Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-01-05

rash VOW she made in the morning. So
thought Rube. This was because he
was incapable Of estimating the great
suffering which he had caused his wife
On he went until through the stiffness
oi the night was borne to his ears the
sound Of falling waters. It proceeded
from spot which marked the halfway
between Pineville and his own home
and was caused by the river tumblino
down steep descent Of 10 or 20 feet of
rugged rock. 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 shudder how
cold and dark the water looked as it
tumbled down. For thirty feet above
the falls there was no ice. 1t broke off
abruptly, and the current rushed from
beneath with tctrib!o y. lo,!.v Be, onl
III the moonlight g.i9tt.led an iubrokcn
surface Of clear ice for fully half mile
before there was bend in the rivers
bank.
The sight was an old one 10 Rube, and
| he paid little heed to it, but stalked on
| silently, still thinking Of Kate and won
| dering would the cabin be tenantless.
Suddenly he stood stock still and lis
| tened Many an ear would have heard
| nothing but the sound Of rushing waters
| Hube's acute and practIced hearing de-
| tected something more, and he felt in-
stinctively for his ammunition and
locked to the printing of his rifle. Then
from distance the sound came again
peculiar cry, followed by another and
| another, until they ended in a chorus of
nnearthly yells. Rube muttered to
| himself one word-wolves-an strained
his eyes in the direction Of the curve to
The river edge. The cry proceeded
from that direction and grew louder
every instant.
Before he could decide on plan Of
action there shot out from the bend in
the river what looked to him like wo-
man carrying bundle and skating for
dear life. She strained every nerve, but
never once cried out. Next came a wolf,
followed rapidly by others, which swelled
the pack to dozen, ell ravenous, yclp-
ing, snarling, and gaining closely on their
prey. Rnbe raised his rite, fired, and
legan to load as he had never loaded be-
fore. The cries came nearer and nearer.
Great God the wolves We're upon the
woman. 1t seemed as if 10 earthly hope
could save her, when, quick rs an arrow
from bow, she swerved to one side the
maddened bruteo slid forward on tLeir
hind legs and she had gained few steps
Again she flew onward, and again she
tired the ruse Of swerying aside, the
man on the bank in the meantime firing
rapidly, anu picking Of wolf after wolf
A fresh danger arose. The woman evi-
dently did not see the abrupt break in
the ice above the falls, and the dark, :,
swift current which lay beyond. Per-
haps 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
knee in the snow:
Kate Kate! My God save her y
The woman was on the brink of the
ice, when she made a sudden sweep to
one side: Nearly the entire pack, unable
to check their mad flight, plunged into
the wator, which carried them swiftly
over the rocks, and Kate Wexford was
flying toward the river bank, where she
fell helpless in the snow, her baby in
her arms, while Rubes rifle frightened
the remainder OF her pursuers away. II
was some time before she could answer
her husbands voice. When strength
enabled her to do so she arose feebly il
the snow, her resolution to GO to hel
father as strong as ever, but Rube tool
her hand, knelt down, aud said:
Kate, bear with me for the last time
As God is my judge shall never agai,
taste liquor. This night has taught MT
lesson whicl cannot forget"
} Kate believed him and accepted hi
promise. They then started for Pine
vile, Rube carrying the baby. and NOR,
than half carrying his wife. When the,
arrived there Kate told her parents sh,
had been dying to show them the baby
and taking advantage of the moonligh
night. had made the journey On skates
Rube kept his VOW. the roses bloone,
again on Hates cheeks, and to-day
happy family of boys and girls feel u
touch of shame as they look up Will
pride 10 their father.
BoYs-Dubulue has boys fra.erni
| ~ the members Of which ara divided