The Delaware farmer., 1883-10-26
THRILLING WOLF STORY

Rube Wexford ought to have been
happy fellow. He was certainly consid
= cred one on the day when Kate Wilde
became his bride. He was the envy oi
y every young man in the rude Western
hamlet where the ceremony took place,
y and many were the good wishes show
cred on the heads of the newly-wedded
pair for their future happiness and pros
3 perity. Still there were those who not
. only insinuated but boasted that the
helpmate of her choice was not worthy
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, besides her un-
wavering love, possessed a determined
will which, when once aroused, carried
much before it. Rube Wexford was
never accounted a strictly temperate
man. Indeed, there had been times be-
fore marriage when he was for days un-
der the influence of liquor, and Kate |
had seen him in this state and therefore
knew fully the extent of his weakness.
But the woman loved the man, and with
in 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 Washburn's, a not distant tavern.
One evening in the latter part of De- :
cember he took down his leggings and >
gun from the pegs where they hung aud 9
was preparing to go out. Kate went to
him and said:
"Rube, you must not leave me to-
night Give in to me this time and stay i
at home" =
Il am only going for a iaunt, he re- a
piled. "I'll be back soon. h
''No, you are going to Washburn's. f,
Tonight you will, you must crafty me. h
am afraid to remain here alone" p
"Afraid ?" he answered. Such a thing q
Is fear was almost unknown to Kate ro
Wilde -a I
She clasped her arms around his neck.
whispered into his ear, her cheeks flush
ng brightly, then sat down in the rocker ", W
nd cried as if her heart would break D'
tube stood the gun in corner. threw IL IL
side the leggings and cried too. "'
The next morning when the winter y, W.
IN beamed upon the cabin, the log 'n
lelter held three souls instead of two. 81
wee stranger had come in the night. 49, 49,
blight-eyed baby girl. Her weak CRY ~ ~
'emed to move all the better part of the al
nature, and his wife looked on AN a
lth a newborn confidence in her face. .ii'
fter a week, when Kate was able to sit O''
}, Rube went to relate the happy event
his grandparents. 1t was the first sea
ne he had visited them for months. wa
aly early IN the morning he started INC
d when the afternoon shadows began i"''
lengthen Kate looked out eagerly for lnu
return. 1t was toward daybreak ing {,
len he appeared, his hands and feet sen
most frozen, and his senses stupefied ne
liquor. The wife's new hopes were VINE
stined TO he short Ivod FroalI- hur
de promises marked the morrow. but &C
rs went by only to see them unful- A
ed. Now there was a new torture. to h
be had forsaken Washburn's. and "
de his visits to Pineville instead, where ing.
te's father and mother lived. It was g
lost more than the woman's nature thol
Id bear to know that her parents q
e the frequent witnesses of her hus- g
d's disgrace This was sort of g
lg which she could not and would not was
g brook. 81
little Kate, the baby, was a month II
to day when Rube made prepare smot
S one morning for trip to Pineville. snow
e looked on silently for few mo- he +,
it's, and then said: him
Where are you going?" Kate
Only to Pineville." OF G
What for?" Of m
TO see about some powder and stuff. - rash
That is untrue. You are going to thoul
d the day with worthless compan- was
and you will come back stupid with suffer
,r Ruba listen fo mo 1a- IN