The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-10-03
L LEGEND OF
BONNIE FEMME.
of Early Days in Mis-
souri,.
By Sidney e. POWELL
NotD First Published.

Nop First Published.
bHAPTER M.-A STRANGE RELIC.
annette when aroused to con-
BUSINESS opened her eyes on 80
Expected a scene that 1t was with
hculty she could realize where she
,.
Was that indeed Mrs. Bernard
o was holding her head and hug
g her 81 affectionately9 Where
d she come from2 And who was
handsome man in the dress Of a
der who stood near her with a
tanning dinner on a plate in his
md? Our readers though will
eognize Capt. Harmon, the noble
bking officer Of the st. Louis gar
BON. The third visitor was the old
upper, Mr.. Burns, in his dress of
fins, having his dog and gun as
kfore, and the same grim stolid
ok on his face.
"This is Capt. Harmon Of the
Fmy, Miss Laselle," said Mrs. Ber-
Ard introducing them smilingly,
I'D the Captain bowed as low to the
title captive lady seated on her bed
leaves, as If she had been a coun-
ess.
"Poor dear child, how she has suf-
BRED, as well as myself, but you and
RIr. Burns will soon get us away
bow, won't your" Mrs. Bernard
lsked anxiously.
"We fear you will have to wait
everal days yet" he answered re-
uctantly, seeing Annette's look of
Despair.
al will probably get back sooner"
be added, "but you must be brave
md hopeful know you will"
He turned his head aside to con-
Peal tears that were filling his eyes.
"But," he added presently and his
voice quivered with emotion, twill
you go with Mrs. Bernard? l think
you will be more comfortable"
ooh, yes, I would be so glad to 60
but them" she added thought
fully, "if Haha should come ne will
mot know what has become of me-"
81 will tell him." said the trapper
quickly.
eyes" Capt. Harmon said, emo
doubt you will see him first and can
tell him where she is"
The trapper nodded in assent.
His knit brows had not relaxed nor
his gruff voice been heard but once
since he entered. He had noticed
the scared look with which Annette
regarded him, and seeking to assure
her of his friendliness he spoke of
the home to which she was going.
"Mother is there to take keer of
you, and get something for you to
eat"
"And she has been so good to
me-" said Mrs. Bernard. "But dear
child, we must hurry and get ready
to leave so Capt. Harmon and MIR.
Burns can go with us, for they are in
a hurry and can't wait long for u.s."
Going out into the bright sunlight
once more, the world seemed all
new and strange to Annette.
AS their path took them near the
river, Capt. Harmon told her she
would soon cross it again and be
free, in her fathers house once
more.
He did not tell her of her mothers
painful accident and illness. She
already had enough to bear, he
thought without the addition of this.
The ice on the Missouri was
Breaking up, for a warm rain had
come filling its banks, blocking in
great heaps the broken ice and
debris. Its red muddy waters over
flowing in places the bottoms along
the outskirts Of which their path
took them.
"should we get free, how can we
cross that dreadful river2n said
Annette.
Gan Indian canoe will cross us
over" he answered.
"But," said Annette, "there will
be Indians watching and ready to
capture us again. How can We live
In this wilderness again, while the
Indians can go from place to place
az they do now?"
He felt her arm trembling on his
as she spoke.
The thought of a future of such
dread and horror, seemed to un-
nerve her completely.
"We will wipe them from the face
ofthe EARTH" said Capt. Harmon ex-
citedly, "before they are allowed to
continue as they are doing now."
The old trapper clenched his fist,
saying with a fearful frown, "the
two can't live together, the white
must go, or the red man one, and
the war t'wixt 'em had as we'll be-
gin now. You 'uns might % know'd
from the first, and brought your
troops here and wiped 'em out, and
then the settlers would % come in
and this country with its rich land
and Its timber, and its game,
wouldn't % laid here idle this hun
dred years, while the poor people In
tho states was sweating and scufling
In kAAp from ~tarvinu Tho ~ouru.