The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-11-21
The LEGEND OF
BONNIE FEMME.
A Story of Early Days in
Missouri.
By SIDNEY X. POWELL.
Eo,r First Published,
By SIDNEY e. POWELL.
Notc First Published.
CHAPTER XVI AND LAsT.--PEAcB AND
PLENTY.

at the fort found the returning troops
reported the entire country for many
miles around free Of the savage
tribes.
The settlers we're all inpatient to
get back to their homes, but their
houses were in ashes and till others
could be built they would have to
remain at the fort.
Mr.. Penn and Mr.. Hess we're both
still suffering with their wounds but
both declared their intention Of set
Ting on the Bonnie Femme and for
saking their old business of wagon
ing.
81 can never help to get fixed in
another home," said Mrs. Lasalle,
''but will have to carry this lame an
kle to my dying day to remind me
that my way is not always best"
81 told you 3d." said Mr.. Penn.
"I knowed it, but he was to blame
for letting you 60"
The room was crowded with the
friends who csme in to greet Mrs.
Bernard and Mr.. and Mrs. Burns.
Mrs. Brown and Miss Vinton had
their places as usual neal Mrs. La
salle's bed. AS Capt. Harmon came
in and walked up to the bed the
poor woman caught him gratefully
by the hand. 81 am 30 glad to see
my DOCTOR" she said. 81 shall
never forget you, Capt. Harmon, you
have done 30 much for me and
Annette"
"You don't know all he has done,''
said Mr.. Bernard, "you heard her
speak OF Haha didn't you? Well, he
is Haha, the brave, noble Hahs."
"But I must tell you, mother, what
made Capt. Harmon go and live witt
the Indians 30 long, said Mr.. La.
sale. sit was to find his mother
whom he believed the Indians hat
captured, that induced him to make
his home with them for three years.
"And did he never hear of her9'
asked Mrs. Lasalle.
"Not a word" answered Capt
Harmon, "and sometimes I lose 81
hope of finding her. If I had
friend on earth it would not seem 8,
hard to give her up"
He spoke 80 gloomily Miss Vintor
pulling Annette's sleeve, whispered
"What ia the matter with himP
never saw any one SO changed
"Capt. Harmon has more friend
than any one I know" she Mi'
aloud.
"You are mistaken, Miss Vinton-
I have so few that when I leave thi
place and country tomorrow Their
Is not another on the globe wher
any friend Of mine dwells. I hav
been a wanderer ever since l wa
eight years old, my companions wer
savages, who now are with the dead
for cold, hunger and bloodshed hav
about reduced them to extinction
Since my liberation from them m,
wandering life has continued for on
place was as good as another. M
books, for strange to say quite a II
!, brary came into my possession, wer
r my education and solace."
:, "And how did you get you
books2" asked Mr.. Bernard.
+ "The Ind ans, after they capture
I me, took me to the mountains an
one day when / was In my mint
t year / was searching in the rocl
and caves for curious things when
, was made almost wild with Joy I
find hidden away quite a number {
I books of every size and description
! They were old aud battered an
looked as if they had had Q long bul
j ial in the damp cavern but they wsr
readable and l had not forgotten I
q read and write. Every moment
could find was spent porting over thss
treasures, and they were worth I
me, Mr.. Bernard, more than all til
gold in the world could have beef
= There was a Bible among them,
: Pilgrims Progress, a Paradise Los
: and many others that 9 emed
l open to me the very gates Of beaver
, There was another strange relic
j found with the books-that comb
gave you," he said to Annette, tar
which you now have in your hal
b It was wrapped in a leaf tol
, from a book and had written on i
Found buried in q rock tomb amor
Z the ashes of one who must have bee
I dead for thousands of years.
gives in pictures history and propl
ecy"
Annette took the comb from h
hair and they examined 1t and feur
the pictures well preserved.
"This," said Capt. Harmon, poIn
ing to q side of it, represents, pc
y haps, the children of Israel crossiI
g the Jordan, and this is Solomon
9 temple, and this, the ark Of the col
Q enaut. So much for the history, {
n that is all l can interpret, but here
d the prophecy, which is harder st
90 read. This huge boat Of curio
shape, with great pipe sboye It III
a chimney, has yet to be ls0pehe
for nothing like 1t is on the wat
yet. And here we see long lin
n upon which boxes with wheels Z
vt resting, which must be some kind