The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-08-15
THE LEGEND OF
BONNIE FEMME.
Story of Early Days in Mis-
souri,.
BY SIDNEY L. POWELL.
Notp First Published.
CHAPTER II.
THE AGONY OF SUSPENSE.

and her pony we're out of sight,
turned to go in the house, but Mr..
Laselle with his AZ on his shoulder
came up and seeing the dressed
venison on the stump with a pleased
smile on his face turned 1t over to
examine it.
what a nice hand she is to dress
venison-look, mother. Don't you
think she'll do for this wild country9
All, but she'll never have a chance
to make anything of herself, poor
childl"
81 sometimes think" said Mrs.
Laselle, that it was wrong for US to
bring her here to this wilderness. !
am SUR l did not want to come
myself much less to drag her along
with u.s."
"But my dear, she was anxious
herself to come, and urged and en-
%couraged me from the first to make
tHe Neuture.'
"And such a venture it was,"
said Mrs. Laselle. But an unusual
sound interrupted their talk and
almost startled them, which was
nothing more nor less than a strang-
er's voice, something not often heard
| II their little domain. 1t was close
at them, for the woods surrounding
the house screened him from view
till he was almost at the door. On
turning they saw the speaker and
also another man with him. They
were wrapped in heavy gray blan-
kets each mounted on a horse that
was seemingly just unhitched from
the wagon, with the harness dangling
around them.
"Well, neighbour" said the trav-
eler, 81 am glad to see a house once
more and a Teller critter to speak to.
But 1 tell yer my friend, we hain't
much time ter talk, fer the Injuns is
about in these parts som'ers and not
very fur at that"
GLOW do you know" asked Mr..
Laselle.
Chow do we know! We know
cause we had to leave our wagon
and things buried out yonder under
the tree-laps to hide 'em from 'em."
"Did you come from st. Louis?n
asked Mr.. Laselle.
"In course we did, for a fac" We
left there nigh on to two weeks ago,
and them red skins don't let us get
no Roadway for hiding round to
keep out o. sight of 'em."
"Have you seen them?" asked
Mrs. Laselle, who was trembling with
agitation and fear.
"Nor | hain't seen 'em and please
God l hope l never will, but I heerd
at the ford that a hundred and fifty
had crossed the river on the ice and
was hiding around trying to plumber
and gather up guns and horses. So
just as we got to the creek road we
came up to a man that was just run
ming his horse for dear life, and
just stopped long enough to say, the
Injuns is all in the creek bottoms
and yer better hide yer wagon and
yer provisions and that right quick
So l tell yer we lit out and as we
spied a lot of fallen timber close by,
we got that wagon and team there in
a hurry, and less'n no time, them
wheels was off and the provisions,
and wagin IA plum out o. sight
under that pile of tree-laps. But
neighbor, whar's yer gun? Better be
ready, fer them red skins might
s'prise us any mint"
The speakers companion was a
German, stout and fat, a striking
contrast to the lean, lank six -footer
who was doing all the talking. The
German was evidently much K
cited though he had said nothing
for every moment his head jerked
from side to side, while his eyes
wildly darted from one point to
another as though every moment he
expected a savage to come up upon
him.
"We'll be ready fur 'em you
bet" he s%queaked in a voice quite
unnatural for one 80 stout and burIy.
But he was scared and his voice like
his legs was shaky. His hand nerv-
ously clutched his pistol as though
all his hope centered in that.
"Oh, my child" all at once cried
Mrs. Laselle. "My child is gone and
the Indians will get her! Oh, run,
run and bring her home" she
screamed in agony, for she had just
remembered that Annette had gone
to the creek. She might even now
be in danger.
A few hasty, fearful explanations
and all three men set out with gun,
rife and pistol to bring Annette
home. The sun was now sinking
behind the bluffs and gloom was set
thing over the forest. They rode
fast and not a word was spoken as
they went single file down the bride
path to the deer lick, but only ST.
lence greeted them, no sound but the
rattle of leaves and the moaning
winds in the tree tops. Not a deer
was in sight and no Annette any
where visible.
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