The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-09-26
A SKATE FOR LIFE.

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 of every young man in the rude
western hamlet where the ceremony
took place, and many were 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 helpmate of her
choice was unworthy 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, beside her un-
wavering love, possessed a determined
will which, when once aroused, car
riCd much before it. Rube Wexford
was never accounted q strictly tenn
perate man. Indeed, there had been
times before marriage when he was
for days under the influence of liquor,
and Kate had seen him in this state.
and therefore knew fully the extent of
the man, and within 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 indica-
tions 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, not
distant tavern. One evening in the
latter part Of December he took down
his leggings and gun from the peg
where they hung and was preparingto to
60 out. Kate went to him and said
Rube you must not leave me to
night. Give in to me this tine and
stay at home"
1 am only going for a jaunt," he
replied, "I'll be back SOON"
mo, you are going to Washburn's.
Tonight you Will, YOU must crafty
me. l am afraid to remain here alone"
"Afraid?" he answered. Such a
thing as fear was almost unknown to
Kate Wilde.
She clasped her arms around his
neck, whispered into his ear, her
cheeks flushing brightly, then sat down
in the rocker and criee as if her heart
would break. Rube stood the gun in
a corner, threw aside the leggings, and
cried too.
The next morning when the winter
sun beamed upon the cabin the little
log shelter held three souls instead of
two. a wee stranger had come in the
night, a bright-eyed baby girl. Her
weak cry seemed to move all the better
parts of the husbands nature, and his
wife looked on with a newborn con-
fidence in her face. After a week,
when Kate was able to sit up, Rube
went TO relate the happy event to the
grandparents. 1t was theft time he
had visited them for some months.
Very early in the morning he started,
and when the afternoon shadows began
to lengthen Kate looked up eagerly
for his return. 1t was toward day
break when he appC AIRED, his hands
and feet almost frozen, and his senses
stupefied by liquor. The wife's new
hopes were destined to be short-lived.
Freshly made promises marked the
morrow, out days went by only to see
them unfulhlled. Now there was a
new torture. Rude had forsaken
Washburn's and made his visits to
PineYille 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
frequent witnesses of her husbands
disgrace. This was a sort of thing
which she could not and would not
long brook.
Little Kate, the baby, was a month
old to a day when Rube made pre-
parations one morning for a trip to
Pineville. Kate looked on silently for
a few moments, and then said:
"Where are you going?"
"Only to Pineyille."
"What for?"
"To see about some powder and
stuff"
THAT is untrue. You are going TO
spend the day with worthless COM
panions and you will come back stupid
with liquor. Rube, listen to me. l
have stood all which it is possible for
me to endure. 1 have prayed and en-
treated you to abandon habit which
has disgracel us both. My pleadings
have brought nothing. l cannot aud
1 viii not have our child grow up to
know father who is a drunkard. If
you refuse to stay at home have said