The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-09-26

face of clear ice for fully half a mile
before there was bend in the rivers
bank. The sight was an old one tc
Rube, and he paid little heed to it, bu'
stalked on silently, still thinking OF
Kate and wonderingif the cabin woule
be tenantless. Suddenly he stood
stock still and listened. Many an eaI
would have heard nothing but the
sound of rushing waters. Rube'S
acute and practiced hearing detected
something more, and he felt instinct
lively for his ammunition and looked to
the priming Of his rifle. Then from
distance the sound came again-a pc,
culiar cry, followed by another and an.
other, until they ended in a chorus Of
unearthly yells. Rube muttered tc
himself one word-wolves-and
strained his eyes in the direction Of
the curve to the rivers edge.
The cry proceeded from that direction
and grew louder every instant. BE.
fore he could decide on plan of action
there shot out from bend in the river
what looked to him like woman car
rying bundle and skating for dear
life. She strained every nerve, but
never once cried out. Next came
wolf, followed rapidly by Others
which swelled the pack to dozen, all
ravenous, yelping, snarling and gain
ing closely on their prey. Rube raised
his rifle, fired, and began to load as he
had never loaded before. The cries
came nearer and nearer. Great God
the wolves were upon the woman Ii
seemed as if no earthly hope could
save her, when, quick as an arrow from
bow, she swerved to one side, the
maddened brutes slid forward on theiI
hind legs, and she hal gained a few
steps. Again she flew onward, and
again she tried the ruse of swerving
aside, the man on the bank in the
meantime firing rapidly, and picking
off wolf by wolf. A fresh danger
arose. The woman evidently did not
see the abrupt break in the ice above
the falls, and the dark, swift current
which lay beyond. Perhaps she was
too frightened to hear the rushing
waters. On she went, making straight
for the falls, the wolves almost on her
heels, and the mans voice crying in
terrified accents, as he dropped on his
knees in the snow:
kate Kate My God, save her !"
The woman was on the brink of the
ice, when she made sudden sweep te
one side. Nearly the entire pack, un.
able to check their mad flight, plunged
into the water, which carried them
swiftly over the rocks, and Kate Wex.
ford was flying toward the river bank
where she fell helpless in the snow,
her baby in her arms, while Rube's
rifle frightened the remainder of heI
| pursuers. 1t was some time before
/ she could answer her husbands voice
When strength enabled her to do 50
she arose feebly in the snow, her reso
luton to go to her father as strong a.
ever. Rube took her hand, knell
down and said:
"Kate, bear with me for the last
time. As God is my judge, shall
never again taste liquor. This night
has taught me a lesson which cannot
forget"
Kate believed him and accepted hii
promise. Then they started for Pine
vile, Rube carrying the baby and morI
than half carrying his wife. Wher
they arrived there Kate told her par
ents she had been dying to show then
the baby, and, taking advantage of the
moonlight night, had made the journey
on skates.
Rube kept his VOW, the roses bloomeC
on Kate's cheeks, and to-day q
happy family of boys and girls feel nc
touch of shame as they look up with
| pride TO their father.