The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-01-12
A IEXAS ELOPEMENT.
How a Western Storm Aided Two
VentureSOme Lovers
.ob and Nav were sweethearts

OF course they were; that's what
they had been learning ever since Bob,
a stripping of twenty, had come ont
from Tennessee to the Texas Panhan-
die with the family.
In those days May was a 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 n bit airald of work: and he had a
way with him that gave him command
of men and creatures. lie rose 7; pidly
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
viii of his employer, to take the posi-
ton OF ranch manager for a Boston
company.
All the world loves lover. Bob was
such 4 whole hearted one. his st te of
mind was So patent, he took sucE de-
light in it, wore his chains with such
open pride and enthusiasm, that all the
Panhandle felt with and for him.
Besides being i fellow that a girl
could love without any difficulty, any
body-Hith a daughter to sparc-night
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 a coming
adjunct to the Love greatness. until
the tragedy OF the onc-horncd bIindle
cow, which tore things all up general
ly, threatened To sever two loving
hearts and darl5eu forever Bob's and
lays happy horizon.
This old cow-wOrth perhaps seven
dollars bobbed up 1t one OF the round
ups sporting, in addition to the Il. y.
of the Boston National, which was
;acetiously known as the bean
brand, old Man Loves Xxx.
Though very uncommon, such acci-
dents may occur IN the haste and CON
fusion of branding, without necessari-
iy Implying dishonesty on some ones
art. While they do sometimes -esult
- G..hts AM killings, they are easily
-n1uEh aGjlSteI betwe en- reason
abis people, since any clever cattleman
Cal readily tell which brand is OF the
.)nScr standing.
But any cowboy on the range would
have told You that while Old Man
love wds square enough himse i, he
.vas n crazy crank about the s. cred
-ess Of his brand. His long suite was
jump mp and down and u wear
.-at it never yet was ON anything that
wasn't las own. lie invariably claimcd
n animal that bore il in addition 10 an
.lh,r brand las did this old cow. how
yer piaialy it showed a. the newer of
thc two, t1sough Is a matter o. fact
..iS branding irons were handled 10y
.Ist IS many careless cowboys as any
.thers
!. l~,.l - /
and damaged brindle cow was going to
.ost him, he might, perhaps. have
lliniled his obvious dutv and lct Old
2Iau Love have her-in the face of
-.Gut and reason.
i;ut he was not the man to be backed
down by anyone. and he dared the
worst-and got il.
lie held the cow for his company.
sitter a fierce contest, and Old Man
love went home raging. 70 give his
distorted version of the affair, issue or
.t.rs that no member of his family was
- speak to. or of, Bob. from that tiulc
ilrth. and to remark Significantly. that
he had far rather see a child # his
married to n horsethief tn an TO a per
ION 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 sweetheart stealfaStness and readi-
ness Bob sent her wore by one of her
fathers cowboys TO ride a good horse
-slst the halfway branding pen, armed
.iInsrIf with license and hung
.-punL the Triple y ranch for week.
When May finally found the oppor-
tunity 70 slip away in the most care
tess manner. with one of the mems
-8mbrcrOs On and in the face of threat
ching weather. she received 4 T; ptur-
GUS welcome from the long baui=hcd
lob. and they promptly headed their
ponies for Squire Niley'S, just the other
side If Roaring creek, who was sup
posed to Jc holding himself in readi-
ness for their visit.
What Mexican, or other paid SOY, or
what unfricndly or envious hand car
ricd the news to Old Man Love viii
not be known; but he burst into one of
his near cDw camps, at dinner 5 urtly
after Bob ana VI ay's departure. IKE
roaring south Afr lean lion with mus
tarI in his eye.
The boys''-who knew well enough
what WAS afoot, and what would be
asked of Handicapped their tin cups
and plates. jumped on their waiting
ponies and were ont of hailing distance
before he fairly lit in their midst
But old Frank PcarSalI, the cook,
was q new man. not long from South
west Texas, neither knowing nor car
ing particularly for Bob Holly and his
love aifairS. So he stood 1T his Official
post. ut the tail end of the chuck
wagon. and gave amiable attention To
the iCpassioned haranguc and singular
antics of this new and entertaining en-
pioycr.
I;eing commanded to come along and
assist in Dispensing Bob and rescuing
MAY, lac mounted serious-appearing
but ftful-tcmpercd, buclSslSin-colorcd
pony, with one white eye and much
symmetry OF bonc-as much of char
actcr in its way as Hank was in his
and started, with considerable interest
ar.d curiosity.
They rode hard and were near over
hauling the lovers within a II lie of
Roaring creek But while pun suer and
pursued pushed on at their utmost
pace. anathcr factor was coming with
:. hundred times greater speed to take
n hand in the game.
The dry ted of Roaring creek was
Just before them. beyond that = tiny
rise, then an arroyo, and beyono that,
again, the reef of the Justices mouse,
just in sight As Bob ana May
clattered over the creek bed and
scrambled up onto the rise beyond
both loo.-cd back and their PONIES
stopped, tossing their heads, pflcl<ln%
their ears and snorting at curlorf
| humminc sound that suddenly seemed
| to fill ali the air about
Hurry up, darling" cried Boo'