The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-26
A TEXAS ELOPEMENT.
How a Western Storm Aided Two
Venturesome Lovers

from Tennessee to the Texas Panhan.
die with the family.
In those days May was bright
haired, high-strung little girl of four
teen whom Bob never called nor
thought of as ''red-headed."
Bob was strong, gcod-humored boy,
not bit afraid of work; and he had a
way with him that gave him command
of men and creatures. He rose rapidly
in Old Man Loves employ from simple
cow puncher to wagon-boss. then fore
man, and when he was only twenty
five went, with the approval and good
will of his employer, to take the posi-
ton of ranch manager for a Boston
company.
All the world loves lover. Bob was
such a whole-hearted one, his state OF
light in it, wore his chains with such
open pride and enth usiasm, that all the
Panhandle felt with aud for him.
Besides being fellow that girl
could love without any difficulty, any
body-with daughter 20 spare-might
have been pleased with Bob for a SON.
in-law.
And Old Man Love was pleased
enough with the match, and greatly
given to Dragging of Boo as coming
adjunct to the Love greatness. until
the tragedy of the one-horned brindle
cow, which tore things all up general
ly, threatened to sever two loving
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Mays happy horizon.
This old cow-worth perhaps seven
dollars-bobbed up at one of the round
ups sporting, in addition to the B. n.
of the Boston National, which was
facetiously known as the Bean"
brand, Old Man Loves Xxx.
Though very uncommon, such acct
dents may occur in the haste and con-
fusion of branding, without necessari-
~ implying dishonesty on some ones
part. While they do sometimes result
in fights and killings. they are easily
enough adjusted between reason
able people, since any clever cattleman
canreadily tell which brand is of the
longer standing.
But any cowboy OH the range would
have told you that while Old Man
Love was square enough himself, he
was a crazy crank about the sacred
ness of his brand. His long suite was
to jump up and down and to swear
that it never yet was on anything that
wasn't his own. He invariably claimed
an animal that bore it in addition to an
other brand (as did this old cow. how
ever plainly it showed as the newer Of
the two, though as a matter of fact
his branding irons were handled by
just as many careless cowboys as any
others.
If Bob had known what that aged
and damaged brindle COW was going to
cost him. he might, perhaps, have
blinked his obvious duty and let Old
Man Love have her-in the face of
right and reason.
But he was not the man to be backed
down by anyone. and he dared the
worst-snd got it!
He held the COW for his company.
after a fierce contest. and Old Man
Love went home raging, to give his
distorted version of the affair, issue or
ders that no member of his family was
to speak to. or of, Bob, from that time
forth. and to remark significantly that
he had far rather see a child of his
married to horsethief than to per-
son capa BILE of such behavior.
Communication between the lovers
had since been managed, once or twice,
by the utmost stealth and secrecy.
Having. by this means, been assured of
his sweetheart's steadfastness and readi-
ness Bob sent her wore by one of her
fathers cowboys to ride a good horse
past the halfway branding pen, armed
himself with license and hung
around the Triple X ranch for week
When May finally found the oppor-
tunity to slip away in the most care
less manner, with one of the mems
som br eros on and in the face of threat
ening weather, she received raptur-
ous welcome from the long banished
Bob, and they promptly headed their
ponies for Squire Wileys. just the other
side Of Roaring creek, who was sup
posed to be holding himself in readi-
ness for their visit.
What Mexican, or other paid spy, or
what unfriendly or envious hand car
ried the news to Old Man Love will
not be known; but he burst into one OF
his near cow camps, at dinner shortly
after Bob and NJ avs departure. like a
South Afr lean lion with mus
lard in his eye
The boys"-who new we'll enough
what was afoot, and what would be
asked of them-dropped their tin cups
and plates, jumped on their waiting
ponies and were out of hailing distance
before he fairly lit in their midst
But old Frank Pearsall. the cook,
vas new man, not long from South
vest Texas, neither knowing nor car
ng particularly for Bob Holly and his
owe affairs. So he stood at his official
post. at the tail end of the chuck
wagon, and gave amiable attention to
he impassioned harangue and singular
mites of this new and entertaining en-
,loyer.
Being commanded to come along and
Issist in dispensing Bob and rescuing
day. he mounted serious appearing
W, titful-tempered, buckskin-colored
'ons, with one white eye and much
ymmetry of bone-as much of char
cter in its way as Hank was in his
nd started, with considerable interest
lid curiosity
They rode hard and were near oye--
Iauling the lovers within a mile of
soaring creek But while pursuer and
pursued pushed on at their almost
ace, another factor was coming with
hundred times greater speed to take
hand in the game
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