The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-11
4 LESSON FROM A Wolf CHASE,

Rube Wexford ought to have been a
happy fellow. He was certainly con-
sidered one on the day when Kate Wilde
became his bride. He was the envy ol
every young man in the rude Western
hamlet where the ceremony took place,
and many We're the good wishes
showered on the heads of the newly
welded pair for their future happiness
and prosperity. Still there were those
who not only insinuated, but boasted
that the helpmatc OF her choice was
unworthy tho woman he had won.
kate's father and mother were partic...
larly opposed to the match, and did all
in their power to prevent it, but the
girl, beside her unwayering love, pos.
sessed II determined will which, when
once aroused, carried much before it.
Rube Wexford was never accounted 6
strictly-temperate man. Indeed, there
had been times before marriage when
he was for days under the influence oi
liquor, and Kate had seen him in this
state, and therefore knew fully the ex.
tent of his weakness. But the woman
loved the man, and within herself re.
solved that his reclamation should be
her duty. That success mus. crown
her efforts she little doubted.
Autumn drifted away, the crops had
been gathered in, and all the in,lica.
tons pointed to an early and severe
winter. Rube's sprees continued. Nc
wind was too cold, no snow too deep tc
keep him from Washburn's, not dis
tant tavern. One evening in the latte,
part of December, he took down his
leggings and gun from the pegs wher,
they hung and was preparing to go out
Kate went to him and said:
"Rubc, you must not leave me to-
night. Give in to me this time aud
stay at home"
Il am only going for iaunt," he re,
piled, I'LL be back soon."
No, you are going to Wasiburn's.
Tonight you will, you must crafty mo.
I am afraid to remain here alone
"Afraid?" he answered. Such q
thing as fear was almost unknown to
Kate Wilde.
She clasped her arms around his
neck, whispered into his ear, her checks
flushing brightly, then sank down into
tho rocker and cried ms if her heart
would break. Rube stood the gun in 4
corner, threw aside the leggings, and
cried, too.
The next morning, when the winter
sun beamed upon tho cabin, the little
log shelter held three souls, instead oi
two. A wee stranger hail come in the
night, bright-eyed baby girl. Hcl
weak cry seemed to move all the better
part of the husbands nature, and his
wife looked on with a newborn conf.
dence in her face. After week, when
Kate was able to sit up, Ruhe went te
relate the happy event to his grandpa.
rents. 1t was the first time he had Wis.
tied them for some months. Very early
in the morning he started, and when
the afternoon shadows began to length.
en- Kate looked up eagerly for his re.
turn. 1t was toward day break when he
appeared, his hands and feet almost
frozen, and his senses stupetied 10y
liquor. The wife's new hopes We're dos,
tined to be short-lived. Freshly-made
promises marked the SORROW, but days
went by only TO see them unfultilled.
Now there WAS a new torture. kube
had forsaken Washburn's and male his
visits to Pineyille instead, where Hates
father and mother lived. 1t was almost
more than the woman's nature could
bear to know that her parents were the
frequent witnesses of her husbands dis,
grace. This was a sort of thing which
she could not and would not long
brook
Little Kate, the baby, WAS n month
old to day when Rube made prepara,
tions one morning for trip TO Pine.
vile. Kate looked on silently for few
moments, and then said:
"Where are You going?"
"Only to Pineville."
What for?'
40 see about some powder and
stuff"
That is untrue. You are going te
spend the day with worthless compan
ions, and you will come back stupid
with liquor. Rube, listen to me.
have stood all which it is possible fol
me to endure. / have prayed and en-
treated you to abandon o habit which