The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-08-03

evidently she did not believe her
protestation, and Mrs. Wharton
saw her enter the coupe and drive
away, with the comfortable concious-
ness that she would not be invited to
any more of Mrs. Clarence Fitz
Gerald's delightful exclusive part
ties.
'Mrs. Wharton said the cook,
there is boy at the door from the
fruiteries he has an elegant pine-ap-
pie that Mrs. Pepper sent round.
1T will be just the very thing /
want for DESSERT said Mrs Wharton;
'how much is it?
"a dollar, ma'am.'
Once more the everlasting dol
lar! Mrs. Wharton bit her lips with
vexation.
"Tell him to leave it, Bridget and
| | will call and settle with HIM for it
tomorrow.
Mrs Wharton was now consider.
ablyannoyed.
go think a dollar should be such
a useful thing she muttered to her
self, taking up her portfolio.
A half, finished letter lay there
one to her sister, who was the wife
of a clergyman out West, with a
flock of little children around her.
the last words she had written were,
Il send you dollar to buy dolly
for the baby, my little name.sake.'
'How provoking , she exclaimed,
Il can't even finish my letter, for lack
of the everlasting dollar
She leaned back in the velvet
cushions of her chair, drowsily
watching the blaze, and, listening to
the patter of the rain of the window
fell fast asleep.
Where was she? In the spectre
boat of Charon, gliding over the riv-
er Styx-and as the bark touched
the shores of the other world, the
CHASTITY toil-gatherer extended his
hand relentlessly: 'your fare, if you
please, ma'am.'
Mrs. Wharton had her fare ready !;
she handed it up, eager to pass
through the gates where she could
see the musical wave of the palm
trees, and sparkle of glittering tides
that flow beneath the shadow.
Short by dollar, ma'am. Short
by the single dollar you cheated the
poor seamstress out of. You cannot
enter
Mrs. Wharton then drew out a
hundred dollar bill. The grim Char
son shook his head.
IF you had ten thousand it would
not do; nothing will serve our pur-
pose but that one dollar
Charon turned the boat briskly
around; Mrs. Wharton was just
opening her lips to utter wild cry
of anguish, pleading, when she
awoke.
She shuddered; somehow the
dollar had assumed preternaturally
very large dimensions.
Charles Charles !" how welcome
were the footsteps of her husband
up the stairs.
well, what is it?"
Have you dollar?'
Halt a dozen of them if you
want.
But | only want one-just a dol,
lar BILL
He gave 1t to her. and she imme.
diately rang the bill.
John, want you to put on your
Indian rubber cloak, and take this
bill around to Mrs. Leggett, and
tell her it is what | owe herr
John departed, and Mrs. Whar
ton breathed more easily.
perhaps they will let me in the
gates, now,' she said dreamily.
My dear, what do you mean" de
manded her astonished husband.
And Mrs. Wharton told him the
story of her days adventures, and
the dream that closed them.
Helen, said her husband gravely
'let this be lesson to you, never to
neglect the just dues Of the poor
A dollar is not much to us--to them
it may be the last fraii buiws K be
tween them and starvation
But there was no danger of Mrs
Wharton ever forgetting the lessor
she had received.