The Washington herald., 1906-10-28

silent. She waved back in response 10
the King OF the Mountains. but her face
was stiH pale, and she was silent for
some time. Harley now knew that
King" Plmnmer was not her uncle nor
her next Of kin after Jimmy GraysOn IN
any way. but he was unable TO tell why
this marriage-tO-be had been arranged.
But he quickly learned the secret Il
secret Il was: II WAS told to him on the
train by Mrs. Grayson as they rode that
afternoon to Detroit
II you were ever In Idaho. she said,
you would soon hear the story Of King
Pnmmer and Sylvia. IL is a tragedy Of
our West: that is. il began in great
tragedy. one Of those tragedies Of the
plains and the mountains so numerous
and 50 like each other that the historians
forget 10 tell about them. Sylvia s
mother was Mr. Grayson's eldest sister,
much older than he. She and her hus-
band and children were part Of & wagon
train that was going Up away into the
Northwest where the railroads did not
then reach.
1t was long ago-when Sylvia was a
little girl, not more than seven or eight
and the train was massacred by Utes Just
as they reached the Idaho line. The
Utes were on the warpath-therc had
train had been warned by the soldiers
not 70 go on, but the emigrants were
reckless. They laughed at danger, be
cause they did not see II before their
faces. They pushed on. and they were
ambushed in "a deep canyon.
There was hardly any fight at all,
the attack was 50 sudden and unexpect-
ed Before the people knew what was
coming half Of them were shot down.
and then these awful savages were
among them with tomahawk and knife.
Mr. Harley. I've no use for the Indian.
II is easy enough to get sentimental
about him when YOU are away of in the
East. but when you are close 10 him in
the West all that feeling goes. heard
Sylvia tell about that massacre once, and
only once. II Was years ago. but I can't
forget il; and If I can't forget il. do you
think that she can? Her father was
killed 1T the first fire from the bushes.
and then an Indian. covered with paint
and bears claws. tOmahawlSed both her
mother and her little brother before her
eyes-yes, and scalped them. too. lie
ran for the girl next, but Sylvia think
it was just physical impulsc-dashed
away into the scrub, and the Indian
turned aside FOR a victim nearer at hand.
sylvia lay hid until night came. and
there was silence over the mountain. the
silence Of death. Mr. Harley. because
when she slipped back in the darkness to
the cmigrant train she found every soul
THAT had been IN &c. besides herself, dead.
Think. Mr.. Harley Of that little girl
alone Ga all those vast mountains. with
/ her dead around her. Do you wonder
that sometimes she seems hard2"
NO. ] doI, :, replied Harley. Despite
himself a mist came TO his eyes over this
pathetic tragedy OF long ago
sylvia has never said much about that
night she spent there with the dead I'm
the midst OF the wrecked and plundered
train. but when q number Of border men,
alarmed about the emigrants, pushed on
4 the next day 10 save them II possible.
what do you suppose they found her do
ing?"
Il can't guess"
she had got q spade somewhere from
one OF the wagons. and. little as she was.
she was trying 20 Ji-y' her own dead. She
was 50 busy that she didn't see them ride
up. and William Hummer. their leader
he was q young man then-actually shed
tears. so they say. Wei. these men finish
ed the burial and Mr. Plummer put
Sylvia on his horse before him and rode
away. He adopted the little thing as his
daughter. lie said she was the bravest
creature he had ever seen, and, as he was
not likely to have any real daughter, she
should take a place lat ought 70 be
filed.
Were the Ctes who did this massacre
punished2'
NO one knows: the soldiers killed q
number of them in battle but whether
The slain were those who ambushed the
train is not decided in border history
i think ! understand the rest OF the
story Of AR Plummer and Miss Morgan, 50
said Harley
Yes. it is not hard 10 guess AIr. Gray
son and her other relatives farther east
did not hear of her rescue until long
afterWaTd. they supposed her dead-buI
no one could have cared for her better
than ll.. Plummer. He kept her first
at his mining hut i'm the mountains. but
after two or three years he took her into
/ Town TO Boise; he put her in the care OF a
woman there and sent her 10 school He
loved her already Ike a real daughter.
She was just the kind 10 appeal to him,
50 brave and so fond of the wild life.
/ They say that az first she refused 10