Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-27

N her face. Alter a week when Kate
was able to sit up, Rube went to relate
/ the happy event to the grandparents.
/ 1t was the first time he had visited
them for some months. Very early in
the morning he started, and when the
afternoon shadows began to lensthen.
Kate looked up eagerly for his return.
1t was toward daybreak when he ap.
| peared, his hands and feet almost frozen
and his senses stupetied by liquor. The
wife's new hopes were destined to be
! short lived. Freshly made promises
marked the morrow, but days went "
only to see them unfuliilled. Now, there
4 was a new torture. Rubt had fo1saken
| Washburn's and made his visits to Iii e.
| vile instead, where kate's father and
mother lived. 1t was almost more than
the woman's nature could bear to know
that her parents were the fre quent wit
nesses OF her husbands disgrace. This
was sort of thing which she could not
and would not long brook.
Little Kate, the baby, was a month old
one morning for a trip to Pineville.
Kate looked on silently for few mo-
ments, and then said
Where are you going?"
"Only to Pineville."
"What for?"
ITO see about some powder an / stuff"
That is untrue You are going to
spend the day with worthless compan-
ious, and you will come back stupid
with liquor. Rube, listen to me. /
have stood all which it is possible for
me to endure. | have prayed and en-
4 treated you to abandon habit which
has disgraced us both. My pleadings
have brought nothing. / cannot and
| will not have our child grow up to know
a father who is a drunkafd. If you re.
! fuse to stay at home, have said lny last
say. Go to Pineville if you insist on do
ing so, but If you are not here sober by
sunset, l shall go with the baby to ia
theirs, and in this house l will never
set foot again."
"That's all talk" Rube answered in a
rough joking and half serious fashion.
"Why, its Is miles to PineviIle."
No matter" was the firm rejoinder.
II will make the start if the child and i
freeze to death by the way"
Look out for wolves" Rube laughed
again. There have been half dozen
seen here lately. t.has been hard
winter for them, and they're almost
starved"
Wolves or no wolves" muttered
Kate, III 60"
Rube hung about the house uneasily for
an hour or SO, then silently rigged him
self out, leggins, buffalo coat, gun and
all. Kate worked away and said
never word. He opened the doo-: and
without looking back remarked:
"Ill be here by sunset"
See that you are," was the reply
elf you come here late the house will
be empty"
The wife watched his form across the
clearing and saw it disappear in the
heavy tim Der which circled the c4bin
She turned to her household duties, but
had no heart for them. Well she knew
that Rub. Wexford would break his
last promise, as he had broken others
before it. II SO he must abide by the
result. She was determined.
The day went by at asnail's pace, and
the afternoon seemed never ending
Kate fondled the baby, listened to hel
crow and cry, and fed her adozen times
Then she prepared supper, and sunset
brought no Rube. Another hour and
still he was absent. So the moments
passed until the clock struck ten. The
baby Was fast aalo.p- Kate rose from
a chair at the cradles side, a look q
+ firm determination on her face, and
opening the cabin door, peered across
the clearing. Not soul was visible
She closed the door, went to the chest,
and took from 1t a pair of old fashioned
skates whose steel runners cleaned in
the freight. She laid them ready for use
and proceeded to wrap herself as warm.
ly as possible. Then she bundled the
baby in the same manner, lifted hel
tenderly in her arms, and with the
, skates slung over her shoulder started
across the clearing. Aftef reaching the
sImber she left the beaten path and
made for the river. It was coated heav.
, lily with ice, and tie strong winds haG
, blown it almost entirely free from snow
leavinga nearly naked surface. Kate
; laid the baby down for few moments
while she fastened on the skates. Their
: she lifted her burden once more and
} started or'Pineville-fifteen miles away
The moon shone brightly; she was s
} wonderfully spid skater. and she knew
40 slightest suspicion Of fear.
, Rube Wexford sat near the warm fire
J which was surrounded by a dozen mer
: beside himself. He had been there fol
/ hours listening to anecdotes of hunters
, lives, even adding to the general fund
some of his own experiences, but though
: his companions coaxed and persuaded
they could not prevail upon him to taste
liquor. This was something so entirely
new that many laugh and joke was hac
at his expense. He answered all per.
suasions to imbibe in the same way, say
ing only: "Not to-day, boys: not to-day.
When sunset came he was still in hi:
seat. He wanted to go home, wanted tt
keep his promise, but he thought he
Il would wait awhile and start later, SC
that it would not look to Kate too mucl
| t,<N1 O. L..