MorninghadbeenforsomewhileastirinMedicineBowbeforeI
　　leftmyquilts。Thenewdayanditsdoingsbeganaroundmeinthestore，chieflyatthegrocerycounter。Dry-goodswerenotingreatrequest。Theearlyrisingcow-boyswereoffagaintotheirwork；andthosetowhomtheirnight’sholidayhadleftanydollarswerespendingthesefortobacco，orcartridges，orcannedprovisionsforthejourneytotheirdistantcamps。Sardineswerecalledfor，andpottedchicken，anddevilledham:asophisticatednourishment，atfirstsight，forthesesonsofthesage-brush。
　　Butportableready-madefoodplaysofnecessityagreatpartintheopeningofanewcountry。ThesepicnicpotsandcanswerethefirstofhertrophiesthatCivilizationdroppeduponWyoming’svirginsoil。Thecow-boyisnowgonetoworldsinvisible；thewindhasblownawaythewhiteashesofhiscamp-fires；buttheemptysardineboxliesrustingoverthefaceoftheWesternearth。
　　SothroughmyeyeshalfclosedIwatchedthesaleofthesetins，andgrewfamiliarwiththeham’sinevitabletrade-mark——thatlabelwiththedevilandhishornsandhoofsandtailverypronounced，allcoloredasultryprodigiousscarlet。Andwheneachhorsemanhadmadehispurchase，hewouldtrailhisspursoverthefloor，andpresentlythesoundofhishorse’shoofswouldbethelastofhim。Throughmydozingattentioncamevariousfragmentsoftalk，andsometimesusefulbitsofknowledge。Forinstance，Ilearnedthetruevalueoftomatoesinthiscountry。Onefellowwasbuyingtwocansofthem。
　　“MeadowCreekdryalready？“commentedtheproprietor。
　　“Beendrytendays，“theyoungcow-boyinformedhim。Anditappearedthatalongtheroadhewasgoing，waterwouldnotbereachedmuchbeforesundown，becausethisMeadowCreekhadceasedtorun。Histomatoeswerefordrink。Andthustheyhaverefreshedmemanytimessince。
　　“Nobeer？“suggestedtheproprietor。
　　Theboymadeashudderingface。“Don’tsayitsnametome！“heexclaimed。“Icouldn’tholdmybreakfastdown。“Heranghissilvermoneyuponthecounter。“I’vesworeoffforthreemonths，“
　　hestated。“I’mgoingtobeaspureasthesnow！“Andawayhewentjinglingoutofthedoor，torideseventy-fivemiles。Threemoremonthsofhard，unshelteredwork，andhewouldrideintotownagain，withhisadolescentbloodcryingaloudforitsown。
　　“I’mobliged，“saidanewvoice，rousingmefromanewdoze。
　　“She’seasierthismorning，sincethemedicine。“Thiswastheengineer，whosesickwifehadbroughtahushoverMedicineBow’srioting。“I’llgiveherthemflowerssoonasshewakes，“headded。
　　“Flowers？“repeatedtheproprietor。
　　“Youdidn’tleavethatbunchatourdoor？“
　　“WishI’dthoughttodoit。“
　　“Shelikestoseeflowers，“saidtheengineer。Andhewalkedoutslowly，withhisthanksunachieved。HereturnedatoncewiththeVirginian；forinthebandoftheVirginian’shatweretwoorthreeblossoms。
　　“Itdon’tneedmentioning，“theSouthernerwassaying，embarrassedbyanyexpressionofthanks。“Ifwehadknowedlastnight——“
　　“Youdidn’tdisturbherany，“brokeintheengineer。“She’seasierthismorning。I’lltellheraboutthemflowers。“
　　“Why，itdon’tneedmentioning，“theVirginianagainprotested，almostcrossly。“Thelittlethingslookedkindo’fresh，andI
　　justpickedthem。“Hiseyenowfelluponme，whereIlayuponthecounter。“Ireckonbreakfastwillbegettingthrough，“heremarked。
　　Iwassoonatthewashtrough。Itwasonlyhalf-pastsix，butmanyhadbeenbeforeme，——oneglanceattheroller-toweltoldmethat。Iwasafraidtoaskthelandladyforacleanone，andsoI
　　foundafreshhandkerchief，andaccomplishedasparingtoilet。Inthemidstofthisthedrummersjoinedme，onebyone，andtheyusedthedegradedtowelwithouthesitation。Inawaytheyhadthebestofme；filthwasnothingtothem。
　　ThelatestrisersinMedicineBow，wesatatbreakfasttogether；
　　andtheyessayedsomelightfamiliaritieswiththelandlady。Buttheseexperimentswerefailures。Hereyesdidnotsee，nordidherearshearthem。Shebroughtthecoffeeandthebaconwithasedatenessthatproprietyitselfcouldscarcehavesurpassed。Yetimproprietylurkednoiselesslyalloverher。Youcouldnothavespecifiedhow；itwasinterblendedwithhersumtotal。Silencewasherapparenthabitandherweapon；buttheAmericandrummerfoundthatshecouldspeaktothepointwhenneedcameforthis。
