Year: 1861

frlendlesS. In the far and beautiful East
have father, mother, sisters, and in memory
OF your saving, and kindness to me, they will
cherish You as one of their dear household.
He sat down beside her, and after he had
learned her story, they planned their work tor
the morrow.


There was no time to lose, for H-wa see
was the son of powerful Dacotah chief, and
fearful revenge would be taken on them
should they be discovered. As soon as it was
light enough to see, the horses were saddled
and brought by Hugh to the door. A large
fiat stone, which served a HEARTH was lifted,
after many efforts, and from deep hole I'M
derneath Eleanor took couple of money
belts, heavy with gold, and small casket
Concealing them as we'll as she could, she
took from packing box robe of fur, and
envelOping herself in it, told with quivering
voice that she was ready,


81 leave much behind that is of vaue,"
said the young girl. ssThere. are many solid
silver articles in these two boxes and fine
linen with rich clothing but if save life,
let them go. Alas, they were but little COM
fort to me when l owned them!'


Wildly did they gallop away from the cab
in, the maiden leading the way through the
timber to the Des Moines, for although the
prairie track was familiar to her in summer
time, she dare not attempt to find it after so
fierce storm. The ice on the river was thick
and strong, and, like frightened deer, they
sped down it till they had passed ten miles.


ssThere is old Ben's cabin,' said the mai
den, as thin wreath of smoke was seen lazily
curling up through thicket of wild plum
trees. "Ile is one of the two old trapperS to
whom my fathers strange liking introduced
me. He will be faithful, [ know.''


81 was 'fraid-I knoWed it most,'' said Ben,
when they had related the tragedy of the
night; 'sbut your father was orfui proud one
he brought it all on him. With fair words he
might have kept the red skins off and got out
of their way. But it's no use crying-what's
done can't be undone." And the old man
busted himself with preparing a woodland
breakfast for the couple, saying as he did so,
"Reckon you had no appetite this morning.
Them red skins made tarnal bad, mean corp
ses."


Then guiding them to the road, he went
with them to a cabin ten miles below, and
having engaged the trapper who owned it to
go with them to the garrison at Fort Des
MONIES. he fastened back to save, as he said,
all the 'iprcttes" that were owned by Flea
nor assuring her that the tarnal red skins
should never have the lingering of them.


BY hard riding they reached the fort that
night, and Hugh had little difficulty in OBJ
tanning from his commander both leave of alb
sence and an escort to the Mississippi.


There was much surprise in the old home
stead when the son so suddenly returned and
brought too, such beauteous stranger. But
when the tale was told, the trapper's daughter
was taken at once to the hearts of father,
mother and sisters, and the love Hugh said
should be given to her, flowed forth so freely
that her young life, so long blighted and sad.
became again fresh, joyous and gay. And
that its summer was as golden and rich as its
spring had been cherries and poor, you may
imagine from the fact that the first robe she
put on, when she laid aside the black she wore
for the dead, was one of the purest white sat
in, and the first festive gathering she met
with, the bright, joyous one that assembled in
the old family home to greet her as a bride
OF her own Hugh.