LIFE IX THE FAR WEST 271 



Mary's face ; not that she for a moment imagined it 

 was her La Bonte, for she knew the name was a 

 common one ; but, associated with feelings which she 

 had never got the better of, it recalled a sad epoch in 

 her former life, to which she could not look back 

 without mingled pain and pleasure. 



Once only, and about two years after his departure, 

 had she ever received tidings of her former lover. A 

 mountaineer had returned from the Far West to settle 

 in his native state, and had found his way to the 

 neighbourhood of old Brand's farm. Meeting him by 

 accident, Mary, hearing him speak of the mountain 

 hunters, had inquired, tremblingly, after La Bonte. 

 Her informant knew him well had trapped in com- 

 pany with him and had heard at the trading fort, 

 whence he had taken his departure for the settlements, 

 that La Bonte had been killed on the Yellow Stone 

 by Blackfeet ; which report was confirmed by some 

 Indians of that nation. This was all she had ever 

 learned of the lover of her youth. 



Now, upon hearing the name of La Bonte so often 

 mentioned by Antoine, a vague hope was raised in her 

 breast that he was still alive ; and she took an oppor- 

 tunity of questioning the Canadian closely on the 

 subject. 



" Who was this La Bonte, Antoine, who you say was 

 so brave a mountaineer ? " she asked one day. 



" J'ne sais pas ; he vas un beau gar9on, and strong 

 comme le diable enfant de garce, mais he pas not care 

 a dam for les sauvages, pe gar. He shoot de centare 



