The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-12-06


hours listening to anecdotes of hunters
lives, even adding to the general fund
with some of his own experiences, but
though his companions coaxed and per-
suaded him they could not prevail up
ON him to taste liquor This was some
thing so entirely new that many a
laugh and joke was had at his expense.
He answered all persuasions to imbibe
in the same way, saying only, "Not to-
day, boys; not to-day"
When sunset came he was still in his
seat He wanted to be home, he want
ed to keep his promise, but he thought
| he would wait while and start later,
so as it would not look to Kate too
much as if he were giving in. So think
ing, he went to quiet corner by HIM
| self, and had not been there long be-
fore he fell asleep. 1t was II o'clock
| when he awoke with start, and said
hurriedly:
What is it, Kate?"
A loud roar of laughter brought
him to his senses, and rough voice
cried:
''Rube, guess you have been dream
ing" -s
"Yes," he replied foolishly; s1
thought my wife was calling me-"
He glanced at the clock and said:
'Boys, | must 90"
"Have something before you leave,'
was the general cry.
"No, no; not tonight.
Then he was gone. His conscience
smote him as he trudged through the
snow. 1t would be after 2 o'clock
when he reached home. One thing
consoled him somewhat; he was sober.
But would Kate be in the cabin when
he returned? Of course she must be.
Nothing short of madness could tempt
her to keep the rash VOW she made in
morning. So thought Rube. This was
because he was incapable of estimating
the great suffering which he had caused
his wife.
On he went until through the still
ness of the night was borne to his ears
the sound of falling waters. 1t pro-
ceeded from a spot which marked the
half way between Pineville and his own
home, and was caused by the river
tumbling down a steep descent of fif-
teen or twenty feet of rugged rock.
His road at this point lay close to the
river bank, and soon he was in full
view of the cascade. AS he passed it
he noticed with sort of shudder how
cold and dark the water looked as it
tumbled down. For thirty feet above
the falls there was no ice. 1t broke off
abruptly, and the current rushed from
beneath with terrible velocity. Beyond
in the moonlight glistened an unbroken
surface of clear ice for fully half mile
before there was bend in the rivers
bank. The sight was an old one to
Rube, and he paid little heed to it, but
stalked ON silently, still thinking of
Kate and wondering if the cabin would
be tenantless. Suddenly he stood stock
still and listened. Many an ear would
have heard nothing but the sound of
rushing waters. Rube's acute and
practiced hearing detected something
more and he felt instinctively for his
ammunition and looked to the printing
of his rifle Then from a distance the
sound came again-a peculiar cry, fol-
lowed by another and another, until
they ended in a chorus of unearthly
yells. Rube muttered to himself one
rd-wolyes-and strained his eyes
in the direction of the curve to the riv-
er,s edge. The cry proceeded from that
direction and grew louder every in
stant.
Before he could decide on plan of
action, there shot out from the bend ia
the river what looked to him like wo-
man carrying bundle and skating for
dear life. She strained every nerve but
never once cried out Next came a
wolf, followed rapidly by others, which
swelled the pack to a dozen, all raven
Gus, yelping, snarling, and gaining
closely on their prey. Rube raised his
rifle, fired, and began to load as he
never loaded before. The cries came
nearer and nearer. Great God! the
wolves were upon the woman! 1t SEEM
ed as if no earthly help could save her,
| when, quick as an arrow from bow,
she swerved TO one side, the maddened
brutes slid forward on their hind legs,
and she had gained few steps. Again
she flew onward, and again she tried
the ruse of swerving aside, the man on
| the bank in the meantime firing rapidly
and picking off wolf after wolf A fresh
danger arose. The woman evidently
did not see the abrupt break in the ice
above the falls, and the dark swift cur
rent which lay beyond. Perhaps she
was too frightened to hear the rushing
waters. On she went, making straight
for the falls, the wolves almost on her
heels, and the mans voice crying in
terrified accents as he dropped on his
knees in the snow:
''Kate! Kate! My God, save her."
| The woman was on the brink of the
ice, when she made sudden sweep to
one side. Nearly the entire pack, una
BILE to check their mad fight, plunged
into the water, which carried them
swiftly over the rocks, and Kate WeX-
ford was fleeing towards the river bank
where she fell helpless in the snow, her
baby in her arms, while Rube's rifle
frightened the rest of her purSuers
away. 1t was some time before she
could answer her husbands voice.
When strength enabled her to do so,
she arose feebly in the snow, her reso-
luton to 90 to her father as strong as
ever, but Rube took her hand, knelt
down, and said:
"Kate, bear with me the last time.
AS God is my Judge, l shall never again
taste liquor. This night has taught me
lesson which l cannot forget.
Kate believed him and accepted his
promise. They started for Pineville,
Rube CARRYING the baby and more than
half carving his wife. When they ar
rived there Kate told her parents that
she had been dying to show them the
baby, and taking advantage OF the
moonlight night, had made the journey
on skates.
Rube kept his vow, the roses bloomed
AGAIN on Kate's cheeks, and to-day a
happy family of boys and girls feel no no
touch of shame as they look up with
pride at their father.
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