. The torcnes lit up the scene
with the brightness of day, and there, i
in tho doorway, the amazed Indians
beheld that most terrible of all b-d
medicine birds a magpie.
"I'm Ta-tat! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ta
tat's hungry. Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Away up on the last curve of the
pyramidical mountain's trail two
ponies halted, and their .riders gazed
down at the Cone Mountain village and
chuckled as a frightful din rent the
quiet of this beautiful Indian summer
night. Ta-tat, tho Washoe princess,
enjoyed her romantic escape, for she
knew full well that her people would
forevermore look upon Ta-tat, the
magpie, as the transformed daughter of
Meloxi. San Francisco Argonaut
nt (Zs TraiinMHTV ..V.r. .
New York City. Smart blouse waists
are much in demand to wear with
Jacket suits and the very necessary
separate skirts that have come to
A FANCY BLOUSE.
stay. The simple style illustrated ex
emplifies tho fact that tucking is not
indispensable to the realization of a
fashionable waist. Ivory white peau
de soie of good quality is here charm
ingly combined with Irish crochet lace
over corn colored satin and trimmed
with shaped bands of the silk piped
with black panne velvet and stitched
on each edge, tassel ornaments finish
ing the pointed ends. Velvet belt closed
with fancy clasp. The lining is fitted
with single bust darts centre back,
under-arm and shoulder seams and
closes in front under the plastron that
Is included in the right shoulder seam
and hooks over on the left. The blouse
proper has single pleats laid at the end
of each shoulder seam and is cut away
at the neck and fronts to disclose the
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(4$ m-4mm
Iff wM
A SMART ETON BLOUSE.
plastron and yoke of lace. The sleeves
in bishop stylo are arranged on fitted
linings whieli are faced at the lower
edges! to form cuffs, shaped straps
being added to match the waist trim
ming. Shapely epaulettes of the laco
give length to the shoulders, but these
may be omitted if not desired.
To cut this waist in the medium si.-'.e
three and three-quarter yards of mate
rial twenty-one inches wide, two ami
three-quarters yards twenty-soven
inches wide or two and five eighth
yards thirty-two inches w-ido or one
and seven-eighth yards forty-four
inches wide will be required, with one
and one-eighth yards of lace and four
and a half yards of piping to trim as
illustrated.
Wiuun' Kton Kloctfte .lackef.
In spite of tho tendency toward long
and three-quarter coats the smart
blouse Eton has renewed its hold on
tho popular famy is more in de
maud than ever for suits as well as
for separate wraps. The added barque
gives a more seasonable effect, imt
none of its smartness is lost when that
portion is omitted. As represented in
the large drawing by May Manton it
forms part of a zibcline costume in
rich dark red and the lapels are faced
with fancy velvet in black and white,
the edges being simply tailored with
double rows of machine stitching. The
garment is simply fitted with wide un-d?r-arm
gores and shoulder scams.
The fronts lap in double breasted style
when closed, but may gracefully be
worn open as illustrated. The neck is
finished with a double collar that rolls
over at the seam. The basque por
tions fit smoothly over the hips, meet
ing closely at the back and flaring
elii'htly apart at the front. It is
seamed to the lower edge and the belt
conceals the joining. The coat sleeves
flare stylishly over the hands and the
garment is warmly interlined and
lined with white satin. Velvet, cordu
roy, kersey, broadcloth, cheviot and
all heavy wool suiting will develop sat
isfactorily by the mode.
To cut this jacket in the medium size
four ' yardn of material twenty-one
inches wide, three and three-quarter
yards twenty-seven inches wide, two
yards forty-four inches wide oi one
and three-quarter yards fifty-four
inches wide will be required, with five
eighth yards of facing eighteen inches
wide to make as illustrated.
Handsome Velveteen Costumes.
Louis coats of velvet and separate
waists of velvet will be much worn;
also shirt waists of velveteen in dark
shades are relieved of their plainness
by a vest of bright color or white ma
terial, giving a sharp outline to the
coat
Girl'a J.,onK Coat.
The comfortable long coat that cfosea
to the neck is a favorable style for cold
weather. The stylish example here il
lustrated by May Manton combines
with this feature the triple capes and
may be varied by the omission of one,
two or all three. Dark red kersey
cloth is the material chosen, the edges
being smartly tailored with machine
stitching in black and smoked pearl
buttons close to the double breasted
fronts. Hat of black beaver trimmed
with soft loops of red Liberty satin
ribbon and black tips. The fronts are
stylishly loose in box style and join to
the backs by under-arm scams that
with the centre back curves becoming
ly to the figure, wide revcrs roll back
above the dosing and tho neck is
was
finished with a turn-over collar that
closes invisibly in centre. The sleevea
are in regulation coat style, finished at
the wrist with rounded cuffs. The
capes fit smoothly over the shoulders,
and may be included in the neck seam
or finished separately and hooked on
under tho collar. Coats in this style
may be made from any suitable wool,
fabric, velvet, corduroy or cheviot all
being fashionable.
To cut this coat for a girl of eight
years five yards of material twenty
one, inches wide, four and a quarter
COAT FOR A GIETj.
yards twenty-seven inches wide, two
and three-quarter yards forty-four
inches wide or two and a half yards
tifty-two inches wide will be required
m