The Washington times., 1903-02-22

JEen. L suppose, steep on the BIounu'
aEd-reform. ! hope.
4 am hopelessly bad. Dolly. Maybe
will write to you once in a while, just
TO keep a string on what was once good
in my life. But don't write to me.
Dolly, I simply amt worth writing to.
Il want to say something else TO you.
Dolly, that I would never have the man
mood to say in Boston. VIII Maybury
is the best fellow you know. Dolly. He
is straight out. clean cut. and an hon
orable fellow. He was head over heels
in love with you always, and wouldn't
les you see IL because he was a friend
OF NINE. I wish you'd tell him, some
time. that I wrote you this when I gave
up.
Il am truly sorry that can't be what
1 ought to be. 1t might have been diff
ferent If mother had lived No, II
wouldn't, either, Dolly; for 1t was never
in me TO be man. Father knew 1t.
and he did best to fire me.
My postofce will be Rongis, Wyo.
don't know where It IS, but they say
/ il is on the Sweetwater River Don't
let the name fool you; # is probably a
black. muddy creek which is sweet only
I in contrast with its surroundings. My
name is Edward Hampton. I tell you all
this because you might hear If any
thing happened to me. 1 shall not be
at the postofice more than twice year,
and shall not inquire for mail.
"Good-by forever and ever. my only
sweetheart. God bless you and father
and VIII Maybury. As ever. DEE"
Dolly took this letter to the Office
of Hotaling & Barrymore. wool commits
sion merchants Raymond Hotaling read
II carefully TO himself, then read It to
his partner. then returned it TO Dolly,
kissed her forehead. and said that he
hoped Edward would some day return
to them all a man who had learned to
respect gentlemen.
Wyoming had rapidly forged to the
front as a sheep raising Territory. Her
vast plains of bunch grass and sage
furnished room and sustenaLce for thou
sands OF wool-producing animals, which
became millions in "A few seasons
Nature dealt kindly with her gentlest of
domestic animals, furnishing heavy
blanket 10 guard against the blasts of
winter and man relieved them from the
heat Of such a summers burden, that he
might cIothe himself with their wool.
A rancher often owned 80 200 OF these
four footed clothing manufacturers. For
each band Of 1000 or 1000 there was
a herdsman. who claimed the title
earned before the close feeding sheep
had driven the steers to the northward-
OF cowboy" Each cowboy had his
camp "outft" and grub" furnished by
the ranch. It was not so elaborate as
even necessity might dictate An a
tent, a frying pan or two. two tin plates
one cup. a knife. and possibly a fork. a
pony. a dog, a rife, a gun" "a six
shot Colts revoIver), and plenty OF
heavy ammunition, composed the out
Mt. The grub consisted OF dried salt side
meat. potatoes. corn meal. molasses. and
coffee.
with this pack the pony, the dog
the cowboy. and the sheep moved slowly
from feed to feed. As the summer ad-
vapced they followed the retreating snow
lines up Garfield Peak or Oil Mountain;
or. farther north. they climbed the roll
ing "Moutones" Of the Wind River
Range or the Big Horns-always with
snow in sight, and occasionally meeting
a summer snowstorm. which caused the
dog. pony. and cowboy to 'huddle' to-
gether almost as closely as did the sheer
that surrounded them.
As autumn approached the downward
course was taken. avoiding the trails
r close fed before, and seeking the swalei
Of blue Joint and sweet grass. Through
the short winter the bands were herde,
! in the valleys in large groups. and "fod
dered'' whenever necessity required.
In June came the wool shearing Of
t clipping. This event required a round
} up" at some shearing pen. Usually tn,
= cattle branding round-ups took place a
/ the same time. and this WAS the hOlida!
] season for the cowboys. Bringing theil
bands. herds. ana dries 20 some centra
location. they would spend their days il
r work and their nights in revelry and de
THF NHWT NT