　　Duringthemealhehadpraisedhergoldenhair。Itwasgoldenindeed，andworthahighcompliment；buthiskinddispleasedher。
　　Shehadletitpass，however，withnomorethanacoolstare。Butontakinghisleave，whenhecametopayforthemeal，hepushedittoofar。
　　“Pitythismustbeourlast，“hesaid；andasitbroughtnoanswer，“Evertravel？“heinquired。“WhereIgo，there’sroomforapairofus。“
　　“Thenyou’dbetterfindanotherjackass，“sherepliedquietly。
　　IwasgladthatIhadnotaskedforacleantowel。
　　FromthecommercialtravellersInowseparatedmyself，andwanderedaloneinpleasurableaimlessness。Itwasseveno’clock。
　　MedicineBowstoodvoicelessandunpeopled。Thecow-boyshadmeltedaway。Theinhabitantswereindoors，pursuingthebusinessortheidlenessoftheforenoon。Visiblemotiontherewasnone。
　　NoshelluponthedrysandscouldliemorelifelessthanMedicineBow。Lookinginatthestore，Isawtheproprietorsittingwithhispipeextinct。Lookinginatthesaloon，Isawthedealerdealingdumblytohimself。Upintheskytherewasnotacloudnorabird，andontheearththelighteststrawlaybecalmed。
　　OnceIsawtheVirginianatanopendoor，wherethegolden-hairedlandladystoodtalkingwithhim。SometimesIstrolledinthetown，andsometimesoutontheplainIlaydownwithmydaydreamsinthesagebrush。Paleherdsofantelopewereinthedistance，andnearbythedemureprairie-dogssatupandscrutinizedme。Steve，Trampas，theriotofhorsemen，mylosttrunk，UncleHughey，withhisabortivebrides——allthingsmergedinmythoughtsinahuge，deliciousindifference。Itwaslikeswimmingslowlyatrandominanoceanthatwassmooth，andneithertoocoolnortoowarm。AndbeforeIknewit，fivelazyimperceptiblehourshadgonethus。TherewastheUnionPacifictrain，comingasiffromshoresforgotten。
　　Itsapproachwassilentandlongdrawnout。Ieasilyreachedtownandtheplatformbeforeithadfinishedwateringatthetank。Itmovedup，madeashorthalt，Isawmytrunkcomeoutofit，andthenitmovedawaysilentlyasithadcome，smokinganddwindlingintodistanceunknown。
　　Besidemytrunkwasoneother，tiedextravagantlywithwhiteribbon。Theflutteringbowscaughtmyattention，andnowI
　　suddenlysawaperfectlynewsight。TheVirginianwasfurtherdowntheplatform，doubledupwithlaughing。Itwasgoodtoknowthatwithsufficientcausehecouldlaughlikethis；asmilehadthusfarbeenhislimitofexternalmirth。Ricenowflewagainstmyhat，andhissinggustsofricespoutedontheplatform。AllthemenleftinMedicineBowappearedlikemagic，andmorericechokedtheatmosphere。Throughthegeneralclamoracrackedvoicesaid，“Don’thitherintheeye，boys！“andUncleHugheyrushedproudlybymewithanactualwifeonhisarm。Shecouldeasilyhavebeenhisgranddaughter。Theygotatonceintoavehicle。Thetrunkwasliftedinbehind。Andamidcheers，rice，shoes，andbroadfelicitations，thepairdroveoutoftown，UncleHugheyshriekingtothehorsesandthebridewavingunabashedadieus。
　　ThewordhadcomeoverthewiresfromLaramie:“UncleHugheyhasmadeitthistime。Expecthimonto-day’snumbertwo。“AndMedicineBowhadexpectedhim。
　　Manywordsaroseonthedepartureofthenew-marriedcouple。
　　“Who’sshe？“
　　“What’shegotforher？“
　　“GotagoldmineupBearCreek。“
　　Andaftercommentandprophecy，MedicineBowreturnedtoitsdinner。
　　Thismealwasmylasthereforalongwhile。TheVirginian’sresponsibilitynowreturned；dutydrovetheJudge’strustworthymantotakecareofmeagain。Hehadnotoncesoughtmysocietyofhisownaccord；hisdistasteforwhathesupposedmetobeI
