The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-01-14
The Waif of the Plains.

line wall OF tn0 FlalnS.
An endless sea of sandy plain, almost
dead level, save the sand-dunes which
here and there, like pillows from some
far-off sea beating upon the endless shore,
crossed the country in long lines lost in
the distance, cactus, sage-bush, and a
few wild flowers of vivid coloring, whose
very existence on the dry desert waste
was marvel, composing the only vege
tation visible. Occasionally in the dis
tance, along the banks of the sluggish,
turbid river which flows hundreds of
miles across the desert, could be seen a
few cottonwoods and willows which
form the cover for numerous antelope.
Away in the opposite direction, however,
stretching into the far distance until lost
in the horizon, was the same dreary, mo-
notonous level waste. 1t was early morn
ing, and the sun was shooting its hori
zontal rays across the glistcning sands.
Two horsemen were riding along the
trail, when small object, moving slow
ly along, sometimes seemingly walking
upright, anon crawling on the ground,
excited their attention and curiosity.
Nearer the object comes and, wonder of
wonders, the men discover while vet at
some distance that it is human being,
apparently child. Turning their horses
they rapidly approach the waif on this
waterless sea, and discover a child of
perhaps years of age, now walking then
falling to the ground in its apparently
aimless journey. Upon reaching the
lonely atom of humanity it is found to be
girl with face and hands scratched and
bleeding and clothing torn nearly to
shreds from frequent contact with the
thorns of the cruel cactus Upon the
approach of the men she ceased her cry
ing and gazed at them with frightened
look. Where did she come from and
how did she get here2 Did she drop
from the clouds? Nothing else of life
was visible; the whole expanse of plain
was blank. 1t was some time before
the child could be reassurcd and coaxed
to talk, and then only incoherently be-
tween her sobs. The men gathered that
some time about daybreak an emigrant
train of two wagons with the child's
parents and several other persons had
been attacked by Indians, the women
carried off, and the men all killed. The
child tried to indicate the place of the
massacre, but was SO bewildered by her
wandering that it was impossible to learn
anything from her confused talk. One
of the men took the little thing on his
horse in front of him. and after fruit
less search for an hour or two, the men
pushed on, as the sun was getting high
in the heavens and there was long jour-
ney before them ere arriving at the
ranch and cattle corral for which they
were bound and wished to reach before
night. After some hours of hard riding
their destination was reached without
incident. On the following day one Of
the men at the ranch, having business il
Denver, brought the founding to the
then young city. The child's story ex
cited considerable attention and smypa
thy from the citizens, and childless
married lady of West Denver named
Clark, who had crossed the plains som,
years before, adopted the waif as he
own. The only name the child could
give was Rita, and there was nothing
about her clothing or person to indicate
who her parents were or where she cam,
from. All she knew of her former HON,
was that it was in a large city far away
Rita grew rapidly, and in the course o
several years bid fair to become a beauti
full young lady. Her foster parents wer
in thriving circumstances, and lavishct
their means freely on the education o
the child, whom they cherished and lov
ed as if she were of their flesh and blood
One day Mr.. Clark, having business a
Pueblo, was induced by friend to visi
the insane asylum. The official, in ac
companying them through the differen
wards, explained the various phases ant
peculiarities of the fancies of the patients
Finally they reached an apartment occu
pied by woman, whose case, the officia
explained, was rather peculiar. She wa
rescued from the Cheyennes several year
ago by the troops. How long she ha
been captive was not known, but it
supposed that the indignities she ha
suffered and the horrors she had passe
through had turned her brain, as whe
found she was insane, and ever since til
burden of her talk had been massacre.
fights, and all the horrors Of Indian bru
talities. Then she seems to have chill
for whom she is constantly calling. Tt