National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-06-14

is OF any consequence, just let him know
that he had better not waste it coming
here after dollars"
And the Squire leaned back in his char
.fter a positive fashion, as il the whole
matter was definitely settled.
Mrs. Partlet went back 10 the kitchen
where Luke Ruddiove was spreading his
poor thin fingers over the blaze OF fire, his
tattercd garments steamng Us if be was n
pillar of vapor.
"IIe won't let you have it, Luke said
she. thought he wouldn't"
"Then I've got 10 starve, like any other
dog !" said Luke Ruddilove turning moodi-
ly away. "And, after all, ! don't suppose
it makes much difference whether shuttle
out of the world to-day or TO morrow !"
"Oh, Luke not to your wife 2"
"She'd be better off without me-" said
Luke, down-heartedly.
But she ought not to be"
Ought and i are two different things.
Mrs. partlet Good night. amt gong
to the tavern, though I'll wager something
the Squire thought ] was"
"Aid isn't it natural enough he should
think SO Luke :"
:Yes yes, Mary | doot say but what
it is" murmued Luke Ruddlloye, IN the
same dejrcted tone he had used through.
out the interview.
"Stopm Mrs. Partet called to him, as
bis band lay on the door latch. in low
voice. " Here's Il dollar, Luke Mr. Partlct
gave it to me for a new piece OF ollcloth in
trout Of the dining room stove, but I'll
try and make the old one do little while
longer. And Luke, for the sake of old
times for the sake Of your poor wife and
the little ones at homc-do, do try to do
better"
Luke Ruddllove looked vacantly first at
the fresh. new bank bill in his hand, and
then at the blooming young matroD who
had placed it there,
Thank you, Mary" he said, and crept
out Of the warm, bright kitchen INTO the
storm and darkness that Ieigned without
Mrs. Partlet stood looking into the kitchen
fire.
=" dare say I've done a very foolish
thing" soc pondered hut indeed could
not help it. OF course hen spend it all at
the public house, and shall do without
my new oilcloth; that will be the end OF
il all.
And there was a conscious fash on her
cheek, as it she had done something wrong,
when she rejolned the Squire in the sitting
room.
"Well" s." said Squire Partlet, " has that
ne'er do well gone at last F.
"Yes. >
ITO Stokes tavern, | suppose ?"
81 hope not, Josiah"
I'm afraid iI's past hoping for" said the
Squire, Struggling his shoulders. "And
now for a pleasant evening. How it does
ram, to be sure
And Mrs. Paltlct kept the secret OF the |
dollar bill within her own heart
1t was six months afterN ards that the |
Squire came into the room where his wife |
was preserving great red apples int jelly.
"Well, WE'LL quoth he, wonders never
will cease. The Ruddiloves have gone
away
"Where o.
- don't kaow-out West some where,
with colony. And they say Luke hasn't
touched a drop Ia six months.
Pm glad of that, " said Mrs. Partlet
1t won't last long" said the Squire,
lespairingly.
"Why not p
"Oh, don't know. | haven't any faith
IN these sudden rcformsn
Mrs PaItlet was silent; she thought
that, after all, Luke had not
,pent the dollar in liquor.
Six months-siX years the time sped
,long. III days and weeks, almost before Z
ousy little Mrs. Partlet knew that it was
rome. The Ruddloves had come back to :
In laH A.. /
he story went in the far away Ell Dorado. :
'aguelv phraSed out West" by the sim |
Die Sequosseters. l
:" They do say" >ai1 Mrs. Buckingham, &
that he's coueht that ere lot down op- |
o>te The Court House, and he's goin' to {
,uid such a house as never was" I
He must have prospered greatly" SAID +
entle Mrs. Partlet t
"And his wife, she wears a silk gown Y
hat Will stand alone with it's own rich /
less, said Mrs Buckingham. Il can re- a
member when Luke Ruddlove was moth $
ng but poor drunken crectur' IA
"All the more credit to him now" said
lis. Partlet empbatlcally.
" It's to be sure all O. stun" said Mrs. :.
"wrth marble NANTES and 9
llald floors. And he's put a lot o papers |,
nd things under the corner one =
" The corner what p said Mrs. IIartlet, a
lughing. u
Floor or mantle ?" -
''Stun, to he sure" said Mrs Bucking- =,
am. alike they do in public buildings, II
on know" q
That is natural enough" -.
We'll, it's kind o queer, but Luke o.
udilove never want ike ANYBODY else h
olks thinks ic's dreadful stranec he should -,
ut a one dollar bill IN with other things W
Mrs Partlet felt her check flush scarlet h,
voluntarily she glanced up to where the hi
luire was serencly checking off list OF W
cal items in the bill he was making out "
,ainst some client. But the Squire never VI
oked around and Mis-. Buckingham went til
with her never-ccasing flow of chit chat, as
I'd so the hot color died away in her cheek.
fter all, the money had be, n her own to
We, and the old Oilc!)th in front of the m
ming 70 I'm stove had answered very well. ad
She met Luke Ruddilove that afternoon ne
r the first time since his return from Sc la
losset-Lukc himself, yet not himself tn
@ demon cf intemperance crushed out of va
nature, and its better, nobcr elements Tl
umphing at last lie looked her brightly CO
the face. and he held out his hand. hl
" Mary" wi
al am glad to sec YOU back mere again, sci
ike ~ she said, tremulously. WI
" And well you may be," he rejoined. Ill
Do you remember that stormy night, or
ary, when you gave me that dollar bill. ira
d begged me not to 60 to the tavern I"
" Yes"
"That night was the pivot on which nv y, .nl