Thecinchesofthehorsesweretightened，LinandtheVirginianlaidahandontheirsaddle-horns，swungup，andsoonallsoundofthegallopinghorseshadceased。MollyWooddeclinedtobenervousandcrossedtoherlittleneighborcabin；weallparted，andasalwaysinthatblessedcountrydeepsleepquicklycametome。
　　Idon’tknowhowlongafteritwasthatIsprangfrommyblanketsinhalf-doubtingfright。ButIhaddreamednothing。Asecondlong，wildyellnowgavemeImustowntoitahorriblechill。Ihadnopistol——
　　nothing。Inthehatefulbrightnessofthemoonmysinglethoughtwas“House!House!“andIfledacrossthelaneinmyunderclothestothecabin，whenroundthecornerwhirledthetwocow-punchers，andI
　　understood。IsawtheVirginiancatchsightofmeinmyshirt，andsawhisteethashesmiled。Ihastenedtomyblankets，andreturnedmoredecenttostandandwatchthetwogoshootingandyellingroundthecabin，crazywiththeiryouth。Thedoorwasopened，andTaylorcourageouslyemerged，bearingaWinchester。Hefiredattheskyimmediately。
　　“B’gosh!“heroared。“That’sone。“Hefiredagain。“Outandat’em。
　　They’rerunning。“
　　Atthis，dulycameMrs。Taylorinwhitewithapistol，andMissPeckinwhite，staringandstolid。ButnoTommy。Noiseprevailedwithout，shotsbythestableandshotsbythecreek。Thetwocow-punchersdismountedandjoinedTaylor。Maniacdelightseizedme，andI，too，rushedaboutwiththem，helpingthedin。
　　“Oh，Mr。Taylor!“saidavoice。“Ididn’tthinkitofyou。“ItwasMollyWood，comefromhercabin，veryprettyinahood-and-cloakarrangement。
　　Shestoodbythefence，laughing，butmoreatusthanwithus。
　　“Stop，friends!“saidTaylor，gasping。“SheteachesmyBobbiehisABC。
　　I’dhatetohaveBobbie——“
　　“Speaktoyourpapa，“saidMolly，andheldherscholaruponthefence。
　　“Well，I’llbegol-darned，“saidTaylor，surveyinghiscostume，“ifLinMcLeanhasn’tmadeafoolofmeto-night!“
　　“WherehasTommygot？“saidMrs。Taylor。
　　“Didn’tyusseehim？“saidthebiscuit-shooterspeakingherfirstwordinallthis。
　　Wefollowedherintothekitchen。Thetablewascoveredwithtinplates。
　　Beneathit，wedgedkneltTommywithapistolfirminhishand；buttheplateswererattlingupanddownlikecastanets。
　　Therewasasilenceamongus，andIwonderedwhatweweregoingtodo。
　　“Well，“murmuredtheVirginiantohimself，“ifIcouldhaveforesaw，I’dnot——itmakesyu’feelhumiliatedyu’self。“
　　Hemarchedout，gotonhishorse，androdeaway。Linfollowedhim，butperhapslesspenitently。Wealldispersedwithoutsayinganything，andpresentlyfrommyblanketsIsawpoorTommycomeoutofthesilentcabin，mount，andslowly，veryslowly，rideaway。HewouldspendthenightatRiverside，afterall。
　　Ofcoursewerecoveredfromourunexpectedshame，andthetaleofthetableandthedancingplateswasnottoldasasadone。Butitisasadonewhenyouthinkofit。
　　IwasnottheretoseeLingethisbride。IlearnedfromtheVirginianhowthevictoriouspuncherhadriddenawayacrossthesunnysagebrush，bearingthebiscuit-shooterwithhimtothenearestjusticeofthepeace。
　　Shewasastridethehorsehehadbroughtforher。
　　“Yes，hebeatTommy，“saidtheVirginian。“Somefolks，anyway，getwhattheywantinthishyehworld。“
　　FromwhichIinferredthatMissMollyWoodwashardertobeatthanTommy。
　　LINMcLEAN’SHONEY-MOON
　　Rainhadnotfallenforsomesixtydays，andforsomesixtymoretherewasnonecessitythatitshouldfall。ItisspellsofweatherlikethisthatsettheWesterneditorwritingpraiseandprophecyoftheboundlessfertilityofthesoil——whenirrigated，andofwhatanEdenitcanbemade——withirrigation；butthespellsannoythepeoplewhoaretryingtoraisetheEden。WealwaystoldthetransientEasternvisitor，whenhearrivedatCheyenneandcriticisedthedesert，thatanythingwouldgrowhere——withirrigation；andsometimeshereplied，unsympathetically，thatanythingcouldfly——withwings。Thenwewouldleadsuchamanoutandshowhimsix，eight，tensquaremilesofgreencrops；andhe，ifhewasthoroughlynasty，wouldmentionthatWyomingcontainedninety-fivethousandsquaremiles，allwaitingforirrigationandEden。