Her body was arrayed in her handsomest clothing, placed upon a scaffold,
and afterwards buried.
But the Dahcotahs say that her spirit does not watch over her earthly
remains; for her spirit was offended when she brought trouble upon her
aged mother and father.
Such is the story told by the Dahcotahs; and why not apply to them for
their own traditions?
Neither is there any reason to doubt the actual occurrence of the
incident.
Not a season passes away but we hear of some Dahcotah girl who puts an
end to her life in consequence of jealousy, or from the fear of being
forced to marry some one she dislikes. A short time ago a very young
girl hung herself, rather than become the wife of a man who was already
the husband of one of her sisters.
The parents told her they had promised her, and insisted upon her
fulfilling the engagement. Even her sister did not object, nay, rather
seemed anxious to forward the scheme, which would give her a rival from
among her nearest relations.
The young girl finally ran away, and the lover, leaving his wife,
pursued the fugitive, and soon overtook her.
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