Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-03-17
BOB And NAY.
Bob aud May wero sweethearts.

had been learning ever since Bob. a
STRIPPING Of 90, had come out from Ten
nassee to the Texas Panhandle with the
family.
In those days May was a bright hair
ed. high strung little girl OF IA whom
Bob never called nor thought of as red
headed. =
Bob was i strong, GOOD humored boy,
not 4 bit afraid OF work. and he had a
way with him that gave him command
OF men and creatures. Herose rapidly
in old man Love's employ from simple
COW puncher to wagon boss, then fore
man, and when he was only % went,
with the approval and good will Of his
employer, TO take the position of ranch
manager fer Boston company.
al the world loves Il lover. Bob was
such whole hearted one. his state Of
mind was 60 patent, Ilc took such de-
light in it, Wore his chains with such
open pride and enthusiasm. that all the
Panhandle felt with and for him.
And old man Love was pleased
enough with the match and greatly
given to Dragging of Bob as Il coming
adjunct to the Lows greatness. until the
tragedy Of the one horned brindle cow,
which tore things all up generally.
threatened to sever two loving hearts
and darken forever Bob's and May s
happy horizon.
This old cow-worth perhaps 81
bobbcd up st enc of the roundups sport
ing, in addition to the d N Of tho Bos-
ton National, which was f&cetiously
known as tho Bean" brand. old man
Loves fxxx).
Though very uncommon, such acct
dents may occur in the haste aud con-
fusion OF branding without necessarily
implying dishonesty on some one s
part. While they do sometimes result
in fights and killings they are easily
enough adjusted between reasonable
people, since any clever cattleinan can
readily tell which brand is of the long
er standing.
But any cowboy on the range would
have told you that while old man Love
was square enough himself he was a
crazy crank about tho sacredness of his
brand. His long suit was to Jump up
and down and swear that it never yet
was on anything that wasn't his own.
He invariably claimed an animal that
bore it in addition to another brand
fas did this old cow however plainly il
showed as the newer of the two, though
as 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, be might perhaps have blink
ed 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 any one, and he dared the
worst-and got it,
He held the cow for his company, aft
er fierce contest, and old man Love
went home raging, to give his distorted
version of the affair, issue orders 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 child OF his married TO a
horse thief than to person capable OF
such behavior.
Communication between the lovers
had since been managed, once or twice,
by the utmost stealth and secrecy. Hay-
ing. by this inoans. been assured of his
sweetheart's steadfastucss and readiness
Bobs her word by one of her father s
cowboys to ride good horse past the
half way branding pen. armed himself
with license and hang around the
Triple x ranch for a week.
When May finally found the oppor-
tunity to slip away IN the most careless
manner, with one of the mems SOM
breros on and in the face of threatening
weather, sho received rapturous well
come from the long banished Bob, and
they promptly headed their ponies for
Squire Wiley 8, Just the other sido OF
Roaring creek, who was supposed to be
holding himself i'll readiness for their
visit.
What Mexican or other paid spy OF
what unfriondly or enyious hand car
ried the news to old man Love viii not
be known, but he burst into one of his
near cow camps at dinner, shortly aft
er Bob and Mays departure. like a roar
ing South African lion with mustard in
his eye.
The boys''-who knew well enough
what was afoot, and what would be
asked of dropped their tin cups
and plates, jumped on their waiting
ponies and were out of hauling distance
before he fairly lit in their midst.