Joshua Peniman inquired the way to Bellevue, and after a brief stop in Omaha set forth for the Mission at that point.
Before leaving Omaha, Hannah Peniman had sent the children into the other wagon, and drew the little Princess to her, reminding her of her dead mother's wishes, and telling her that they were now near Bellevue, where they would leave her at the Mission, from which she hoped that she might be sent home to her own people.
Somewhat to her surprise, the little girl received the announcement with grief and terror.
"Oh, no, no, no," she cried, "I don't want to be left there! I'd die of homesickness there! Oh, Mother Peniman, don't leave me, don't leave me, please don't go away and leave me!"
"But you would only be there a short time, Nina," said Mrs. Peniman gently; "they would soon send you home."
"I have no home," she cried, bursting into a wild storm of weeping; "I don't know any of my people. My papa and mama are dead, and there is no one who wants me or cares for me! Oh, don't leave me, Mother Peniman, please, please take me with you!"
"Can you tell me the names of any of your relatives, Nina? Don't you remember your grandfather or grandmother? Haven't you any aunts or uncles or cousins? Who is there back there where you used to live that you could go to?"
"I don't know, I don't know!" sobbed the child. "I never knew any of them. My grandma and grandpa on Mama's side are both dead, and I think Papa must have quarreled with his parents, for he never talked about them. We lived abroad 'most all the time, and when we were in this country we lived all by ourselves in New York."
"But can't you tell us the names of any people who would know who your relatives are? Your mother said——"
"No, no, I can't, I can't!" sobbed the child. "Everything was in the box Mama gave me. She told me that full particulars were in there. I don't know who they can send me to—I have no friends—no one who loves me——"