Connecticut western news., 1883-10-24
THRILLING WOLF STORY

, happy fellow. He was certainly consid- cred 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 show cred on the heads of the newly-wedded pair for their future happiness and pros perity. Still there were those who not only insinuated but boasted that the heipmate of her choice was not worthy the woman he had won. Kates father and mother were particularly opposed to S the match, and did all in their power to prevent it, but the girl, besides her un- wavering love, possessed a determined will which, when once aroused, carried much before it. Rube Wexford was never accounted strictly temperate man. Indeed, there had been times be- fore marriage when he was for days un- der the influence of liquor, and Kate had seen him in this state and therefore knew fully the extent of his weakness. But the woman loved the man, and with m 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 indications 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 De- cember he took down his leggings and gun from the pegs where they hung aud was preparing to go out. Kate went to him and said: 8
 tRube, you must not leave me to- night. Give in to me this time and stay at home"
 1T am only going for jaunt," he re- piled. "THsbe back soon."
 ''No, you are going to Washburn's. Tonight you will. you must gratify me. am afraid to remain here alone"
 ''Afraid ?" he answered. Such thing as fear was almost unknown to Kate Wilde.
 She clasped her arms around his neck, whispered into his ear, her cheeks flush ing brightly, then sat down in the rocker and cried as if her heart would break. Rube stood the gun in corner, threw aside the leggings and cried too.
 The next morning when the winter hno al &ho l.. shelter held three souls instead of two. A wee stranger had come in the night. bright-eyed baby girl. Her weak cry seemed to move all the better part of the husbands nature, and his wife looked on with newborn confidence in her face. After week, when Kate was able to sit up, Rube went to relate the happy event to his grandparents. It was the first time he had visited them for months. Very early in the morning he started, and when the afternoon shadows began to lengthen Kate looked out eagerly fol his return. It was toward daybreak when he appeared, 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, bu days went by only to see them unful filled. Now there was new torture Rube had forsaken Washburn's, an, made his visits to Pineville instead, wher Kate's father and mother lived It wa almost more than the woman's natur could bear to know that her parent were the frequent witnesses of her bus bands disgrace. This was a sort 0 thing which she could not and would no long brook.
 ~ Little Kate, the baby, was a mont old to day when Rube made prepara tions one morning for a trip to Pineville Kate looked on silently for few mo ments, and then said:
 "Where are you going?'
 "Only to Pineville."
 "What for?"
 "To see about some powder and stuff
 "That IS untrue. You are going t spend the day with worthless compar ions, and you will come back stupid wit liquor. Rube, listen to me, hay stood all it is possible for me to endure I have prayed and entreated you t abandon a habit which has disgraced II both. My pleadings have brought notl ing. cannot and will not have ou child grow up to know father who is drunkard. If you refuse to stay at hom, have said my last say. Go to Pin, vile if you insist on doing so, but if yo are not here sober by sunset I sha go with the baby to fathers, and in tn house will never set foot again."
 "That's all talk," Rube answered, a rough, joking, half-serious fashion "Why, it's fifteen miles to Pineville." /"
 No natter" was the firm rejoiDde "I will make the start if the child and freeze to death by the way.''
 "Look out for wolves" Rube laughe again. 'tThere has been half doze sasn lately. Tt has been hard wint, or sh aa, an they rs lnost starved. 7