The Delaware farmer., 1883-10-26

dDduuOu uaDlb WHICH HIS ulhBIuCSu 10
both. My pleadings have brought moth
ing. cannot and will not have our
child grow up to know father who is
drunkard. If you refuse to stay at home,
I have said my last say. Go to Pine
vile if you insist on doing so, but if you
are not here sober by sunset I shall
go with the baby to fathers, and in this
house I will never set foot again.
"That's all talk, Rube answered, in
rough, joking, half-seriOus fashion.
"Why, it's fifteen miles to Pineville."
"No matter" was the firm reioinder
81 will make the start if the child and 1
freeze to death by the way"
"Look out for wolves, Rube laughed
again. ''There has been half a dozen
seen lately. It has been a hard winter
or them, and they're most starved. "
evolves or no wolves, "muttered Kate,
'I1l 60"
Rube hung about the house uneasily
for an hour or so, then rugged himself
out, leggings, buffalo coat, gun, and all.
Kake worked away and said never a word.
He opened the door, and, without look
ing back, remarked:
"Ill be here by sunset.
''See that you are," was the reply.
eff you come here later the house will
be empty" /
The wife watched his form across the
clearing, and saw it disappear in the l
heavy timber which circled the cabin. t
She turned to her household duties, but f
had no heart for them. Well she knew e
Rube Wexford would break his last
promise, as he had broken others before a
it. If SO, he must abide by the result. Il
She was determined. n
The day went by at a snail's pace, d
and the afternoon seemed never ending. n
Kate fondled the baby, listened to her fC
row and cry, and fed her dozen times. Il
Then she prepared supper, and sunset in
.ame when it was completed. But it p1
,rought no Rube. Another hour and be
till he was absent. So the moments fo
assed until the clock struck 10. The G.
ably was fast asleep. Kate rose from a w
hair at the cradles side, look of firm co
etermination on her face, and opening fr'
ne cabin door, she peered across the mi
earing. Not a soul was visible. She hi
osed the door, went to the chest, and Ae
'ok from it a pair of old fashioned tri
-ates, whose steel runners cleaned in ma
e freight. She laid them ready for raj
e and proceeded to wrap herself as A
lrmly as possible. Then she bundled del
e baby in the same manner, lifted her the
nderly IN her arms, and with the swl
ates slung over her shoulder, started hal
ross the clearing. After reaching the rus
nber she left the beaten path and stri
ade for the river. 1t was coated heav- on
with ice, and the winds had blown it In
most entirely free from snow, leaving kne
nearly naked surface. Kate laid the "
by down for a few moments while she
tened on her skates. Then she lifted ice.
baby once more and started for one
neville, Is miles away. The moon to c
me brightly, she was a wonderfully the
nd skater, and she knew no slightest ovel
picion of fear avir
1ube Wexford sat near the warm fire fell
ich was surrounded by a dozen men her
ide himself. He had been there for the
rs listening to anecdotes of hunters was
S, even adding to the general fund her
some OF his own experiences, but enah
ugh his companions coaxed and per- the S
1ed him, they could not prevail upon fathe
to taste liquor. This was some her l
g so entirely new that many laugh "E
joke was had at his expense. He As G
yered all persuasions to imbibe in taste
same way, saying only. "Not to- a less
boys; not to-day" Ka
hen sunset came he was still in his prom
He wanted to be at home. he vile,
ted to keep his promise, but he than
ght he would wait awhile and start arrive
+, so as it would not look to Kate too had /
b as if he were giving in. Sotbink- and t.
le went to a quiet corner by him night
and had not been there long before Ru
ell asleep. 1t was eleven o'clock again
/ he awoke with start, and said happy
edly: touch
What is if. Kateq" pride
oud roar of laughter brought him
3 senses, and a rough voice cried:
uhe oupss Won hove l,oo,, 5,o.