The Delaware farmer., 1883-10-26

of the night was borne to his ears til
sound of falling waters. 1t proceede
from a spot which marked the half-wa,
between Pineville and his own home
and was caused by the river tumblint
down steep descent Of 15 or 20 feet o
rugged rock. His road at this point lay
close to the river bank, and soon hewa'
in full view of the cascade. As he passed
it he noticed with a sort of shudder how
cold and dark the water looked as il
tumbled 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 unbroken
surface of clear ice for fully half mile
before there was a bend in the rivers
bank.
The sight was an old one to Rube, and
he paid little heed to it, but stalked on
still thinking of Kate and won
dering would the cabin be tenantless.
he stood stock still and lis
tened. Many an ear would have heard
nothing but the sound of rushing waters.
Rube's acute and practiced hearing de-
-ected something more, and he felt in
itinctively for his ammunition and
ooked to the priming of his rifle. Then
rom a distance the sound came again
peculiar cry, followed by another and
until they ended in a chorus of
yells. Rube muttered to
imself one word-wolves-and strained !
is eyes in the direction of the curve to
he rivers edge. The cry proceeded |
ON that direction and grew louder
very instant.
Before he could decide on a plan Of
,tion there shot out from the bend in
lie river what looked to him like a wo-
an carrying a bundle and skating for
Ear life. She strained every nerve, but
sver once cried out. Next came a wolf,
llowed rapidly by others, which swelled
e pack to a dozen, all ravenous, yelp-
g, snarling, and gaining closely on their :
ey. Rube raised his rifle, fired, and !
gan to load as he had never loaded be-
re. The cries came nearer and nearer.
eat God the wolves were upon the G
man. It seemed as if no earthly hope .
uld save her, when, quick as an arrow .
m a bow, she swerved to one side, the =
ddened brutes slid forward on their :
Id legs and she had gained few steps.
ain she flew onward, and again she
cd the ruse of swerving aside, the !
n on the bank in the meantime firing o"
idly, and picking off wolf after wolf. II
resh danger arose. The woman evi- %
tly did not see the abrupt break in "
ice above the falls, and the dark,
# current which lay beyond. Per- w
IS she was too frightened to hear the el
ming waters. On she went, making &C
light for the falls, the wolves almost al
ler heels, and the mans voice crying &c
errifed accents as he dropped on his d'
e in the snow:
Kate Kate My God save her r!' ic r
he woman was on the brink of the -
when she made a sudden sweep to uwo w
side. Nearly the entire pack, unable 10
heck their mad fight, plunged into 70
water, which carried them swiftly .
the rocks, and Kate Wexford was u
g toward the river bank, where she -I,0
helpless in the snow, her baby in e4,,
arms, while Rube's rife frightened "
of her pursuers away. It
some time before she could answer =,
husbands voice. When strength i"'i
led her to do so she arose feebly in nsol et
now, her resolution to go to her al'e 1
r as strong as ever, but Rube took u0n
and, knelt down, and said: cou
ate, bear with me for the last time. we"
cd is my judge 1 shall never again
liquor. This night has taught me W.
on which cannot forget. nj,
-e believed him and accepted his
ise. They then started for Pine
Rube carrying the baby, and more By W
lalf carrying his wife. When they ira
d there Kate told her parents she III
cen dying to show them the baby, Van
king advantage of the moonlight his
had made the journey on skates. brld
'e kept his vow, the roses bloomed and
on Kate's cheeks, and to-day a IN tn
family of boys and girls feel no l wa
Of shame as they look up with If yc
to their father. 1t is
pleas
Pork Abroad. M,