Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1883 — A Blushing Indian Bride. [ARTICLE]

A Blushing Indian Bride.

Crowded in the tepee were about twenty-five persons. The blushing bride, in a brilliaiit dress cut en train, stood by the side’of the young warrior who had changed his attire from one oi warfare to that of mourning. Ranged on each side of the tent were the braves, sixteen in number, in full paint and feather, each with a plug hat. Chief Charlie directed the ceremonies. In a few wojfls she announced in Ute that the father and mother of the bride had selected Chavo for a husband, and that Chavo wanted Minnie to darn liis socks, sew on his buttons, and do such other duties incumbent upon the squaw of so mighty a warror. Turning to the bride and groom he asked the usual questions. They replied in Ute, whereupon the chief stepped aside. The high-contracting parties then seated themselves on the straw in the middle of the tent, while around them squatted the braves. Mrs. Sow-no-winch, mother of the interesting pappoose, placed around the bride’s neck an amulet tied with deer sinew, and then the ceremony was complete. At another sign from the chief the brayes began to chant,rising in the vocal key louder and louder, until the dirge grew wild and weird, breaking forth in a harmony of sounds that defied all musical scoring.—From grave to ga* the group had passed with but little ift terim. The assemblage by this tims was metamorphosed so that the scene was wild and beyond description. All at once the commotion ceased so sudden as to startle the guests. Exhausted, the braves sank to the ground and the wai - rior and his newly-made wife passed out from the group, he disappearin’! first through the lodge entrance ana she following.— Western Correspondent.