OneoftheseEasternsupercivilizedhostilesfromNewYorkwasbreakfastingwiththeGovernorandmeattheCheyenneClub，andwewereexplainingtohimthegloriousfuture，thecomingempire，oftheWesterncountry。NowtheGovernorwasaboutthirty-two，anduntiltwenty-fivehadnevergoneWestfarenoughtoseeoverthetopoftheAlleghanyMountains。Iwasnotapioneermyself；andwhybothofusshouldhavepitiedtheNew-Yorker’snarrownesssohardIcannotsee。Butwedid。Wespoketohimofthesizeofthecountry。WetoldhimthathisStatecouldrattleroundinsideWyoming’sstomachwithoutanyinconveniencetoWyoming，andhetoldusthatthiswasbecauseWyoming’sstomachwasempty。AltogetherIbegantofeelalmostsorrythatIhadaskedhimtocomeoutforahunt，andhadtravelledinhasteallthewayfromBearCreektoCheyenneexpresslytomeethim。
　　“Forpurposesofamusement，“hesaid，“I’lladmitanythingyouclaimforthisplace。Ranches，cowboys，elk；it’sallsplendid。Only，asaninvestmentIprefertheEast。AmItoseeanycowboys？“
　　“Youshall，“Isaid；andIdistinctlyhopedsomeofthemmightdosomethingtohim“forpurposesofamusement。“
　　“Youfellowscomeupwithmetomyoffice，“saidtheGovernor。“I’lllookatmymail，andshowyouround。“Sowewentwithhimthroughtheheatandsun。
　　“What’sthat？“inquiredtheNew-Yorker，whomIshallcallJamesOgden。
　　“Thatisourpark，“saidI。“Ofcourseit’smerelyinembryo。It’swonderfulhowquicklyanyshadetreewillgrowherewi——“Icheckedmyself。
　　ButOgdensaid“withirrigation“forme，andIwasentirelysorryhehadcome。
　　WereachedtheGovernor’soffice，andsatdownwhilehelookedhislettersover。
　　“Hereyouare，Ogden，“saidhe。“Here’sthewaywehumpaheadouthere。“
　　Andhereadusthefollowing：
　　“MAGAW，KANSAS，July5，188——
　　“Hon。AmoryW。Baker：
　　“Sir，——Understandingthatyourdistrictissufferingfromaprolongeddrought，IwritetosaythatfornecessaryexpensespaidIwillbegladtofurnishyouwithareasonablyshower。IhaveoperatedsuccessfullyinAustralia，Mexico，andseveralStatesoftheUnion，andamanxioustoexhibitmysystem。IfyourLegislaturewillappropriateasumtocover，asIsaid，merelymynecessaryexpenses——say$350threehundredandfiftydollars——forhalfaninchIwillguaranteeyouthatquantityofrainorforfeitthemoney。IfIfailtogiveyouthesmallestfractionoftheamountcontractedfor，thereistobenopay。Kindlyadvisemeofwhatdatewillbemostconvenientforyoutohavetheshower。Irequiretwenty-fourhours’preparation。Hopingafavorablereply，“Iam，respectfullyyours，“RobertHilbrun“
　　“WilltheLegislaturedoit？“inquiredOgdeningoodfaith。
　　TheGovernorlaughedboisterously。“Iguessitwouldn’tbeconstitutional，“saidhe。
　　“Oh，bother!“saidOgden。
　　“Mydearman，“theGovernorprotested，“Iknowwe’renew，andourwomenvote，andwe’reagooddealofajoke，butwe’renotsoprogressivelyfunnyasallthat。Thepeoplewouldn’tstandit。SenatorWarrenwouldflyrightintomybackhair。“BarkerwasalsonewasGovernor。
　　“DoyouhaveSenatorsheretoo？“saidOgden，raisinghiseyebrows。“Whatdotheylooklike？Aretheyfemales？“AndtheGovernorgrewmoreboisterousthanever，slappinghiskneeanddeclaringthattheseEasternmenwerecertainlyoutofsight。“Ogden，however，wasthoughtful。
　　“I’dhavebeenwillingtochipinforthatrainmyself，“hesaid。
　　“That’sanidea!“criedtheGovernor。“Nothingunconstitutionalaboutthat。Let’ssee。Threehundredandfiftydollars——“
　　“I’llputupahundred，“saidOgden，promptly。“I’moutforaWesternvacation，andI’llpayforagoodspecimen。“
　　TheGovernorandIsubscribedmoremodestly，andbynoon，withthehelpofsomelivelymindedgentlemenofCheyenne，wehadthepurseraised。“Hewon’tcare，“saidtheGovernor，“whetherit’saprivateenterpriseoramunicipalstep，solongashegetshismoney。“