　　don’texactlyknowwhatthiswasremainedunshaken。Ihavethoughtthatmattersofdressandspeechshouldnotcarrywiththemsomuchmistrustinourdemocracy；thievesarepresumedinnocentuntilprovedguilty，butastarchedcollariscondemnedatonce。PerfectcivilityandobligingnessIcertainlydidreceivefromtheVirginian，onlynotawordoffellowship。Heharnessedthehorses，gotmytrunk，andgavemesomeadviceabouttakingprovisionsforourjourney，somethingmorepalatablethanwhatfoodweshouldfindalongtheroad。Itwaswellthoughtof，andIboughtquiteaparcelofdainties，feelingthathewoulddespiseboththemandme。AndthusItookmyseatbesidehim，wonderingwhatweshouldmanagetotalkaboutfortwohundredandsixty-threemiles。
　　FarewellinthosedayswasnotsaidinCattleLand。Acquaintanceswatchedourdeparturewithanodorwithnothing，andthenearestapproachto“Good-by“wastheproprietor’s“So-long。“ButI
　　caughtsightofonefarewellgivenwithoutwords。
　　Aswedrovebytheeating-house，theshadeofasidewindowwasraised，andthelandladylookedherlastupontheVirginian。Herlipswerefaintlyparted，andnowoman’seyeseversaidmoreplainly，“Iamoneofyourpossessions。“Shehadforgottenthatitmightbeseen。Herglancecaughtmine，andshebackedintothedimnessoftheroom。Whatlookshemayhavereceivedfromhim，ifhegaveheranyatthistoopublicmoment，Icouldnottell。Hiseyesseemedtobeuponthehorses，andhedrovewiththesamemasteringeasethathadropedthewildponyyesterday。WepassedtherampartsofMedicineBow，——thickheapsandfringesoftincans，andshelvingmoundsofbottlescastoutofthesaloons。Thesunstrucktheseatahundredglitteringpoints。Andinamomentwewereinthecleanplains，withtheprairie-dogsandthepaleherdsofantelope。Thegreat，stillairbathedus，pureaswaterandstrongaswine；thesunlightfloodedtheworld；andshininguponthebreastoftheVirginian’sflannelshirtlayalonggoldthreadofhair！ThenoisyAmericandrummerhadmetdefeat，butthissilentfreelancehadbeeneasilyvictorious。
　　Itmusthavebeenfivemilesthatwetravelledinsilence，losingandseeingthehorizonamongtheceaselesswavesoftheearth。
　　ThenIlookedback，andtherewasMedicineBow，seeminglyastone’sthrowbehindus。Itwasafullhalf-hourbeforeIlookedbackagain，andtheresureenoughwasalwaysMedicineBow。Asizeortwosmaller，Iwilladmit，butvisibleineveryfeature，likesomethingseenthroughthewrongendofafieldglass。TheEast-boundexpresswasapproachingthetown，andInoticedthewhitesteamfromitswhistle；butwhenthesoundreachedus，thetrainhadalmoststopped。Andinreplytomycommentuponthis，theVirginiandeignedtoremarkthatitwasmoresoinArizona。
　　“AmancometoArizona，“hesaid，“withoneofthemtelescopestostudytheheavenlybodies。HewasaYankee，seh，andarightsmartone，too。Andonenightwewaswatchin’forsomelittleoldfallin’starsthathesaidwasdue，andIsawsomelightsmovin’
　　alongacrossthemesaprettylively，an’Isangout。Buthetoldmeitwasjustthetrain。AndItoldhimIdidn’tknowyu’couldseethecyarsthatplainfromhisplace，’Yu’canseethem，’hesaidtome，’butitislas’night’scyarsyou’relookin’at。’“AtthispointtheVirginianspokeseverelytooneofthehorses。“Ofcourse，“hethenresumedtome，“thatYankeemandidnotmeanquiteallhesaid——You，Buck！“heagainbrokeoffsuddenlytothehorse。“ButArizona，seh，“hecontinued，“itcert’nlyhasamos’deceivin’atmospheah。Anothermantoldmehehadseenaladycloseoneeyeathimwhenhewastwominuteshardrunfromher。“
　　ThistimetheVirginiangaveBuckthewhip。
　　“Whateffect，“Iinquiredwithagravityequaltohisown，“doesthisextraordinaryforeshorteninghaveuponaquartofwhiskey？“
　　“Whenit’soutsideyu’，seh，nodistancelookstoofartogotoit。“
　　Heglancedatmewithaneyethatheldmoreconfidencethanhithertohehadbeenabletofeelinme。Ihadmadeonestepinhisapproval。ButIhadmanyyettogo。Thisdayhepreferredhisownthoughtstomyconversation，andsohedidallthedaysofthisfirstjourney；whileIshouldhavegreatlypreferredhisconversationtomythoughts。HedismissedsomeattemptsthatI
　　madeuponthesubjectofUncleHugheysothatIhadnotthecouragetotouchuponTrampas，andthatchillbriefcollisionwhichmighthavestruckthesparkofdeath。Trampas！IhadforgottenhimtillthissilentdriveIwasbeginning。IwonderedifIshouldeverseehim，orSteve，oranyofthosepeopleagain。
　　AndthiswonderIexpressedaloud。