The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-09-05
THE LEGEND OF
BONNIE FEMME.
Story of Early Days in Mis-
souri,.
BY SIDNEY Il. POWELL.
Noio First Published.
CONGRATULATIONS pERILs.


When the Indian village came in
sight the captives were tired enough
to be glad, although they did not
know what dreadful fate awaited
them.
There was nc yelling nor noise to
greet them but barking of dogs.
The wigwsms were mostly dark, but
here and there faint lights glim-
mered. The captives were taken
into a low room ten or twelve feet
square, the sides within covered with
dressed skins. The outside was
made from brush and bark from the
trees giving them the appearance of
ragged uncouth piles of brush, the
smoke curling from the bristling top
being the only thing to indicate 1t as
a %habitation for men.
Annette and MIR. and Mrs. Bernard
were conducted by Wolf and Haha
into the largest and most comforta-
bic wigwam in the village not ex-
cepting the one occupied by Sarafan.
The smoke met them at the en-
trance, but SO did the warm air, and
1t was gratefully appreciated. Their
garments were frozen upon them
and they were shivering in every
limb. There was a bright freight
and it showed them dogs in p~rofusion
curled on the floor. To one side
dried leaves and twigs served as beds
for the Indian children, and skins
and dried grass as covering.
When Wolf and Haha entered and
kicked a dog or two out of the way,
there was a general awakening, for
little and big, they all slept like cats,
on the alert for every noise.
"Who is it?" said an old squaw as
she jumped from her bed of leaves.
Annette IA for the first time an
Indian woman and almost forgot her
cold and hunger as she watched the
strange creature. Her hair stood
out matted and full of leaves and
dirt 30 that her head seemed double
the size it ought to be. Her face
smeared with paint, her limbs half
naked and her body clothed with
worn ragged skins, she was a picture
to make a woman like Annette weep
in symathy. Was she a human, she
thought, with mind, heart and soul
like herself, or was this n strange
animal of the woods, a brute without
q soul of whom God the great Father
took no notice.
Mrs. Bernard crouched close to
Annette's side and whispered, "Dear
child, don't be afraid, she won't hurt
u.s."
Annette was not afraid. She was
wondering and thinking if there was
no way to help this creature to lift
herself out of the degradation to
which she had fallen.
"She not bad, she be good to you,"
Haha said in a low tone as he APP
preached Annette.
ats she your m%other?" asked An
nette.
"No, no." he answered smiling,
"my mother, dead long years ago,
before l crossed the Mississippi.
she lived far from here. They took
me away from her, and when l cams
back they said she was dead"
His voice trembled and by the dim
light Annette saw the look of sorrow
on his face.
"You loved your mother l know"
said Mrs. Bernard who was crying
in sympathy.
"Loyed her yes, more than l love
these great trees and rivers, moro
than the Indian loves his hunting
ground" He turned away abruptly
as though ashamed of the weakness
that overcame him, for his voice
quivered and, like Mrs. Bernard, he
was striving to keep back the tears.
''Fix a bed for white squaws to
sleep" Haha said to the Indian wo-
man, and she Immediately made her
self very busy raking together the
dried grass aud leaves for them to
lie on, spreading over the pile n
blanket and a dressed buffalo skin
for covering.
"Be good to them, Loni," Haha
said to the woman as he and Wolf
left the wigwam taking Mr.. Bernard
with them.
While the Indian woman and chill
dren snored, and the dogs barked
and scratched at the narrow door
way Annette and Mrs. Bernard laid
awake and talked for hours before
they could feel composed enough to
go to sleep. Their ears were on the
alert for every sound. Suddenly
Annette grasped her componion's
arm, sob, Mrs. Bernard! I heard
guns firing and noises like people
walking about. DON'T YOU hear2"
Guns were certainly firing but they
were farther away than she thought,
Mrs. Bernard told her.
ST the Indians are lighting, per-
haps We could get away-we could
steal out in the dark and hide in the
daytime, and SO find our way back to
the settlement" Annette said Gag
erly, hoping Mrs. Bernard would be
willing to try with her to make their
aacopa