Sheridan High School - Bronc Yearbook (Sheridan, WY)

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The Ocksheperida Vol. 4 Sheridan, Wyoming, February, 1912 No. 5 The Maid of the Mist D. B., 12 THE MAID OF THE MIST. Many years ago, among the Flat-head Indians, who roamed over the northwest, lived a beautiful young Indian girl, Fleetfoot. From her very babyhood she could run as lightly as as lightly and swiftly as an antelope, and as she grew older, her charm, shyness and grace made her the despair of every young Flathead buck. Old Yellow Deer, her father, was very proud of his slim daughter, and as she did about as she pleased, you may imagine she grew up into a very willful maiden. Fleetfoot was wonderfully lovely as she road over the hills on her swift grey pony Ohaoe, but when she ran on foot, her unbound hair loosed to the wind, cheeks Hushed red under her brown skin, and blankets trailing, she was enough to inspire the Evil One himself with admiration. “Sit still and sew like the other maid- ' ens,” admonished indulgent old Yellow Deer, but Fleetfoot only laughed and danced away out of the teepee, looking like a yellow and scarlet maple leaf fluttering through the forest. “She is a child of the evil god,” quoth the crafty old men around the flickering fire, “she moves as the wind moves, and does not love her people.” Old Yellow Deer, fearing for his beautiful daughter, pondered long over these wise sayings, and finally obtained a charm from the medicine man of another village. It was a flat red-stone disc, inlaid with curious markings of silver, and hung on a knotted buckskin cord. “It is a talisman against evil,’’ said the old man to Fleetfoot, “wear it to j.rotect yourself from the wrath of the Thunder god.” But the slender maiden refused to Wv.ar the charm. “It chokes me, father,” she cried, “see how tight it is and knotted,” With that she tore the necklace from her brown throat and cast it away from her, laughing in scorn. The Evil One was greatly displeased with Fleetfoot, and wickedly resolved to humble the headstrong girl. Among the many ardent suitors of Fleetfoot was one Little Gopher, a big, hideous buck with a scarred face and strong arms. Fleetfoot favored none of the young Flatheads, but she especially disliked the repulsive Little Gopher who followed her about with sinuous steps and hungry looks. The Evil One had long been lurking deep

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Sabir nf (Enntntls Basket Ball Team 1 Table of Contents 2 The Maid of the Mist 3-4 The Vision of the Lake 5-6-7 Cupid in the Faculty ....... 8 Seniors 9 Junior Notes 10 Jokes 11 Editoral 12-13 Athletics 14-15 Alumni Notes 16 Sophomore Notes 17 Freshmen Notes 18 Advertisements 19-24

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4 THE OCKSHEPERIDA down in the heart of Little Gopher, but in Fleetfoot’s eighteenth summer, the young Indian became unusually aggressive ana alert, Many times battle uo-pncr pursued tlie ncKle, bounding i iceuoot tnrougn me lorests and canons, out always me tall lime maiden i d d aneaa ana disappeared m tne s.iduovvs beyuiid, laugumg m derision over ner snouider ai me crestiailen iwdue ijoplier. Marry into our tribe and settle down, old 1 eliow Ueer cautioned ins w miul young uaugliter. mere are many young men wlio would gladly nave you. liut, tatlier, said Fleetfoot, wnn sparkling eyes, “1 love to tease and ouirun me young men, and make tne i v-St ot tile maidens jealous, i do not want to marry.” m spite ot tins, old Yellow Deer loved ms daughter more every day, and was always very gentle with her. Une quiet summer morning, Fleet-loot ran through the forest and up me canon near die village. Close be-in na her. followed Little Gopher, his yyes burning fiercely at the signt oi the mtrtiul maiden ahead of him. Fleet-uot feigned not to see the creeping Tattle Gopher slinking behind her, but ran on, leaping lightly from rock to rock, and playing with the chipmunks which whisked along beside her. Little Gopher ran savagely, his face distorted with anger, his fingers eager to clutch the scornful Fleet foot. Just a little way before him, the girl turned with a burst of fairy laughter, then sprang out of sight behind the rocks. Little Gopher ran wildly and again he heard the laughter behind the rocks near him. Again the Indian maiden Laped from his sight with a flutter of soft draperies. Laughing and leaping, laughing and leaping, Fleetfoot led the way, while Little Gopher, panting and tired, followed the mocking sounds. Suddenly the Indian, breathless and aj. uu, mopped to the earth and ex- u. ndcd doui Hands to tne sky. Oh, i .ai ana mignty Ood ot Wrath, • .nmole tne cruel rleettoot. Make her .Miuimt to me, a man! Soiten her ns.eut mi it flows like water.” -v new sound ecnoed tnrough the canon as mule Uopner arose, lie ran .oi ward, and as he burst torth Irom u-umd me sheltering rocks, a wonder-.m signt met his eyes. Prom tne high u us above, poured a watenall that uau never uecn there before, a dashing, .»praymg, splashing lall, winch tumbled into a tern-1 ringed basin. In its mists JUittle Gopher saw a transparent ...aiden leaping among the rocks and maid her gurgling laugh. Then she disappeared, Uoatmg like clear water into the basin. Little Gopher bowed his head. Great god, thou hast answered my prayer which 1 prayed in my passion of hatred. Thou hast made her heart flow like water. Yet I grieve -•■at it is so. ’ With a wild, wierd cry ol anguish, Little Gopher plunged in-.o the foaming basin, both arms extended to embrace the laughing mist-maiden, the lost Fleetfoot. Many days the people of the Flat-head village waited for the light steps and soft laughter of Fleetfoot; many nights old Yellow Deer lay in his tee-1 ee, grieving his heart away for his lost child. She and Little Gopher never returned. “She was a child of the r.vil One,” quoth the crafty old men, she was punished for her contempt of her people.” Many times were travelers up the canon startled with a maiden’s laugh-t-i which seemed to come from the misty falls. Some of the young Indians declared that in the summer moonlight. Fleetfoot could lie seen leaping among the spray, her misty hair un-