　　“Hewon’tgetit，I’mafraid，“saidOgden。“ButifhesucceedsintemptingProvidencetothatextent，Iconsideritcheap。Nowwhatdoyoucallthosepeoplethereonthehorses？“
　　WewerewalkingalongthetrackoftheCheyenneandNorthern，andlookingoutovertheplaintowardFortRussell。“Thatisacow-puncherandhisbride，“Ianswered，recognizingthecouple。
　　“Realcow-puncher？“
　　“Quite。Thepuncher’snameisLinMcLean。“
　　“Realbride？“
　　“I’mafraidso。“
　　“She’sridingstraddle!“exclaimedthedelightedOgden，adjustinghisglasses。“Whydoyouobjecttotheirunionbeingholy？“
　　IexplainedthatmyfriendLinhadlatelymarriedaneating-houseladyprecipitatelyandagainstmyadvice。
　　“Isupposeheknewhisbusiness，“observedOgden。
　　“That’swhathesaidtomeatthetime。Butyououghttoseeher——andknowhim。“
　　Ogdenwasgoingto。Husbandandwifewerecomingourway。Husbandnoddedtomehisfamiliaroffishnod，whichconcealedhissatisfactionatmeetingwithanoldfriend。Wifedidnotlookatmeatall。ButIlookedather，andIinstantlyknewthatLin——thefool!——hadconfidedtohermydisapprovaloftheirmarriage。Themostdelicatespecialtyuponearthisyourstandingwithyouroldfriend’snewwife。
　　“Good-day，Mr。McLean，“saidtheGovernortothecow-puncheronhishorse。
　　“How’reareyu’，doctor，“saidLin。DuringhisearlydaysinWyomingtheGovernor，whenasyetaprivatecitizen，hadsetMr。McLean’sbrokenlegatDrybone。“Letmemakeyu’knowntoMrs。McLean，“pursuedthehusband。
　　Thelady，atalosshowconventionprescribesthegreetingofabridetoaGovernor，gaveawaddleonthepony’sback，thensatupstiff，gazedhaughtilyattheair，anddidnotspeakorshowanymoresignthanacowwouldunderlikecircumstances。SotheGovernormarchedcheerfullyather，extendinghishand，andwhensheslightlymovedouttowardhimherbig，dumb，redfist，hetookitandshookit，andmadeheraseriesofcompliments，shemaintainingalwaysthescrupulousreserveofthecow。
　　“Isay，“OgdenwhisperedtomewhileBarkerwaspumpingthehandofthefleshimage，“I’mgladIcame。“Theappearanceofthepuncher-bridegroomalsointerestedOgden，andhelookedhardatLin’sleatherchapsandcartridge-beltandsoforth。LinstaredattheNew-Yorker，andhishighwhitecollarandgoodscarf。Hehadseensuchthingsquiteoften，ofcourse，buttheyalwaysfilledhimwiththesamedistrustofthemanthatworethem。
　　“Well，“saidhe，“Iguesswe’llbepullingforahotel。Anyshowintown？
　　Circuscomeyet？“
　　“No，“saidI。“Areyougoingtomakealongstay？“
　　Thecow-puncherglancedattheimage，hisbrideofthreeweeks。“Tillwe’retiredofit，Iguess，“saidhe，withhesitation。ItwasthefirsttimethatIhadeverseenmygayfriendlooktimidlyatanyone，andI
　　feltarisinghatefortheruby-checked，large-eyedeating-houselady，thebiscuit-shooterwhoseinfluencewasdimmingthisjaunty，irrepressiblespirit。Ilookedather。Herbulkybloomhadensnaredhim，andnowshewasgoingtotameandspoilhim。TheGovernorwaslookingathertoo，thoughtfully。
　　“Say，Lin，“Isaid，“ifyoustayherelongenoughyou’llseeabigshow。“
　　AndhiseyelivenedintosomethingofitsnativejocularityasItoldhimoftherain-maker。
　　“Shucks!“saidhe，springingfromhishorseimpetuously，andhugelyentertainedatourventure。“Threehundredandfiftydollars？Letmecomein“；andbeforeIcouldtellhimthatwehadallthemoneyraised，hewashaulingoutawaddedlumpofbills。
　　“Well，Iain’tgoingtostarvehereintheroad，Iguess，“spoketheimage，withthesuddennessofamiracle。Ithinkwealljumped，andI
　　knowthatLindid。Theimagecontinued：“Somefolksandtheirmoneyaresoonparted“——shemeantme；hersearchingtonescamestraightatme；I
　　wassurefromthefirstthatsheknewallaboutmeandmyunfavorableopinionofher——“butitain’tgoingtobeyouthistime，LinMcLean。Gedap!“Thislastwastothehorse，Imaintain，thoughtheGovernorsaysthehusbandimmediatelystartedoffonarun。
　　Atanyrate，theyweregonetotheirhotel，andOgdenwasseatedonsomerailroadties，exclaiming：“Oh，IlikeWyoming!IamcertainlygladI
　　came。“