The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-09-19
THE LEGEND,@s' -
BONNIE FEMME.
Story of Early Days in Mis-
souri,.
By SIDNEY E. POWELL
Notp First Published.
CHAPTER VII.
A PAINFUL ADVENTURE.

the Indian war-whoop and seen in
the distance the light from a neigh
boris burning house. Finding Mrs.
Laselle bowed in her chair, still
moaning in great distress of mind,
her husband called her and told her
he thought they had better prepare
to leave the house as he was sure the
Indians were near by.
"And they are carrying their
torch with them," he added. ave
may be thankful If we escape with
our lives. Already two houses are
burning and ours may be the next"
81 can't 60 anywhere to night"
she said. "If the Indians come, /
can't help it,"
"But man," said Mr.. Hess, "you
can hear 'em yell. They are close
onto us and what can we dor Mr..
Penn is zone and l am sick-hiding
IN the woods is much b~etter."
'No," said Mr.. Laselle, 81 thought
we could make our way in the dark
ness to the fort and then we could
get help to find Annette, but IL you
don't feel like going we'll stay here
and trust to a kind Providence to
protect u.s."
All night long they sat lowering
over their log-fire, listening for
every sound, momentarily expecting
to hear a wild outburst of savage
yells at the door. Mr.. Hess, the
large iron poker in hand, faced the
little square windows upon which he
kept his watchful eyes which he
never closed the whole night
throug. He was determined he
shouldn't be caught mapping again.
But their little house escaped that
night. The Indians steered their
course in another direction for at the
day-dawn, as the little party started
for the fort, they say the light from
a burning house in a contrary direc-
ton.
"They are going back cross the
river, no doubt" said Mr.. Laselle,
sand perhaps we will see no more Of
them"
"And my poor child, where is
she2" walled Mrs. Laselle who
mounted on her pony rode in front
of the two men, as she had kept 80
far in the rea her husband thought
it safer to have her in front of them.
Poor Mr.. Hess fairly chartered to
think of the dangers he was likely to
run into, but what could he do. He
couldn't go back to st. Louis. The
Indians would be sure to catch him ;
to stay at Mr.. Laselle's home was
frightful to think of, 80 60 he must,
perhaps into the very jaws of death.
AT a brisk trot they logged along
over the frozen ground and reached
the fort without an encounter with
the Indians.
They found all in a stir at the fort.
Mr.. Penn had gotten there and
reported Annette's capture. Ru-
mors had reached them of several
bands of hostile Indians that were
securing the country in different
directions, and as the force at the
fort was weak, they were almost
afraid to leave it and attempt an
aggressive warfare with the Indians.
They had only one regular soldier in
the camp, their force being COM
posed of the settlers for miles
around who had gathered there for
protection.
When Mr.. Laselle had told the sad
tale of his lost child, every heart was
enlisted in his behalf.
ooh, save my poor helpless child"
Mrs. Laselle implored.
eyes, madam" said the six -footer
Koatucky captain, "we'll find her
and bring her back to you-stop
your crying. Well root up the red
skins and clear 'em off the face oil
the earth.n
The captain went bravely to work
and organized a little company OF
twenty men with which to attack
the Indian camp south of the river.
The women in the front gathered
around Mrs. Laselle, crying with
her, and trying to console her,
Each n had some tale of suffering
and privation to tell.
"Our dear, good Mr.. Bernard ant
his wife left here for the settlement
down the river, and as the Indianl
are all between, we are afraid.they
have been captured," said an ole
lady they called Mrs. Brown.
This old lady In an affectionate
uotherly way tried to console ant
comfort Mrs. Laselle, who hardl!
knew what she did or said.
"Poor child" said Mrs. Brown
''you must try to bear up, or 20,
can't help to find your child
Others have lost children befor
you. They had 1t to bear, and tn
same help and strength can be give
to
"You know nothing about It,
cried Mrs. Laselle. "You hav
never had such a trial az this"
"Ah, yes, and a greater one, for
lost my only son twenty years agt
and In all that time I have had til
awful fear in my heart that he hi
grown up into q bad man, lost n,
only to me In this world but in I'll