News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-11
Only hOY2
The Wait of the Plains

far-otf 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 a marvel, composing the only vege-
tation visible Occasionany in the=dls-
lance, 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 glistening sands.
Two horsemen were riding along the
trail, when a 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 yet 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
a 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 here9 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 treasured 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
On the following day one of
the men at the ranch, having business in
Denver, brought the founding to the
then young city. The child's story ex-
cited considerable attention and smypa-
thy from the citizens, and a childless
married lady of West Denver named
Clark, who had crossed the plains some
years before, adopted the waif as her
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 came
rom. All she knew of her former home
was that it was in large city far away.
Rita grew rapidly, and in the course of
several years bid fair to become a beauti-
ful young lady. Her foster parents were
thriving circumstances, and lavished
their means freely on the education of
the child, whom t.ley cherished and low
ed as if she were of their flesh and blood. {
One day Mr.. Clark, having business at
Pueblo, was induced by friend to visit
the insane asylum. The official, in ac-
conn anying them through the different
wards, explained the various phases and
of the fancios of the patients. !
Finally they rea' he'd an apartment occu- ]
ped by a woman, whore casa the official
explained, was rather pr uliar. She was
rescued from the CheyeAn :. several years
ago by TIE troops. How long she had
,een a captive was not known, but it is
that the indignities she had
Uttered and the horrors she had passed
trough had turned her brain, as when
ound she was insane, and ever since the
,urden of her talk had been massacres,
lights, and all the horrors of Indian bru-
alities. Then she seems to have a child
or whom she is constantly calling. The
PARTY entered the room and found quite
ady-hke looking person, who at first re-
.eived them pleasantly and as any sane
person would. Something about her
features, which, although careworn and
gave evidence of former beauty,
truck Mr.. Clark as of some one he had
cen before. After few moments con-
Tersation with him, she startled him with
ne question: ''Where is my Rita? You
AVE taken her from me-my beautiful :
hid" Mr.. Clark was so astonished for
moment that he could not speak.
After recovering somewhat from his
urprise, he endeavored to question her,
ut could get no Ineligible answer, and
fter some little delay left the asylum.
he interview, however, preyed on his
ind, and on his return home he commu-
icated to his wife the strange interview.
ne, with a woman's quick perception, at
nee jumped to a conclusion, which sue
seding events proved to be correct. 1t
-as finally arranged between them that
lta should be taken with them to the
sylum and Mrs. Clark's theory tested.
accordingly on the pretense, of an excur-
ion the three took the train one day and
irving at Pueblo proceeded at once to
he asylum. After slight delay they
Tere shown into the crazy woman's room.
It first she did not see the girl, then in
'oking at her visitors she suddenly dis