"'On the sacred totem of the nation I promise it; speak, therefore, without fear. What is the name of the man you love?'"
"'He is called the Clouded Snake, father.'"
"The old man sighed."
"'He is very poor,' he muttered."
"'I am rich enough for both.'"
"'Be it so. You shall marry him, my daughter.'"
"Ova rose, sparkling with joy and happiness, bowed to the assembly, and left the medicine lodge."
"Clouded Snake was poor, it is true—even very poor, since he was constrained to work in the gold mine; but he was young, he was brave, and was considered the handsomest of all the warriors of his age."
"Tall, robust, and muscular, Clouded Snake formed as complete a contrast with Ova, who was pale and frail, as a noble buffalo does with a graceful antelope. Perhaps their love emanated from this contrast."
"The young man, though he was so poor, found means to give his betrothed perfumes of grizzly bears' grease, necklaces of alligators' teeth, and wampum girdles."