The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-11-10
He opened the door and withou. looking back remarked:
 I'll he heve hv sunSet"

JOu toHiC liCiC iAtci thc hOuSS VIII OC empty"
 The wife watched his form across the clearing and saw il disappear in the heavy timber which circled the, cabin. She turned to her household duties. hut had no heart for them. Well she knew Rube Wexford would break his last prom lse as he had broken others before it. If so he must abide by the result, She was determined.
 The day went by at snail's pace, and i the afternoon seemed never ending. ] Kate iondled the baby. listened to her crow and cry, and fed her dozen times. Then she prepared supper, and sunset came when 1t was completed. But 1t brought no Rube. Another hour and still he was absent. 10 the moments passed until the clock struck ten. The baby was fast asleep. Kate rose from a chair at the cradles side, look of firm determination on her face, and opening the cabin door she peered across the i clearing. Not a soul was visible. She closed the door, went to the chest and took from it a pair of fold-fashioned skates, whose steel runners gleamed in the fire ] light. She laid them ready for use. and proceeded 10 wrap herself as warmly as l possible. Then she bundled the baby in the same manner, lifted her tenderly in her arms, and with the skates siung over her shoulder started across the clear ing. After reaching the timber she left the beaten path and made for the river. It was coated heavily with ice, and the winds had blown It almost free from snow, leaving nearly naked surface. Kate laid the baby down for few mo- ments while she fastened on her skates. Then she lifted her baby once more and started for Pineville, fifteen miles away The moon shone brightly, she was a won- derfully rapid skater. and she knew not the slightest suspicion of fear.
 Rube Wexford sat by the warm fire which was surrounded by dozen men beside himself. He had been there for hours listening to anecdotes of hunters lives, even adding 10 the general fund with some of his own experiences, but though his companions coaNed and per suaded him they could not prevail upon him to taste liquor. This was something so entirely new that many laugh and joke was had al his expense. He an- swered all persuasions to imbibe in the same way, saying only" Not to-day. boys; not today
 When sunset came he was still in his seat. He wanted to be home. he wanted to keep his promise, but he thought he would wait while and start later. so as it would not look 10 Kate too much IS if he were giving in. So thinking, he went to quiet corner by himself and had not been there long before he fell asleep. It was II o'clock when he awoke with a start, and said hurriedly;
 What is il. Kate :'
 A loud roar of laughter brought him 10 his senses. and rough voice cried: Rube, guess you have been dream ing"
 "Yes," he replied tcoiishly;; = thought my wife was calling me"
 He glanced at the clock and said
 Boys. must go"
 Have something before you leave" was the general cry.
 | No, no; not tonight,
 1 Then he was gone. His conscience smote him as he trudged through the snow. It 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 could tempt her 10 keep the rash VOW she made in the morning. So thought Rube. This was because he was incapable of estimating the great suffer ing which he had caused his wite.
 On he went until through the stiffness of the night was borne to his ears the sound of falling waters. IL proceeded from spot which marked the halfway between pineville and his own home. and was caused by the river tumbling down a steep descent of fifteen or twenty fee, of rugged rock. His road at this point lay close to the river bank. and soon he was 1 in full view of the cascade. As he passed 1 1t he noticed with a sort of shudder how cold and dark the water looked as it tumbled down. To. thirty feet above the i falls there was no ice. IL broke oil abruptly and the current rushed from beneath with terrible velocity. Beyond in the moonlight glis,encd an unbroken surface of clear ice for fully halt mile before there was bend m the river $ bank. The sight was an old one to Rube. and he paid it,lc heed to it, but stalked on silently, still thinking of Kate and wondering If the cabin would be tenant less. Suddenly he stood stock still and listened. Many an ear would have heard nothing but the sound of rushing waters, Rube's acute and praoticed hearing de tected something more and he felt ln- stinctively for his ammunition and looked to the prim,ng ot his rife. Then from d distance the sound came again-a pc culiar cry, followed by another and an other. until they ended in chorus of un- earthly yells. Rube muttered to himself one word wolves-and strained his eyes in the direction of the curve to the river edge. The cry proceeded from that di- rection and grew louder every instant. Before he could decide on plan of ac- ton there shot out from the bend in the river what looked to him like woman carrying a bundle and skating for dear life. She strained every nerve, but never once cried out. Next came wolf. fol. lowed rapidly by others, which swelled