LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 221 



and daring. The first mention of the name caused the blood to 

 rush to Mary's face : not that she for a moment imagined it was 

 her La Bonte, for she knew iha name was a common one ; but, 

 associated with feeUngs 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 neighborhood of old Brand's farm. Meeting 

 him by accident, Maiy, hearing him speak of the mountain hunt- 

 ers, had inquired tremblingly, after La Bonte. Her informant 

 knew him well — had trapped in company 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 Lidians 

 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 opportunity of questioning the Cana- 

 dian closely on the subject. 



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

 brave a mountaineer ?" she asked one day. 



" J'ne sais pas ; he vas un beau garcon, and strong comme le 

 diable — enfant de garce, mais he pas not care a dam for les sau- 

 vages, pe gar. He shoot de centare avec his carabine ; and ride 

 de cheval comme one Comanche. He trap heap castor (what 

 you call beevare), and get plenty dollare — mais he open hand 

 vare wide — and got none too. Den, he hont vid de Blackfoot 

 and avec de Cheyenne, and all round do montaignos he hont dam 

 sight." 



"But, Antoine, what became of him at last ? and why did ho 



