The true northerner., 1883-10-11
A LESSON FROM A Wolf CHASE.

Rube Wexford ought to have been a
happy fellow. He was certainly con-
sidered 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
welded pair for their future happiness
and prosperity. Still there were those
who not only insinuated, but boosted
that the helpmate of her choice was
unworthy the woman he had won
Kate's father and mother were particu-
larly opposed TO the match, and did all
in their power to prevent il, but the
girl, beside her unwavering love, pos
sessed determined will which, when
once aroused, carried much before it.
Rube Wexford was never accounted q
strictly-temperate man. Indeed, there
had been times before marriage when
he was for days under the influence of
liquor, and Kate had seen him in this
state, and therefore knew fully the ex-
tent q his weakness. But the woman
loved the man, and within herself re-
solved that his reclamation should be
her duty. That success must crown
her efforts she little doubted.
Autumn drifted away, the crops had
Deen gathered in, and all the indica-
1ions pointed to an early and severe
winter. Rube's sprees continued No
wind was too cold, no snow too deep to
keep him from Washburn's, not dis.
tant tavern. One evening in the latter
part of December, he took down his
aeggings and gun from the pegs where
they hung and was preparing to go out.
Kate went to MIN and said:
"Rube, you must not leave me to-
night. Give in to me this time and
stay at home"
Il am only going for jaunt, he re-
piled, "Ili be back soon."
mo, you are going to Washburn's.
Tonight you will, you must ggatify me.
1 am afraid to remain hero alone.
"Afraid?" he answered. Such q
thing as fear was almost unknown to
Kate Wilde.
She clasped her arms around his
neck. whispered into his ear, her cheeks
flushing brightly, then sank down into
the rocker and cried as if her heart
would break. Rube stood the gun in al
corner. threw aside the leggings, and
cried, too.
The next morning, when the winter
sun beamed upon the cabin, the little
log shelter held three souls, instead of
two. A wee stranger had come in the
night, bright.eyed baby girl. Her
weak cry seemed to move all the better
part of the husbands nature, and his
wife looked on with newborn conf
dence in her face. After week, when
Kate was able Is sit up, Rube went to
relate the happy event to his grandpa
rents. 1t was the first time he had vis-
tied them for some months. Very early
in the morning he started, and when
the afternoon shadows began to length
en- Kate looked up eagerly for his re-
turn. 1t was toward daybreak when he
appeared, his hands and feet almost
frozen, and his senses stupefied by
liquor. The wife's new hopes were des-
tined to be short-lived Freshly-made
promises marked the sorrow, but days
went by only to see them unfulflled.
Now there was a new torture. Rube
had forsalxen Washburn's and mate his
visits to Pineville instead, where Kate's
father and mother lived. IL was almost
more than the woman's nature could
bear to know that her parents we're the
frequent witnesses of her husbands dis
grace. This was a sort of thing which
she could not and would not long
brook.
Little Kate, the baby, was month
old to q day when Rube made prepara-