Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-11-15
SELECTED STORY
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THE ONE DOLLAR BILL.

How it did rain that November night
None Of your undecided showers, with hes
tating intervals, as it we're, between non
Of your mild, persistent gatherings on th
roof, but regular tempest. wild deluge
rush of arrow drops and thunder G
opening floods!
Squire Partlet heard the angry rattl
against the easement, and drew his snu
easy chair a little nearer the fire--a erea
open mass of glimmering anthracite-ant
gazed with sort Of sleepy, reflective salts
faction at the crimson maroon curtains am
the gray cat fast asleep on the hearth, ant
the canary bird rolled into drowsy ball 0
yellow down on his perch
This is snug" quoth the Squire I'm
glad bad tho leaky spot in the barn roo
fixed last week. l don't object to storm
night once in while when fellows unde
cover, and there's nothing particular to b
done Mary p
eyes" Mrs. Partlet answered She wa
fitting about, between kitchen and sitting
room, with great blue checked apron tiee
round her waist. I'm nearly ready tt
come in now, Josiah Now l wonder
soto uoce, ''if that was really knock a
the door, or just a little extra rush Of vino
and RAIN
She went to the door, nevertheless. and q
minute or two afterwards she went to hel
husbands chair.
"Joe, dear, its Luke Ruddilove," sht
| said, half apprehensively. The Squire nev.
er looked up from bis paper
sTeIl him he's made mistake. The
tavern is on the second corner beyond"
'But be wants to know if you will lend
him dollar" said Mrs. Partlet
land couldn't you have told him no
without the preliminary ceremony Of COM
ing in to ask me j? 1t is not likely that
would lend dollar, or even cent to Luke
Ruddilove! Why, I had great deal rath
or throw it among yonder red Goals No
Of course, DO !"
Mrs Partlet hcsitated
"He looks so pinched and cold and
wretched, Josiah. He says there's nobody
in the world to let him have cent"
GAN the better for him. if he did but
know it, sharply enunciated the Squire
III he had come to that pass half-a-dozen
years ago, perhaps he wouldn't have been
the miserable vagabond he is now"
"We used to go to school together" said
Mrs Partlet, gently. "iIo was the smart
ent boy in the class"
"That's probable enough" said the
Squire ''But does it alter the fact that be
is drunken wretch now ? Send him al out
his business, Mary; and if his timo is Of
any consequence, let him know he had bet.
ter not waste it coming here after dollars :"
And the Squire leaned back in his chair
after positive fashion, as if the whole mat
ter had been definitely settled
Mrs. Partlett went back to the kitchen,
where Luke Ruddilove was spreading bis
poor thin fingers over the blaze Of fire, his
tattered garments leaning as if he vas
pillar of vapor.
"He won't let you have it, Luke said
she II thought he wouldn't"
Then Tve got to starve, like any other
dog said Luke Raddilove, turning mood
ly away. "Aud, after all, I don't suppose
it makes much difference whether I shuffls
out Of the world to-day or tomorrow.
ooh. Luke-think Of your wife"
"She'd be better off without me-" sale
Luke, down-heartedly.
'But she ought not to be-
"Ought and is are two different things
Mrs. Partlet. Good night I amt going
to the tavern, though I'll wager something
the Squire thought I was.'
"And isn't it natural enough be sboul(
think so, Luke 2"
"Yes-yes, Mary; I don't say but vha
it u.s." murmured Luke Ruddilove, in tho
same detected tone he had used throughou
the interview.
"Stop,' Mrs. Partlet called to him, al
his hand lay on the door-ateh, "Heres
dollar, Luke. Mr. Partlet gave it to ms
for rev piece of oil-cloth in front OF tn
dining-room stove, but III try and make th'
old one do little while longer. Aud Luke
for the sake of old times-for the sake o
your poor wife and little ones at home-do
do, try to do better"
Luke Ruddiiove looked vacantly first
the fresh new bank bill in his hand, and tue!
at the blooming young matron who hat
placed it there.
Thank you, Mary" no said, and crep
cut Of the warm, bright kitchen, into th
storm and darkness without. Mrs. Partle
stood looking into the kitchen FIRE.
Il dare say I've done a very foollsl
thing" she pondered "bus, indeed, l eoul'
not be p it. OF course he'll spend 1t at tn
public house, and shall do without my nev
oil.cloth; that will be the end Of it all.
And there was conscious flush on he
cheeks as if she had done something wron|
when she rejoined the Squire in the sitting
room.
"Well," Squire Partlet, "has the "ne'e,
do-well gone at last?'
eyes"
"To Stokes tavern, I suppose
II hope not, Josiah"
Tim afraid it's past hopiug for' ssid tn
Squire, struggling his shoulders. AN
now for pleasant evening. How 1t doe
rain, to be sure"