Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-01-22
The Wait of the Plains.

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
few wild flowers Of vivid coloring, whose
very existence on the dry desert waste
was marvel, composing the only vege-
tati0n visible. Occasionally in the dis
tancc, along the banks Of the sluggish
turbid river which flows hundreds of
miles across the desert, could be seen
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 drcary mo-
notoEous 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 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 4
wonders, the men discover while yet at
some distance that it is a. human being
they rapidly approach '-''i 7
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
INC and gazed at them with a frightened
look. Where did she come from and
how did She get here? 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 reassured and coaXed
to talk. and then only incoherently be-
tween her sobs. The men gathered tha4
some time about daybrea6 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. Inc
child tried to indicate the place Of the
massacre but was 50 bewildered by hcI
wandering that it was impossible to learn
ANYTHING from her confused talk. one
Of the men took the little thing on M
horse in front of him, and after fruit
less search for an hour or two the mer
pushed on, as the sun was getting mgr
in the heavens and there was long jour
ney before them ere arriving at tn'
ranch and cattle corral for which the.
were bound and wished to reach betor
nioht. After some hours Of hard ndln'
their destination was reached wlthou
incident. On the following day one 0
tbe men at the ranch, having business
Denver brought the founding to IN
then Young city. The child's story eA
cited considerable attention and smypa
tby from the citizens, and a ehIldie'
married lady of West Denver name
CLARK. who had crossed the plains som
years before, adopted the wall ~ y
own The only name the child coui
give was Rita, and there was no.n''
about her clothing or person to inaiea
who her parents were or where Sle ="
from An she knew Of her former non
was that it was in large city far ava
Rita grew rapidly, and in the course
several wears bid fair to become a beau
full Young lady. Her foster parents w
in thriving circumstances, and laYish'
their means freely on the education
the child, whom they cherished and %
ed as if she were Of their flesh and hioo
One day Mr.. Clark, having business
GucDIO, WIS lHttuCtd - +" Ah''s
the insane asylum. The official, IN =
companying them through the dliier'
wards, explained the various phases =
: pcculiarities of the fancies Of the patleu
Finally they reached an apartment oc'
pied by a woman, whose case, the One
explained, was rather peculiar. she
rescued from the Cheyennes several v
ago by the troops. How long she
been captive was not known, but y
, supposed that the indignities she .
suffered and the horrors she had pas,
y through had turned her brain, aS WI
= found she was insane and ever since
burden Of her talk had been massael
fights. and all the horrors Of Indian 2
talit,es. Then she seems to have q