The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-07-03
THE ONE DOLLAR BILL.


night None Of your undecided show
crs, with hesitating intervals, as
were between: none of your mil,
persistent patterings on the roof, bu
a regular tempest, a wild deluge.
rush of arrowy drops and Il thunde
of opening floods
/ Squire Partlct heard the angry rat
tie against the easements, and drew
/ his snug easy chair little closer {,
the iire-a great opening mass of an
thracite-and gazcd with sort o
sleepy, reflective satisfaction at the
crimson moreen curtains, and the
gray eat fast asleep on the hearth
and the canary bird rolled into a
drowsy ball Of yellow down on its
perch.
This is snug quoth the Squire.
I'm glad | had that leaky spot in the
barn roof fixed last week | don't OBJ
ject to a stormy night once in while
when fellows under cover, and
there's nothing to do. Mary!"
Yes" Mrs. Partlet answered.
Shn rrae a;,.ir,.-- l--,---.-l - - {, -s..' ".0o
checked apron tied round her waist.
I'm nearly ready to come in now,
Josiah. Now, | wonder soto cOce,
"if that was really knock at the door,
or Just little extra rush of the wind
and rain" E
She went to the door, nevertheless,
and minute or two afterwards she
went to her husbands chair.
Joe, dear, it's Luke Ruddilove."
she said, half apprehensively. The
Squire never looked up from his pa
per.
Tell him he's made a mistake. The
tavern is on the second corner beyond.
But he wants to know if yon will
lend him a dollar J" said Mrs Pratlet.
"And couldn't you have told him
No. without the preliminary ceremo-
nv of coming in here to ask me ! 1t
is likely that | should lend dollar or
even a cent to Luke Ruddiloye =
Why. had great deal better throw
it among wonder red Goals No-of
course, No?"
Mrs. Partlet hesitated.
'He looks so pinched and cold and
wretched, Josiah. He says there's
nobody in the world to let him have
a cent"
"All the better for him, ifhe did
but know it," sharply enunciated the
Squire. "If he had come to just that
patch half a dozen years ago, perhaps
he wouldn't have been the misera-
able vagabond he is now"
I'VE used to go to school together, "
said Mrs. Partlet gently. He was
the smartest boy in the class"
That's probable enough" said the
Squire. But it don't alter the fact
that he's a poor, drunken wretch now.
Send him about his business, Mary ;
and if his time is of any consequence,
Just let him know that he had better
not waste it coming round here after
dollars"
And the Squire leaned back in his
chair after a positive fashion, as if the
whole matter was definitely settled.
Mrs. Partlet went back to the kitch-
en- where Luke Ruddilove was spread
ing his poor thin fingers over the
blaze of fire, his tattered garments
steaming as if he was pillar of va
por.
He won't let YOU have it, Luke, y
said she. | hought he wouldn't.
Then I've got TO starve, like any
other dog :" said Luke Ruddilove,
turning moodily away. And, after
all. / don't know that it makes much
difference whether | shuttle out ofthe
world to-day or to morrow J"
"Oh, Luke-nOt TO your wife Z"
shed be better off without me-
said Luke, down-heartedly.
"But she ought not to be-
Ought and is are two different
things. Mrs. Partlet. Good night.
| amt going to the tavern, though I'll
wager something the squire thought
] was.n
and isn't it natural that he should
think so Luke ?''
"Yes-yes. Mary Il don't say but
what it is" murmured Luke Ruddi-
love, in the same detected tone he had
used throughout the interview.
Stop" Mrs. Partlett called to him
as his hand lay on the door latch, in
low voice. Hers dollar, Luke,
Mr.. Partlet gave it to me for new
oilcloth in front 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 little
ones at home-do, do try to do better,
Luke Ruddilove yacantly first AT the
fresh, new bank bill in his hand, and
then at the blooming young matron
who had placed it there"
Thank you, Mary" he said, and
crept out Of the warm, bright kitchen
into the storm and darkness that
reigned without. Mrs. Partlet stood
lnnl,;n,, into .Lo Ii,ohon fro