The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-09-05

Loni, at this instant, as II to give
her a chance to try 1t, turned hei
back to them and busted herself with
one Of the children.
In an instant Annette carried he,
purpose out, but in vain, the open
ing was not effected with all she
could do.
"Oh, how can I stand this sus
pense2" said Mrs. Bernard, again
crying %piteou'ly and bemoaning her
husbands sad fate.
"You must not look on the dark
side, dear Mrs. Bernard, and be 90
hopeless. | feel sure he has COTTON
away, and will help us to get away.
You know he has been among the
Indians so much, he understands
their ways and SO will have an
advantage that way. Don't CRY,
please, any moro. II we keep cry
ing this way we'Il make ourselves
sick and wouldn't Loni make a nice
urse for u.s." said Annette, smiling
brightly, in spite of her misery.
Mrs. Bernard laughed, too, and
then feeling that it was ridicnlol to
laugh, under the circumstances, her
risibles quite overcame her, and her
fat sides shook for a minute or two,
while the tears rollel down her
checks.
"Doar child, what did you make
me laugh for, when l ought to. cry,
for poor Mr.. Bernard is gone and I
may see him again.
Annette was now so refreshed by
the laugh which had for a moment
made her forget her troubles that
she renewed her endeavors to open
a small place in the side of the
wigwam. She remembered her
mother sometimes pinned her shawl
on her with a darning needle, and,
looking in the edge of it, sure
enough, there vas the large darnipg
needle, and now while Loni turned
her back she vigorously punctured
the holes in a little circle so close
together that in a short while tho
little plug dropped out. Very small
was the opening, but it served her
purpose, for with her ear close to it
she coud hear them talking. She
heard VOLTS voice say:
"The white squaw is the cause Of
it, better let her CO."
"No, white squaw de-" said Sara
fan ""the old squaw, too, both die"
She heard them speak of some
man who had been shot as though
they looked for him to die. They
were evidently enraged against the
white settlers and determined to
nave the r revenge.
Anne,te's face grew 80 pale while
she listened that Mrs. Bernard
leaned anxiously forward and whis-
pered:
sob, tell mo what it is.n
"They talk SO dreadful. l don't
want to hear any more"
She could not tell Mrs. Bernard of
the horrors they talked about, but
her face reflected them.
"Let me see," said Mrs. Bernard,
forcing an eye to the aperture.
But a glance was enough for her,
she Immediately buried her face in
her hands, s~hivering with horror.
Annette was in too much dread to
ask her what she had seen.
Loni had gone out and left them
with the children only. She, n
doubt, knew they had discovered
the horrors surio unding them and,
therefore, would not attempt to
escape.
"Dear child" said Mrs. Bernard,
hugging Annette and kissing the
pale fearful check, "such a dreadful
sight! A man %welteiing in blood
was lying only a short distance from
the wigwam, and a cruel wretch had
his hair in his hand taking off the
scalp! Oh, the horror of it! That
bloody head Ill never forget"
"Was it a white man?" asked
Annette with a quivering voice.
eyes, but l saw it was not Mr..
Rernard, and am so thankful"
Annette buried her head in her
hands for a moment as the thought
came to her that perhaps it was her
W dear father.
In a few minutes Loni entered and
told them a white man and two
Indians had been killed in a fight
the night before and the Indians
were 80 enraged they would kill
every white that they mot.
land my poor husband, where is
he, Loni?" Mrs. Bernard asked en-
treatingly. But they could learn
nothing from her. 1t was evident
TO them that she cid know, but vas
afraid to tell, as whenever his name
was mentioned she shook her head
to Indicate to them that on that sub-
ject she was dumb.
The day wore away without any
farther developments. No one
came into the wigwam, not even
Haha. Sarafsn had not been seen
by them since they had been there,
neither had Old Wolf.
AS another night approached and