Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-10-11

as warmly as possible. Then she DunQle(
the baby in the same manner, lifted he
tenderly in her arms, and with the skate
slung over her shoulder, started across tn
clearing. After reaching the timber sh'
left the beaten path and made for tn
river. 1t was coated heavily with ice ant
the strong winds had blown it almost en-
tirely free from snow, leaving. a nearl.
naked surface. Kate laid the baby dOW1
for a few moments while she fastened OF
her skates. Then she lifted her baby once
more and started for Pineville, fifteen mile
away. The moon shone brightly; she was {
wonderfully rapid skater and she knew NJ
slightest suspicion of fear.
Rube Wexford sat near the warm fire
which was surrounded by dozen men, be
side himself. He had been there for hours
listening to anecdotes of hunters lives, ever
adding to the general fund, some of his owl
experiences, but though his companions per
suaded and coaxed, they could not prevail
upon him to taste liquor. This was some
thing so entirely new that many laugh anC
jest 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 90 home, wanted to keep hi!
promise, but he thought he would wal
awhile and start later, SO that it would moi
look to Kate too much as if he were giving
in. So thinking, he went to quiet corner
by himself, and had not been there long be-
fore he fell asleep. 1t was II o'clock wher
he awoke with start, and said hurriedly
"What is it, Kate?"
A loud roar Of laughter brought him tt
his senses, and a rough voice cried:
"Rube, guess you have been dreaming!
EYES," he replied, foolishly; 81 thought
my wife was calling me-"
He glanced at the clock and said:
'Boys, must 60"
'Have something before you leave," wa:
the general cry.
''NO, no; not tonight"
Then he was gone. His conscience smote
him as he trudged through the snow. i
would be after 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 coulo
tempt her to keep the rash vow she made II
the morning. So thought Rube:: This Wa'
because he was incapable of estimating the
great suffering which he had caused his wife
On, on he went, until through the stiffness
of the night was borne to his ears the SOUND
of falling waters. 1t proceeded from spo
which marked the half way between Pine
vile and his own home, and was caused by
the river tumbling down a steep descent O.
fifteen or twenty feet of rugged rocks. 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 a sort O.
shudder, how cold and dark the waterlookeC
as it tumbled down. For thirty feet above
the falls there was no ice. 1t broke off alb
ruptly, and the current rushed from beneath
with terrible velocity. Beyond, in the
moonlight, glistened an unbroken surface O.
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 think
ing 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 rush
ing waters. Rube's acute and practiced
hearing detected something more, and he
felt instinctively for his ammunition, an(
looked to the printing of his rifle. Their
from distance the sound came again-a pc
culiar cry, followed by another and another
until they ended in a chorus of unearthly
yells. Rube muttered to himselfone word
WOlves-and strained his eyes in the direc
tion of the curve to the rivers edge.
The cry proceeded from that direction anC
grew louder every instant. Before he coulC
decide on plan of action there shot Ou
from a bend in the river what looked to him
like woman carrying a bundle and skating
for dear life. She strained every nerve, bu
never once cried out. Next came wolf
the pack to dozen, all raVen0us, yelping
snarling, and gaining closely on their prey
Rube raised his rifle, fired and began to loaC
as he had never loaded before. The erie:
came nearer and nearer. Great God! the
wolves were upon the woman! 1t seemed
as if no earthly hope could save her, when
quick as an arrow from bow, she sWerveC
to one side, the maddened brutes slid for
ward on their hind legs, and she had gained
a few steps. Again she flew onward, anC
again tried the ruSe of SWervlng aside, the
man on the bank in the meantime firing
rapidly, and picking off wolf by wolf. A
fresh danger arose. The woman evidently
did not see the abrupt break in the ice above
the falls, and the dark, swift current, which
lay beyond. Perhapsshe was too frightened
to hear the rushing waters. On she went
making straight for the falls, the wolves al
most on her heels, and the mans voice cry
ing in terrified accents, as he dropped on hi
knees in the snow:
"Kate! Kate! My God, save herw
The woman was on the brink of the ice
when she made sudden sweep to one side
Nearly the entire pack, unable to checl
their mad flight, plunged into the water
which carried them swiftly over the rocks
and Kate Wexford was flying toward thu
river bank, where she fell helpless in thu
snow, her baby in her arms, while Rube'
rifle frightened the remainder of her pur
suers. 1t was some time before she coul(
answer her husbands voice. When strength
enabled her to do so she arose feebly in the
snow, her resolution to 60 to her father a.
strong as ever Rube took her hand, knel
down and said:
''Kate, bear with me for the last time
AS God is my Judge, ! shall never agai1
taste liquor. This night has been lessor
which cannot forget"
Kate believed him and accepted his prom
ise. Then they started for Pineville, Rubt
carrying the baby and more than half car
rying his wife. When they arrived there
Kate told her parents she had been dying
to show them the baby, and, taking advant
age Of the moonlight night, had made thu
Journey on skates.
Rates cheeks, and to-day a happy family
of boys and girls feel no touch of shame
as they look up with pride to their father
\ HAPPY THOUGIIT.-"While was de
Tending Dr. Mudd," said Il legal gentleman
in Washington, "a little thing happened
which / can remember, though in the laps'
of eighteen years l have forgotten almos
all the details of the trial. \ cOlored wO
man had been found with some evidence
tending to remove a very bad impression
from DR.. Mudd, and she was brought up t.
Washington city. l had my carriage there
AI,,Il,. % In mt thn u