The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-10-24
The LEGEND OF
BONNIE FEMME
A Story of Early Days in
Missouri.
BY SIDNEY E. POWELL
Notp First Published.
By SIDNEY E. Powell.
CHAPTER xII-SAvED.

bIoiAbiihb Bh'1 "hO och'hb ~ ohN
recognizing him fell forward faint
ing.
"Poor little sufferer" he said ten
derby, as he bathed her face and rub
bed vigorously the cold hands, and
he vas soon rewarded by seeing re-
turning consciousness. She opened
her eyes, which put on such a look
of astonishment and pleasure that
Capt. Harmon felt fully compensa-
ted for all that he had passed
through to bring him to this happy
moment.
"I was waiting to see IL that was
an Indian army, and ! had made up
my mind to leap in the creek to hide
from them," she said.
az saw you about to leap-some-
thing told me it was you, the comb
convinced me and it seemed an age
before l could get here to stop that
wild act, for you could never have
escaped unhurt."
"No, / should have died here In
this river and the settlers would not
have known-Oh go!" she exclaim-
ed, as the remembrance came to her
suddenly-"tell the settlers to fly to
the fort, now, without a minutes loss
-Loni says this night the warriors,
thousands of them, cross the river
and will burn every house and muir
der every man, woman and child in
the settlement-Loni told me the Sc
cret and she always tells the TRUTH
"Did Loni tell you 30 that you
might save them," he asked.
eyes, and she helped me to es-
cape, she, herself, rowing me across
the river"
"Well, let us haste" he said, as
he hurriedly lifted her On his pony
and riding to the ford which was
near, they crossed over and rode
rapidly to the house.
The troops were already there.
Grouped in squads they awaited or
ders while the officers fingered in
the house. Capt. Hartman rode up
among them and dismounted with
the almost ~lifeless girl in his arms,
for she was again in an unconscious
condition. A few words from him
explained the situation, and then
couriers were dispatched to every
house to warn the settlers to fly to
the fort without delay.
Already it was getting dark and
only a few more hours would bring
the midnight, the time set for the
massacre.
Annette was borne into the house
by Capt. Harmon, who asked the
mother of the family to come to his
aid. The cold hands were rubbed
and warm blankets wrapped around
her till she came back again to con-
seriousness. But she was exhausted
from fasting as we'll as from fatigue,
and Capt. Harmon knew that unless
| she had nourishment she could not
stand the ride to the fort.
A few hurried words to the hostess
and he proceeded to prepare venison
himself, broiling it on the Goals which
he served to her with some sweet
home made wine from the wild black
berry.
"The poor child is welcome to any
thing we've got" said the woman,
"for to think of her walking all that
way with those poor bleeding feet.''
Her feet were indeed sore and
bleeding but such had been her anx
iety and excitement that she had moi
given them much consideration.
"Have the settlers been warned?''
asked Annette of Capt. Harmon.
"Yes, and are making preparation
to leave for the fort, but can you 60
Miss Laselle9 You are very weak
l am afraid it will be too much To-
you"
ooh, no." she said, jumping hast
lily to her feet. Ct am not so veal
now-Oh, Capt. Harmon" she add
ed, giving way to her tears for tn
first time, eff I should fall into tn
hands of the Indians again l woul'
rather die than go through it al
again."
"But you will never be In thei
power again." he said, trying t.
sooth her, "We will take you to tn
fort where you will be guarded by
, thousand soldiers who know how t
handle their steel in defense Of fai
ladies'"
He was so confident and cheerfr
: she was ashamed that she had show
such weakness and resolved to b
E brave and more hopeful.
: Capt. Harmon had designated
] place for a meeting for the settlers
a for them to make the trip under th
protection Of the troops. As the
started out from this meeting plac
they presented a strange and int,
esting appearance.
= Ahead of them they were drivin
. what few stock they had been abb
to gather up in their hurry, cow
q oxen and sheep. Then the me,
women and children mounted Q
ponies, themselves almost hidde
|. from view by the varied an
o unsightly articles surrounding the
d --beds and bedclothing large
prepouderiu0. There were fryinS