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over the camp； mingling with the light of a young moon。 Thus these
lovers go about like ghosts。 Matosapa has already circled the teepees
with his inseparable brother… friend； Brave Elk。
〃Friend； do me an honor to…night！〃 he ex… claims； at last。 〃Open this
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first door for me； since this will be the first time I shall speak to a
woman！〃
〃Ah；〃 suggests Brave Elk； 〃I hope you have selected a girl whose
grandmother has no cross dogs！〃
〃The prize that is won at great risk is usually valued most；〃 replies
Matosapa。
〃Ho； kola！ I shall touch the door…flap as softly as the swallow alights
upon her nest。 But I warn you； do not let your heart beat too loudly； for
the old woman's ears are still good！〃
So； joking and laughing； they proceed toward a large buffalo tent with
a horse's tail suspended from the highest pole to indicate the rank of the
owner。 They have ceased to blow the flute some paces back； and walk
noiselessly as a pan… ther in quest of a doe。
Brave Elk opens the door。 Matosapa enters the tent。 As was the
wont of the Sioux； the well…born maid has a little teepee within a tee… pee
a private apartment of her own。 He passes the sleeping family to this
inner shrine。 There he gently wakens Winona with proper apologies。
This is not unusual or strange to her innocence； for it was the custom of
the peo… ple。 He sits at the door； while his friend waits outside； and tells
his love in a whisper。 To this she does not reply at once； even if she
loves him； it is proper that she should be silent。 The lover does not know
whether he is favorably received or not； upon this his first visit。 He must
now seek her outside upon every favorable occasion。 No gifts are offered
at this stage of the affair； the trafficking in ponies and 〃buy… ing〃 a wife is
entirely a modern custom。
Matosapa has improved every opportunity； until Winona has at last
shyly admitted her will… ingness to listen。 For a whole year he has been
compelled at intervals to repeat the story of his love。 Through the
autumn hunting of the buffalo and the long； cold winter he often pre… sents
her kinsfolk with his game。
At the next midsummer the parents on both sides are made acquainted
with the betrothal； and they at once begin preparations for the com… ing
wedding。 Provisions and delicacies of all kinds are laid aside for a feast。
Matosapa's sisters and his girl cousins are told of the ap… proaching event；
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and they too prepare for it； since it is their duty to dress or adorn the bride
with garments made by their own hands。
With the Sioux of the old days； the great natural crises of human life；
marriage and birth； were considered sacred and hedged about with great
privacy。 Therefore the union is publicly celebrated after and not before
its consum… mation。 Suddenly the young couple disappear。 They go out
into the wilderness together； and spend some days or weeks away from the
camp。 This is their honeymoon； away from all curious or prying eyes。
In due time they quietly return； he to his home and she to hers； and now at
last the marriage is announced and invitations are given to the feast。
The bride is ceremoniously delivered to her husband's people； together
with presents of rich clothing collected from all her clan； which she
afterward distributes among her new relations。 Winona is carried in a
travois handsomely dec… orated； and is received with equal ceremony。 For
several days following she is dressed and painted by the female relatives
of the groom； each in her turn； while in both clans the wedding feast is
celebrated。
To illustrate womanly nobility of nature； let me tell the story of
Dowanhotaninwin； Her… Singing…Heard。 The maiden was deprived of
both father and mother when scarcely ten years old； by an attack of the
Sacs and Foxes while they were on a hunting expedition。 Left alone with
her grandmother； she was carefully reared and trained by this sage of the
wild life。
Nature had given her more than her share of attractiveness； and she
was womanly and win… ning as she was handsome。 Yet she remained
unmarried for nearly thirty yearsa most un… usual thing among us； and
although she had worthy suitors in every branch of the Sioux na… tion； she
quietly refused every offer。
Certain warriors who had distinguished them… selves against the
particular tribe who had made her an orphan； persistently sought her hand
in marriage； but failed utterly。
One summer the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes were brought together
under a flag of truce by the Commissioners of the Great White Father； for
the purpose of making a treaty with them。 During the short period of
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friendly in… tercourse and social dance and feast； a noble warrior of the
enemy's tribe courted Dowan… hotaninwin。
Several of her old lovers were vying with one another to win her at the
same time； that she might have inter…tribal celebration of her wed… ding。
Behold！ the maiden accepted the foe of her childhoodone of those
who had cruelly de… prived her of her parents！
By night she fled to the Sac and Fox camp with her lover。 It seemed
at first an insult to the Sioux； and there was almost an outbreak among the
young men of the tribe； who were barely restrained by their respect for the
Com… missioners of the Great Father。
But her aged grandfather explained the mat… ter publicly in this
fashion：
〃Young men； hear ye！ Your hearts are strong； let them not be troubled
by the act of a young woman of your tribe！ This has been her secret wish
since she became a woman。 She deprecates all tribal warfare。 Her
young heart never forgot its early sorrow； yet she has never blamed the
Sacs and Foxes or held them re… sponsi