Connecticut western news., 1886-01-20
The Waif of the Plains.

An endless sea of sandy plain, almost 8 dead level, save the sand-dunes which here and there, like pillows from some far-of 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 tn the horizon, was the same dreary, mo- notonous level waste. It was early morn hg, and the sun was shooting its hori- sontal rays across the glistening sands. Two horsemen were riding along the : trail, when small object, moving slow ty 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 noises they rapidly approach the waif on this waterless sea, and discover a child of perhaps 5 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 heres Did she drop. from the cloudsa Nothing else of life was visible; the whole expanse of plain was blank. It 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 a fruit less search for an hour or two, the men pushed on, as the sun was getting high in the heavens and there was a 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 in Denver, brought the foundling 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 some 5 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 from. 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 in thriving circumstances, and lavished their means freely on the education of the child, whom they cherished and low ed as if she were of their flesh and blood. One day Mir. Clark, having business at Pueblo, was induced by friend to visit the insane asylum. The official, in ac- companying them through the different wards, explained the various phases and peculiarities of the fancies of the patients. Finally they reached an apartment occu- pied by woman, whose case, the official explained, was rather peculiar. She was rescued from the Cheyennes several years ego by the troops. How long she had been captive was not known, but it is supposed that the indignities she had mfered and the horrors she had passed through had turned her brain, as wher found she was insane, and ever since the burden of her talk had been massacres
 A9hts, and all the horrors of Indian bru
 hn1f1iea Then she seems to have chil6 pam lAeis constantly calling. Tn