The Stars That Dance

"The Stars That Dance" by Julia Darrow Cowles is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the pursuit of dreams set against the backdrop of a richly imagined world. The story follows the journey of its protagonist as they navigate the challenges of life, seeking solace and inspiration in the beauty of the night sky. Through lyrical prose and vivid imagery, Cowles delves into themes of hope, resilience, and the interconnectedness of human experiences. The narrative invites readers to reflect on their own aspirations and the enduring magic of the stars.

• Short story

								
MANY years ago in the Indian country a company of eleven young men
went out from the village of their fathers. They were going to prepare
themselves for the war dances, and for battle with their foes.

Away into the forest they went, but before they left the lodges of
their people, their leader said, “You, our parents, must prepare food,
that we may have strength for the trial that is before us.”

Then they went away, singing the war songs of their nation, while
their leader beat upon the water drum to give them courage and
endurance.

On they marched until they came to the part of the forest where they
were to begin their training, and there they stopped and prepared a
rude lodge for shelter.

Many days they stayed, practising the light step of the hunter which
falls as softly as a falling leaf, or dancing the war dance to the
beating of the drum.

But at length they grew weary and faint, for day after day had passed,
and no food had been sent them from the lodges of their fathers.

Then their leader sent one of their number back to the village, and he
told the people that the young men were faint and weary, and in need
of food. Yet the people sent them no food, and the young man went
back, weak, and empty-handed.

Once more the young men began their dancing, for their hearts were
full of courage, and Indian youths are strong to endure. Then, once
more, they sent to the people asking for food, but still no food was
given them.

Then a third time they sent, and yet in vain.

That night, as the youths slept, quite exhausted, in their lodge,
their leader was awakened by the sound of singing. Slow, and soft, and
alluring were the voices; and they seemed far above the earth.

The leader wakened his companions, and together they listened. Then,
one by one, the young men arose, and new strength seemed to come into
their limbs, and new courage into their hearts, and dancing, they
followed the sound of the singing. On and on they went, and then they
seemed to be lifted from off the earth, but still they danced as
higher and higher they arose. Now they were past the tree tops, now
they were above the mountain tops, and now high up among the clouds.
And still they danced the war dance of their nation, faster and
faster, as the music led them on.

The Night Wind saw them. “They follow the song of the Sky Witches,” he
cried in alarm, and he hastened to overtake them and turn them back.
But they paid no heed to the Night Wind, for the song of the Sky
Witches had charmed them, and they followed on dancing.

The people of their village caught sight of them as they passed far
over their heads, and they ran from their lodges and called to them.
“Come back! Come back!” they cried. “Look down upon us, and the spell
will be broken. Heed not the song of the Sky Witches!”

But still the young men followed on,--all but one, their leader, who,
hearing the voice of his mother, turned his head and looked back. The
spell of the Sky Witches was broken, and down, down he sped to the
earth.

The other ten followed on, and the Mother Moon, quite dizzy with the
sight of their dancing, turned aside from her steady course and begged
them to heed her voice.

“The Sky Witches are seeking victims for their feasts,” she warned
them. “Turn away; turn away! They will destroy you!”

Yet in spite of her warning the witchery of the music led the youths
on. And then the Mother Moon cried, “I will save you from their wicked
spell in spite of yourselves!” With that she waved her girdle of
vapors, and the ten youths were changed into fixed stars, and set
forever in the heavens.

Seven of the youths were large and strong, and three were small and
less sturdy; and so they were as stars. When the people of their
village looked once more up into the sky, they saw seven bright stars
dancing and twinkling above them. But those whose eyes were very
strong, when the night was clear, could see ten.

And to this day these stars still dance and twinkle in the
heavens--and this is the Indian legend of their origin.

We call these stars the Pleiades, but the Indians call them “The Stars
That Dance.”
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