Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-06-11

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rear Was not yet visible on the horizon.
Right across tho enormous plain stretch
ed ti(e struggling array, wagons and
carts men OH horseback and men on
foot, jinnumerable women who stag
geredialong under burdens and children
who Yoddled beside the wagons or peep.
ed out from under the white coverings.
This was evidently no ordinary party OF
immikrants, but rather some nomad peo.
pie W bo had been compelled from stress
of circumstances to seek themselves q
new kountry. There rose through the
clear kir confused gathering and rum
bling from this great mass Of humanity.
with 1.-The creaking Of wheels and the
neighjpg horses. Loud rs it was. IL was
not Sufficient TO rouse the two tired
! wayfeters aoove them.
At the head Of the column there rode
a scoI 10 or more Of grave, iron faced
men, clad in somber. homespun gar
mentAand armed with rifles. On reach
| ing the base Of the bluff they halted and
held a short council among themselves.
"Ta wells are TO the right, my broth
ers," said one, hard Tipped, clean
shavcJ man with grizzly hair.
"TJ the right Of the Sierra Blanco, so
we shall reach the Rio Grande," said
anoth, |r
"Fd hr not for waterl' cried third.
"He ' tho could draw it from the rocks
| will nbt now abandon his own chosen
people, |"
"Aihen, amenv' responded the whole
party. They were about TO resume their
| JOURNEY when one OF the youngest ana
| keenesl eyed uttered all exclamation and
| pointel up ut tie rugged crag above
| them. From its summit there fiuttered
httli wisp Of pink, showing up hard
and blight against the gray rocks be-
hind. At the sight there was general
roininl up Of horses and unslinging Of
guns, Ehilo fresh horsemen came gal
Looping up TO rc-enforco the vanguard.
| The w,ad redskins" was on every lip.
"Thire can { bo any number Of InJuns
here, 'isaid the elderly man, who ap-
pcaredlto be in command 1--WE have
passed tho Pawnees, aud there are no
other ribes until we cross the great
mountiins "
"Shtll 20 forward and see, Brother
Stangetsonl" asked one Of the band.
AMI II" And II" cried dozen
voices.
"LeAve your horses below, and we
will whit you here" the elder answer
ed. In u moment the young fellows bad
dismouhtod, fastened their horses and
were ascending the precipitous slope
whicL led up to the object which had
excited their curiosity. They advanced
rapidly and noiselessly, with the conf
donce dnd dexterity Of practiced scouts.
The wa tchors from the plain below could
sec THIN fit from rock TO rock until
their ijgures stood out against the sky
line The young man who had iirst
given the alarm was leading them. Sud
denly Ills followers saw him throw up
his hanks, rs though overcome with rs.
tonishplent. and on joining him they
were Effected in the same way by the
sight which met their eyes.
On tic little plateau which crowned
the bar len hill there stood single giant
bowldei and against this bOwlder there
| lay n tall man, long bearded and hard
featured, but Of an excessive thinnoss.
His pig cid face and regular breathing
showedlthat ho was fast asleep Beside
him lai little child, with her round
white al ms encircling his brown, sinewy
neck anI her golden haired head resting
upon thb breast Of his velveteeu tunic.
Her ro4y lips were parted, showing the
regular lino Of snow white teeth within,
and % playful smile played over her in
fantile features. Her plump little white
legs, ter ;binating in white socks and neat
shoes, With shining buckles, offered a
strange lcontrast To the long, shriveled
members Of her companion. On the
ledge of rock above this strange couple
there stlod three solemn bu2zards, who
ut the sight Of the newcomers uttered
raucous screams Of disappointment and
tapped jullenly away.
The clies OF the foul birds awoke the
two sleepers, who stared about them In
bewildelment. The man staggered to his
feet and looked down upon the plain
which had been so desolate when sleep
had owe eltaken him and which was now
traverset by this enormous body Of men
and Of blasts. His face assumed an ex-
pressionIof incredulity as he gazed, and
| he passeh his bony hand over his eyes.
This u what they call delirium, l
guess, he muttered The child stood
beside him, holding on to the skirt OF
his coat, and said nothing. but looked
oil aroLpd her with the wondering
questioning gaze Of childhood.
The r,fcuing party were speedily able
TO convince the two castaways that their
appeararlce was no delusion. One OF
them seized the little girl and hoistcd
her upoI his shoulder, while two others
| supported her gaunt companion and as
sisted hih toward the wagons.
my name is John Ferrier," the
wanderei explained. "Me and that lit
tie un ate all that's left O. 81 people
The rest is all dead O. thirst and hunger
away dofn in the south.
"Is shi your child?" asked some one
Il gutEs she is now" the other cried
defiantlyl "she's mine cause / saved
her. Nd man will take her away from
me. Shfs Lucy Ferrier from this day
OH. WHIP are you. thought" he con-
tinued, alancing with curiosity at his
stalwart sunburned rescuers. There
seems to|be powerful lot O. ye. f"
Nigh upon 10, 0u0." said one Of the
young rlen. "We are the prosecuted
| children BIZ God, the chosen Of the angel
Merona.
II neEer heard tell on him, said
the wan |ierer HE appears to have
chosen q fair crowd O. ye. !"
"Do nbt Jest at that which is sacred, "
said the other sternly. "We are of those
who believe in those sacred writings
drawn irI Egyptian letters on plates OF
beaten gbld, which were handed unto
the holy Joseph Smith at Palmyra We
have conle from Nauyoo, in the state OF
Illinois, where we had founded our tenn
ple. wi have come to seek refuge
from thekiolent man and from the god
less. eyeil though it be the heart Of the
desert.
The name Of Nauvoo evidently re.
called re1ollections to John Ferrier. II
see." he eaid. eye are the Mormons. F"
"We hre the Mormons, answered
his comphnions with one voice.
"And where are ye going?"