, 1883-11-10
Z Z. lesson IS From a Wolf Chase.


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 welded pair
for their future happiness and pros
perity. Still there were those who
not only insinuated but boasted that
that the help-mate of her choice was
unworthy the woman he had won.
Kate's father and mother were par
ticularly opposed to the match, and
did all in their power to prevent it,
but the girl, besides her unwavering
love, possessed a determined will
which, once aroused, carried much
before 1t. Rube Wexford was never
accounted a strictly temperate 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 there
fore knew fully the extent Of his
weakness. But the woman loved
the man, and within 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 in
dicatiens pointed to an early and Sc
very winter. Rube's sprees cOntin-
ued. Nowind was too cold, no snow
to deep to keep him from Wash
burns, a not distant tavern. One
evening in the latter part Of Decem-
Der he took down his leggings and
gun from the pegs where they hung
and was preparing to go out Kate
went to him and said:
"Rube, you must not leave me to-
l1ohf-l rai,,s into tne tIiis tllne anu
stay at home"
81 am only going for a jaunt," he
replied. "I'll be back soon."
'cNo, you are going to Washburn's.
Tonight you will, you must crafty
me. l am afraid to remain here
alone"
"Afraid ?" he answered. Such
thing rs fear was almost unknown to
Kate Wilde.
4 She clasped her arms around his
Neck, whispered into his ear, her
cheeks flushing brightly, then sat
down into the rocker and cried as If
her heart would break. Rube stood
the gun in the corner, threw aside
the leggings and cried too.
The next morning when the win
ter sun 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 all the better part Of the hus-
bands nature, and his wife looked
on with a new born confidence in
her face. After week, when Kate
was able to sit up, Rube went to re-
late the happy event to his grand
parents. 1t was the first time he
had visited them for some months.
Very early in the morning he start
ed, and when the afternoon shadows
began to lengthen Kate looked up
eagerly for his return. 1t was tow
ard daybreak when he appeared his,
hands and feet almost frozen, and
his senses stupefed by liquor. The
wife's new hopes were destined to
be short-llved. Freshly made prom
ises marked the sorrow, but days
went by only to see them untitled.
Now, there was a new torture. Rube
had forsaken Washburn's, and made
his xislt to Pineville instead, where
Kate's father and mother lived. II
was almost more than the woman's
nature could bear to know that hel
parents were the frequent witnesses
Of her husbands disgrace. This wal
a sort OF thing which she could moi
and would not long brook.
Little Kate, the baby, was a montf
old to day when Rube made pre-
parations one morning for trip t.
Pineville. Kate looked on SILENT!
for few moments, and then said:
"Where are you going ?"
"Only to Pineville."
"What for ?"
"To see about some powder ant
stuff"
"That Is untrue. You are goinI
to spend the day with WORTHLESS
companions and you will come bacl
stupid with liquor. Rube, listen t
me. have stood all which 1t is pos
sible for me to endure. hay
prayed and entreated you to aban
don a habit which has disgraced u
both. My pleadings have brough
nothing. 1 can not and will nc
have our child grow up to know
father who Is a drunkard. II 20
refuse to stay at home, 1 have sal
my last say! Go to Pineville II 70
insist on doing so, but II you are nc
here sober by sunset ! shall go wit
the baby to fathers, and In, tn
house I will never set foot again."
''Thags all talk" Rube ansWere
in a rodgh, joking and half serioy