The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-11

~ WIZ ID u IHHhHIhs IL N0tl
fuse to stay at home, l have said my
last say. Go to Pinevillc If you insist
on doing SO, but il You are not here So
ber by sunset, shall go with the baby
to fathers, and in this house / will
never set foot again."
"That's all talk" Rubc answered in
rough, joking and half serious fashion.
"Why, it's fifteen miles to Pineville."
NO NATTER was the firm reioinder.
Il will make the start if the child and
l freeze to death OH the way"
Look ont for wolves, Rubc laughed
again. "There has been half dozen
soon lately. 1t has been hard winter
for them, and they're almost starved
Wolves or no wolves muttered
Kate. "I'u co.
Rube hung about the house nncasily
for an hour or SO, then rugged himself
out, leggings, buffalo coat, gun and all.
ka.e worked away and said never a
word. lie opened the door, and with
out looking back, remarked:
III be here by sunset"
See that you are" was tho reply.
If You come here later, the house will
bc empty
The wife watched his form across the
clearing and saw it disappear in the
heavy timber which circled the cabin.
She turned to her household duties,
but had no heart for them. Well she
knew Rube Wexford would break his
last promise, as he had broken others
before it. Ii so he must abide by tho
Aha ,ras .i.%a.n,,,.l
The day went by at snail's pace, and
the afternoon seemed never ending.
Kate fondled the baby, listened to her
crow and cry, and fed her a dozen
times. Then she prepared supper, and
sunset came when it was completed.
But it brought no Rube. Another hour
and still he was absent. So the mo-
ments passed until the clock struck 10.
The baby was fast asleep. Kate rose
from chair Mt the cradles side, look
Of firm determination on her face, and
opening the cabin door, pcercd across
the clearing. Not u soul was visible.
She closed the door, went to the chest,
and took from it q pair of oldfashioned
skates whose steel runners cleaned in
the freight. She laid them ready for
use and proceeded to wrap herself as
warmly as possible. Then she bundled
the baby. in the same manner, lifted her
tcnderly in her arms, and with the
skates slung over her shoulder, started
across the clearing. After reaching the
timber she left the beaten path and
made for the river. 1t was coated
heavily with ice, and the strong winds
L., Il 1,1>,,.,, Al
leaving nearly naked surface. Kate
laid the baby down for few moments
while she fastened on her skates. Then
she lifted her baby once more and
started for Pinevil.e, fifteen miles
away. The moon shonc brightly. she
was wonderful rapid skater, and she
knew not the slightest suspicion Of fear.
Rubc Wexford sat near the warm fire
which was surrounded by dozen men
besides himself He had been there
for hours listening to anecdotes Of hunt
ers' lives, even adding to the general
fund with some Of his own experiences,
but, though his companions coaNed and
persuaded him, they could not prevail
upon him to taste liquor. This was
something SO entirely new that many Il
laugh and joke was had at his expense.
He answered all persuasions to imhibe
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 be home, he want
ed to keep his promise, but he thought
he would wait while and start later,
so rs it would not look to Kate too
much rs if he were giving in. So
thinking he went to quiet corner hv
himself, and had not been there long
before he fell asleep. 1t was IL o'clock
when he awoke with a start, and said
hurriedly:
"What is it, Katc?'
A loud roar Of laughter brought him
to his senses, and a rough voice cried:
"Rube, guess YOU have been dream
ing"
Yes he replied, foolishly; Il
thought my wife was calling me-"
He glanced ut the clock and said:
"Boys, l must CO."
"Have something before you leave, !"
was the general cry.
No, no; not tonight.
Then he was gone. His conscience
smote him rs he trudgcd through the
snow. 1t 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
rcturnel2 OF course, She must be.
Nothing short of madness could tempt
her to keep the rash VOW she made in
the morning. So thought lsubc. This
was because he was incapable Of es-
timating the great suffering which he
had caused his wife.
On he went until through the still
ness of the night WAS borne to his ears
the sound of falling waters. II pro-
ceeacd from spot which marked the
alfway between pinevile and his own
home, and was caused by the riset
tumbling down a deep descent of 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 sort of sliudaer, how cold and
dark the water looked us il tumblea
down. For thirty feet above the falls
there was no ice. 1t broke of abruptly
and the current rushed from beneath
with terrible velocity. Beyond, in the
moonlight, glistened an mbroken sur
face of clear Ice for fully half mile
before there was bend in tho rivers
bank. The sight was an old one to
Ruhe, and he pail little heed to it, but
stalked on silently, still thinking Of
Kate and wondering if the cabin would
be tcnantless. Suddenly he stood stock
still and listened. Many an ear would
have heard nothing but the sound OF
rushing waters. Ruhe's acute and prae-
ticed hearing detected something more,
and he felt instinctiyely for his am
munition and looked to the prim-
ing OF his rifle. Then from distance
| til. sound came again--a peculiar cry,
followed by another and another, until
they ended in chorus of unearthly
yells. Rahe mnttered to himself one
! word w,fyaS - ra inal his ava. in