Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-02-03
LORD ULLlN'S DAUGHTER.
Bob and Nav were sweetheartS.

from Tennessee 10 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 "rrl-headed.
Bob was Il StlCng. good-humored boy,
not Il bit afraid of work; and he had
II way with him that gave him COM
mand of men and creatures. He rose
rapidly in old man Loves employ from
simple COW punchcr to wagon boss,
then foreman. and when he was only
twenty-five went, with the approval
and goodwill of his employer, to take
III" position ot ranch manager for Il
Boston company.
MI The world loves a lover. Bob
WAS such II Wholc-hCarted one. his
state of mind was so patent he took
such delight in it. wor,' his chains with
such open pride and enthusiasm. that
al the Panhandle felt with and for
him.
i:rSidcS being IL fellow that Il girl
could love without any difficulty, ANY
boHN- with a daughter to spart-might
have been pleased with Bob for n SOIL
in-iaW.
And old man Love was pleased
enough with the match. and greatly
given TO Dragging of Bob as Il coming
adjunct to the Love greatness. until
the tragedy of the one-hOrncd brindlc
COW. which tore things all up gcncr-
ally. threatened to sever two loving
hearts and darkcn forever Bod'S and
Mays happy horizon.
This old coW-worth perhaps ST.
bnbhrd up at one of the roulhl-upS
| sporting. in addition to the \ of the
| Boston National which was facctiOus-
| ly known as the Bean" brand, old
man Loves tXXX.
Though very uncommon. such acci-
| dents may occur in the haste and CON
| fusion of branding. without necessarily
| implying dishonesty on some ones
part While they do sometimes result
| i'll fights and killings. they are easily
enough adjusted between reasonable
| people, since any clever cattlcman can
readily tell which brand is of the long
| CT 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 the Sacrcdness of
| his brand His long suite was to jump
up and down and swear that il never
| Vet WAS on anything that wasn't his
own He invariably claimed an ami
NAL that bore ii in addition to another
| brand l;lS did this old cow, however
| plainly il showed as the newer of the
two. though as IL matter of fact his
| branding irons We're handled by just
| as many careless cowboys as any
others.
If Bob had known what that aged
and damaged brindlc COW was going
to cost him he might perhaps hav"
blnkrd his obvious duty. and let old
| man Love have hcr-in the face of
right and reason.
But he was not the man to be back
| ed down by any one, and he dared
the worst-and got it.
He held the COW for his company,
| after Il fierce contest and old man
Love went homo 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 Il child of
his married to Il horse thief than to Il
| person capable 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 SWerthcart'S : SteadfaStncSS and
| readiness. Bob sent her word by one
of her fathers cowboys to ride Il go"il
horse past the halfway branding pen.
armed himself with Il license and hung
around the Triple y ranch for Il week.
When May finally found the oppor-
tunity to slip away in the most care
less manner. with one of the mems
SumbrcroS on and in the face of threat
| cning weather. she roccivcd IL raptur-
Gus welcome from the long -bAnishrtl
Bob. and they promptly headed their
| 81.
other side of Roaring Creek. who was
| supposed to be holding himself in read
| mess for their visit.
What Mexican, or other paid spy,
or what unfricndly or cnviouS hand
carried 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 Mays departure. like
Il roaring South African lion with mus,
tard in his eye.
"'rhr boyS"-who knew we'll enough
what was afoot and what would be
asked of them-droppcd their tin cups
and plates. jumped on their waiting
ponies and were out of hailing dis
tancc before he fairly lit in their midst
Rul old Hank Pcarsal!. the cook
WAS II new man. not long from south
west Texas. neither knowing of nor
his love affairs. So he stood at his of
fetal post. ut the tail end of the chuck
wagon. and gave amiable attention to
the impaSSioncd haranguc and singular
antics of this new and entcrtainin.
employer.
Being commanded to come along and
assist in dispensing Bob and reScuinl
May. he mounted Il serious appearing
but iitful tempered buckSkin-colorcd
pony, with one white eye and mucl
symmetry of bone-aS much of II char
actrr in its way as Hank was in his
and started, with considerable intrrcs
and curiosity.
They rode hard and were near over
hauling the lovers within mile oI
Roaring Creek But while purSurr IN
pursued pushed on at their utmos
pace. another factor was coming will
Il hundred times greater speed to tax,
Il hand in the game.
The dry bed of Roaring Creek Wa.
lust before them, beyond that II tiny
rise. thpf an arroyo. and beyond tina
again the roof of the Justices house
Just in sight As Bob and May c'a'
tered over the creek bed and srramhl .,
up onto the rise beyond. both locke
back and their ponies stopped. tossing
tlGr hcadS. pricking their ears anC
snoring at curious humming Souut
that suddenly seemed to fill all the al
about.
Hurry up. darling" cried Bob
, throwing out Il hand To catch May :