Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-10-11
The Storv Telkr.
a SKATE FOR LIFE.

A SKATE FOR LIFE.
Rube Wexford ought to have been a hap
py fellow. He was certainly considered one
on the day when Kate Wilde became his
bride. He was the envy of every young
man in the rude western hamlet where the
ceremony took place, and many were the
good wishes showered on the heads of the
newly-wedded pair for their future happl-
ness and prosperity. Still there were those
who not only insinuated but boasted that
the helpmate of her choice was unworthy
the woman he had won. kate's father and
mother were particularly opposed to the
match, and did all in their power to prevent
it. but the girl, beside her unwavering love,
possessed a determined will which, when
once aroused, carried much before it. Rube
Wexford was never accounted a strictly tenn
perate man. Indeed, there had been times
before marriage when he was for days un-
der the influence of liquor, and Kate had
seen him in this state, and therefore knew
woman loved the man, and with herself
resolved that his reclamation should be
her duty. That success must crown her
efforts she little doubted.
Autumn drifted away, the crops had been
gathered in, and all the indications pointed
to an early and severe winter. Rube's
sprees continued. No wind was too cold,
no snow too deep, to keep him from Wash
burns, a not distant tavern. One evening
in the latter part of December he took down
his leggins and gun from the peg where
they hung and was preparing TO go out.
Kate went to him and said:
.'Rube, you must not leave me to-mgnI;
Give in to me this time and stay at home"
81 am only going for jaunt," ne replied,
"I'll be back soon."
"No, you are going to Washburns. To-
night you will, you must, crafty me. am
afraid to remain here alone"
"Afraid ?" he answered. Such thing
as fear was almost unknoWnto Kate Wilde.
She clasped her arms around his neck,
whispered into his ear, her cheeks tiushlng
brightly, then sat down in the rocker and
cried as if her heart would break. Rube
stood the gun in corner, threw aside the
leggins and cried too.
beamed upon the cabin the little log shelter
held three souls instead Of two. A wee
stranger had come in the night, a bright
eyed baby girl. Her weak cry seemed to
move ali the better parts of the husbands
nature, and his wife looked on with q new
born confidence in her face. After a week,
when Kate was able to sit up, Rube went
to relate the happy event to the grandpa
rents. 1t was the first time he had visited
them for some months. Very early in the
morning he started and when the after
ternoon shadows began, to lengthen Kate
looked up eagerly for his return. 1t was
toward day-break when he appeared, his
hands and feet almost frozen, and his senses
stupehed by liquor. The wife's new hopes
were destined to be short-lived. Freshly
made promises marked the morrow, but
days went by only to see them unfultilled:
Now there was 4 new torture. Rube had
forsaken Washburn's and made his visits to
Pineville instead, where Kate's father and
mother lived. 1t was almost more than
the woman's nature could bear to know
that her parents were the frequent witnesses
of her husbands disgrace. This was sort
of thing which she could not and would
not long brook.
Little Kate, the baby. was a month old
to q day when Rube made preparations one
morning for a trip to Pineville. Kate look
ed on silently for few moments, and then
said:
''Where are you going:"
"Only to Pineville."
"What for? ~
ssTo see about some powder and stuff"
''That is untrue. You are going to spend
the day with worthless companions and
YOU will come back stupid with liquor.
Rube, listen to me. | have stood all which
it is possible for me to endure: L have
prayed and entreated you to abandon a
habit which has disgraced US both. My
pleadings have brought nothing. 1 cannot
and will not have our child grow up to
know a father who is drunkard. If you
refuse to stay at home | have said my last
say. Go to Pineville if you insist on doing
so, but if you are not here sober by sunset
shall 90 with the baby to fathers, and in
this house will never set foot again."
''That's all talk" Rube answered in a
rough, joking and half-serious fashion.
"Why, it's fifteen miles to Pinevi4e."
''No matter" was the rejoinder," | will
make the start if the child and freeze to
death by the way"
"Look out for wolves" Rube laughed
again. "There have been half dozen seen
here lately. it has been hard winter for
them, and they are almost starved"
evolves or no wolves" muttered Kate,
'pll go.'
Rube hung about the house uneasily for
an hour or SO, then silently rugged himself
out, leggins, buffalo coat, gun and all. Kate
worked away and said never a word. He
opened the door, and without looking back,
remarked
''I'll be back by sunset"
'sSee that you are" was the reply. "Ii
YOU come here late the house will be empty.'
The wife watched his form across the
clearing and saw it disappear in the heavy
timber which circled the cabin. She turned
to her household duties, but had no heart
for them. Well she knew that Rube WeX-
ford would break his last promise, as he
had broken others before it. If so he must
abide the result She was determined.
The day went by at a snail's pace, and the
afternoon seemed never ending. Kate fon
died her baby, listened to her crow and cry
and fed her a dozen times. Then she pre-
pared supper ana sunset came WhGn Mha II was
other hour and still he was absent. So the
moments passed until the clock struck ten
The baby was fast asleep. Kate rose from
Ia nf