A Prairie-Schooner Princess

s that had transpired at the general store so alarmed him that he decided to leave the trading-station at once, anxious to get

ltered and secure. They had finished their supper and were preparing for bed when the young Indian, whom Joe had

t up to Joe and h

d's astonishment. Then without another

Joe, "where'd

Spik li'le." Then looking down

out of this skin for a string of beads? I shoul

aho. So

to learn the value of your goods and not let those thieving white men skin you like that. I happen to know that this is a good otter s

oked at him and a slow fi

land, take 'way red man's furs, take 'way

said gravely, "the white men are setting a bad example to their red brothers,

Got bad heart. Trade with

ted. "He lives with

dian n

Indian, he's a whi

aw-m

iman stood staring at h

? What the relation between him and the departed Carrolls? What could be the meaning of this tangle in which he had

the pelt, which still hung

d. "Pawnee heap w

t to give me this

dian grinned

t a good price for it. I'm awfully much obliged all the same; it was fine of you to want to

oe dashed into the wagon and scrambled out again a m

make you a present. I know you l

pleased smile of a child. Then he proceeded to wind it about his head, tyin

g to you," cried Joe, without an intimation that th

y to his father with a please

to camp here to-ni

leep,

he grass beside the wagons, and when the family settled down to thei

et. He had heard no sound. Spotty was standing, his ears cocked forward, and t

What do you see?" cr

hispered t

and at the same moment let loose a blood-curdling yell t

leaped wildl

e shouted, but the young Indian

e of wide flight, "Red Snake

w do you know? What was he doing?

hrugged his

are. He run 'way. He no come mor

knew now that a deadly enemy was following them, and that while Nina Carrol

a grateful farewell of Pas

morning, they caught their

th constantly changing shades and colors, the river glinted like a sheet of silver, and over all

he spring of the year before, and found themselves in Omaha, taking their first view of the bar

ries were here who had come to carry Christianity into the wilderness, and a few white settlers who at that date had found their way across the river into the newly organized territory. The great motionless pr

ad come from their great annual hunt in the Elkhorn valley, where elk, bison, antelope and other game abounded. There were a few shanties a

evue, and after a brief stop in Omaha s

ss to her, reminding her of her dead mother's wishes, and telling her that they were now near Bellevue, whe

little girl received the annou

! I'd die of homesickness there! Oh, Mother Peniman, don't

time, Nina," said Mrs. Peniman gent

any of my people. My papa and mama are dead, and there is no one who wants me or c

ber your grandfather or grandmother? Haven't you any aunts or uncles or co

side are both dead, and I think Papa must have quarreled with his parents, for he never talked about them.

any people who would know who your

x Mama gave me. She told me that full particulars were in there. I don'

. The past few months had drawn lines in the comely face, had silvered the shini

n't understand, the poor l

e dead and that I am left all alone in the world-I have no one who loves or cares for me-and

the children in the other wagon heard it. In a twi

incess-I heard her crying," pante

on," sobbed Princess. "They're tired of me-they don'

gon, his face looking

ission? Father-wh

sake of the little girl, the danger that threatened them on her

to Joe's arms, and he listened

of her mother, Joe,"

people-if she doesn't want to go to them-isn't it better that

e dange

"I'll take care of her, Father," he said, wit

town in Nebraska, and once designed to be its capi

r what caused them to so quickly reach a decision the children never knew; but only a few minutes had passed before they saw the

of them were crying together. When they heard the approach of Mr. and Mrs. Peniman Nina raised her head

they would ever have been there. God took our baby daughter from us, and I believe that He has given us thee to comfort

en had all become devotedly attached to their little comrade, and her happiness was no greater than theirs when th

abandon the poor lamb. She will be to us as one of our own children, and I know that her mother will rest more tranquilly there in her grave on the l

y be so," answered Jo