The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-11-06
THRILLING STORY.

Rube Wexford ought to have been a
happy fellow. He was certainly con-
sidered one on the dav when Kate
Wilde became his bride. He was the
envy of every young man I'D the rude
Western hamlet where the ceremony
took place. and many we're the good
wishes showered upon the head of the
newly welded pair for their future hap
piness and prosperity. Still there we're
those who not only insinuated but
boosted that the helpmate of her choice
was unworthy the woman he had won.
Hates father and mother were particu
larly opposed to the match. and did
all in their power to prevent 1t, but
he girl, besides her unwavering love,
possessed a determined will which.
when once aroused carried much before
it, Rube Wexford was never account
ed strictly temperate man. Indeed,
there had been times before MARI
AGE when he was for days under
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
within herself resolved that his recla-
nation should be her duty. That sue
cess must crown her efforts she little
doubted.
Autumn drilled away, the crops had
been gathered i'm and all the indica-
tions ppin,ed 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 dis
tant tavern. Que evening in the latter
part of December, he took down bis
leggings and gun from the peg where
they hung and was preparing to 60 out.
Kate went to him and said /:
''Rube, you must IN: leave me to-
night. Give in to me this time and
stay at home"
Il am only going for jaunt," he re-
piled iii be back soon.
"No. you are going to Washburns.
Tonight you will, you must CRAFTY
me. am afraid to re main here alone.
"Afraid Z" he answered. Such a
thing as fear was almost unknown 10
Kate Wilde.
She clasped her arms around his
neck, whispered into his ear, her cheeks
flushed brightly, then sat down in the
rocker and cried as if her heart would
break Rube stood the gun in the cor
ner. threw aside the leggins and cried
to.
The next morning when the winter
sun beamed upon The table the little
log shelter held three souls instead of
two. A wee stranger had come in the
night, a bright-eyed baby girl. Her
weak cry seemed To move all the bet
ter part of the husbands nature, and
his wife looked on with new born
confidence in her face After a week.
when Kate was able to sit up, Rube
went to relate the happy event to his
grandparents. 1t was The first time
he had visited them for months. Very
early 10 the morning he started. and
when the afternoon shadows began to
Iengthen Kate looked out eagerly for
his return. 1t WAS toward daybreak
when he appeared, his hands and feet
almost frozen, and his senses supplied
by liquor. The wife's new hopes were
destined to be short-lived. Freshly
made promises marked the morrow,
but days went by only to see them un-
fulfilled. Now there was new tor.
ture. Rune had forsaken Wasburn's
and made his visits to PineviIIe in
stead, where kaie's father and mother
lived. 1t was almost more than
woman's nature could bear to know
that her parents were the frequent wit.
nesses of her husbands disgrace. This
was sort of thing which she could
not and would rot long brook.
Little Kate. the baby, was month
old TO day when Rube made prerar.
atoms one morning. tor a trtn TO Pine
vile. Kate looked on silently tor a
few moments, and then said
where are you going ?"
Only to Pineville."
''What for ?"
To see about me powder and
stuff"
THAT is untrue. You are going to
spend the day with worthless compan-
ions and you will come back stupid
with.liquor. Rube, listen to me. / ha &c
stood al it is possible for me to endure.
/ have prayed and eutreated you to
abandon a habit which has disgraced
us both. My pleadings have brought
nothing. l canpOt and will not have
our child grow up to know a father
who is drunkard. If yon refuse to
stay at home, / have said my las: say.
Go tn pipeviile IF Won insist ON do;ro