Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-27
CHASED BY WOLVES.
I d. Rnbe Wexrord,s Lesson,

OSAO1OA OA0 OA OA0y WANI AA0iS w tiAO
became his bride. He was the envy of
every young man in the rude western
hamlet where the ceremony took pla e,
and many were the good wishes show
cred on the heads of the newly welded
pair for their future happiness and pros
perity. Still there were those who not
only insinuated but boasted openly, that
Kate had thrown herself away, and that
the helpmate of her choice was unwor-
thy the woman he had won. Kate's
father and mother were particularly op-
posed to the match, and did all in their
power to prevent it, but the girl, besides
her unwavering love, possessed deter
mined will which, when once aroused,
carried much before it. And thus it
turned out, after months of waiting and
two postponements, that the wedding
bells rang out (that is, the queer affair,
hanging inside the door of the primitive
log chapel did its best) to announce to all
interested that Rube Wexford and Kate
Wilde had become husband and wife.
The wedding festivities, which were
added to materially by cracked
violin, smoking, buffalo steaks
and cider, being completed,
the happy pair departed for their new
home, which was situated some Is miles
from the place where dwelt Kate's pa
rents. The west, in those days, was
: much more sparsely settled than now,
and neighbors outside the limits of the
clusters Of log cabins designated as vii
lagos we're few and far between When
the young bride reached the habitation
provided for her reception by her hus-
band, and which was simply rude cab
in standing in the middle Of clearing,
she discovered that if she wanted &C.
quaintances it would be necessary to
travel q couple of miles to make them,
the nearest human beings family named
Grey, being fully that distance away. 1t
was in the first glow of spring when she
stepped over the threshold Of her new
home, the trees were alive with birds,
flowers aud young grass peeped up ev-
.erywhere, and life looked blithe and
gay For all a shadow hung over her,
but she refused to think of it, tried to
put it from her and in the midst of the
manifold duties which claimed her at
tention managed to almost forget it.
The shadow was this. Rube Wexford
was never accounted strictly temperate
man. Indeed, there had been times be-
fore marriage when he was for days
under the influence of liquor, and Kate
had seen him in this state, and there
fore knew fully the extent of his weak
ness. But the woman loved the man,
and within herself resolved that his re-
clamation should be duty, That sue
cess must crown her efforts she little
doubted. 1t had been Rube's propen-
sity for drink that caused the union to
be postponed on two different occas-
ions. Then he braced himself against
the temper, and for six months no
person could point the finger of reproof
at him. This was an encouraging sign.
and his sweetheart showed her appre.
citation of it by redeeming her promise
and bestowing on him her heart and
band. Kate's father and mother, how
ever. were skeptical, and placed slight
taith in the theory of mans refor-
'mation after marriage. They reasoned
with and counseled their daughter, but
gil aad hsT aay yad 1ter teptsa se had anf th h
home. the old couple sat and talked
the marriage over. Both agreed that no
gosi would ensue from it, and the .ather
finished by saying
Wife, the girl will come back to us.
'be sure. God grant that wa can give
her shelter ana food when she does re-
turn
Spring passed by, and summer also,
out the old mans words were not full.
htied. Occasionally Kate visited the
to make Of her husbands conduct. and
only spoke well and hopefully of him
But there was sha low over her face q
cloud upon her brow, and watchful ewes
began to suspect. Then the truth came
out. Rube Wexford had gone back tc
his former ways. Scarcely was the wed.
ding day a month behind when the de-
mon walked within him, the appetite 70,
drink grew stronger than ever, and the
man suecumbed. Kate realized now
for the first time, the task which she
had set herself. She went to work pa
'tiently with tender words, wise counsels
and untiagging love. The only returns
were promises made and broken ovel
and over again, until the wife's hear
grew sick. and she looked forward IL
future of hlighted hopes. It SCENE,
as II heaven had never made weake,
man than Rube Wexford. Some
times he remained at home for
days, worked en- the clearing which had
been transformed into farm, and things
went smoothly. But just as soon as
Kates face began to grow cheerful, the
temPter appeared again, and all her
DrlgnI hopes were dashed to the earth.
One thing she had to be thankful for,
her husband in his moods Of intoxica-
tion kept away from the hamlet where
dwelt her parents, so that her disgrace
was less than it might have been. He
generally visited place five miles be-
yond his own cabin, kept by desolute
wretch named Washburn. Here a
crowd of worthless assembled around
the fire, anecdotes were repeated, rough
songs we're sung. and bad whisky i'm
'bibed until the whole party were in a
state Of intoxication, when the circle
would break up, and kate's husband
would return to her in a condition which
made her blood run cold
Autumn dristed away, the crops had
been gathered in, and all the indications
pointed to an early and severe winter.
Rube's sprees continued. No wind was
TO cold, no snow too deep to keep him
from Washburn's. One evening in De-
cember he took down his leggins and
gun from the pegs where they hung,
and was preparing to oout. Kate went
to him, and said:
Rube, you must not leave me to-
night. Give in to me this time and
stay at home"
am only going for iaunt," he re-
piled. '.pll be bac6 soon."
No, ye'.. are going to Washburn' $.