The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-11-10
SUBES REFORMATION.
Exchange

Exchange
 >soe 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 of every young man Tn the rude western hamlet where the ceremony took place, and many were the good wishes showered oa the heads of the newly-wedded pair lar their future happiness and prosperity Stiii there were those who not only in- ,tnuated but boasted that the helpmate ot her choice was unworthy the woman he had won. kates father and mother @efe particularly opposed to the match, .at: iid all m their power to prevent it, au' ,he girl, besides her unwavering love, possessed determined will which, when Auce aroused. carried much before it. i(roe Wexford was never accounted a ,sr3et.y temperate man. Indeed, there had been times before marriage when he w%s for days under the influence ofliauor, ,ad kate had seen him in that state, and therefore knew fully the extent of his weakness. But the woman loved the u,an, and within herself resolved that his teciasn a,ion should be her duty That success must crown her efforts she little doubted.
 tutamn drlt,ed away, the crops had been gathered m and all the indications pointed to m early and severe winter. kube's sprees continued. No wind was .oo cold, no snow too deep to keep him som Nashbnfn not distant tavern. i"e evening m the latter par, of Decem- le, he took down his legglngs and gun 'rotl the pegs where they hung. and was ,gepa'lng9to 90 out. Kate went to him md sad:
 Enbe, you must not leave me to- atsht. Glve in to me this time and stay | home"
 am only going for aun,," he re- pI;ed "fll be back soon"
 No. you are going to Washburns. 4o-night you will you must gra,ity me sn afraid to remain here alone"
 " Nfraid :" he answered. Such d thing tear was almost unknown to Kate Nude.
 rhe clasped heI arms around his neck, vh, 'pered into his ear. her cheeks flush ns brightly. then sat down in the rocker ,nd cried as If her heart would break Eube stood the gun in the corner, threw A,sdc the legg,ngs and cried too.
 The next morning when the winter sun teamed upon the cabin the little log shel- . Ter held three souls instead oftwo. A wee stranger h ,d come in the night, a hrght-eyed baby girl Her weak cry >eemed to move all the better part of the husbands nature. and his wife looked on u,th newborn confidence in her face. ttter d week. when Kate was able to sit P, kube went to relate the happy event ;o h,s grandparents. ltwas the first time ie had visited them for months Very eMly in the morning he started. and when the afternoon shado~s began to lengthen Kate looked out eagerly for his return t was toward daybre,k when he ap- peared, his hands and feet almost frozen tad hls senses stupehed by liquor. The ~ite's new hopes were destined to be short-lived. Frcshly-made promises marked the morrow. hut days went by lniy to see them unfnlhlled. Now there Aas t new torture. kube had forsaken Aashburn's 's and made his visits to pinc- file instead. where Rates father and mother lived. k was almost more than the woman nature could bear to know that her parents were the frequent wit ficsSes ot her husbands disgrace This @as sort of thing which she could not sad would not long brook.
 Little Kate, the baby, was a month old ta a day when Rube made preparations oce morning for trip to pineville. Kate looked on silently for few moments and hen said;
 Where are you going ["
 Only to Pinevillcn
 What for 2"
 To see about some powder and stuff''
 That is untrue. You are going to pend the day with worthless companions .nd you will come back stupid with lio TOT. Rube, listen to me. have stood all t is possible for me to endure have prayed and entreated you to aban. sion habit which has disgraced us both. Ny pleadings have brought nothing. sanno, and will not have our child grow Up to know father who is a drunkard If you refuse to stay at home have said my last say. Go to pineville if you insis, on doing so, but if you are not here sober by sunset shall go with the baby to fath. er's, and in this house l will never s., foot again."
 That's all talk," Rube answered in a rough, joking, half serious fashion Why, it's fifteen miles to Pineville."
 No matter" was the firm reloinder '' will make the start if the child and freeze to death by the way"
 "Look out for wolves" Rube laughed again. "There has been half a doxer seen lately. It has been q hard winter for them, and they're most starved"
 Wolves or no wolves" muttered Kate ~I'l go."
 Ru6e hung about the house uneasil, for an hour or @, then rigged himsel out, leggings, bu6alo coat, gun and all Kate worked away and said never word