Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1872-12-05

4 q z f
THE ONE-DOLLAR BILL.
How 1t tliH rain that November night !
None of 5bhr undecided showers, with hesi-
tating Intervals, as it were, between;. not a
mild. persistent pattering son the root. but 4
regular tempest, wild deluge. a rush of ar
rowy drops and fearful thunder Of passitjg
clouds. sl ~
Squire Partlett heard the q. cry rattle upon
the easement. and drew his snug en- chair q
little CLOSER 70 the fire--a great open mass of
klithmeriug anthraicfte gazing with \
sort Of sleepy satisfaction at the crimson mo-
reen curtains. and the old grey cat fast
asleep on the hearth, and the. canary bird
rolled into a bali OF gold-a yellow down on
| its perch.
This is snug, quoth the Squire, I'm glad
had that leaky spot in the barn fixed last
weei. don't object to 4 stormy hight. once
| inawhiic, when i bodyss under cover and
there's nothing very particular to be done.
Mary!'
| Yes Mrs. Partlett answered. She was
fitting about between kitchen and sitting
room. with a blue check apron tied about
her waist. I'm nearly ready to come inilow
josiah. Now wonder lsotto voce) ii that
was knock at the door, or just a little rist.
Of wind and rainr
| She went to the door. nevertheless, and a
minute or two afterwards she went to her
husband s chair.
Joe. dear. It's Luke Ruddiloye, she said.
apprchensiyely. The Squire never looked up
from his paper.
TELL him ne has mafle a mistake. The ia
vern is the next corner beyond
| But he wants to know II you'll lend him d
dollar said Mrs. Partlett.
And couldn't you have told him no with-
out the preliminary ceremony Of coming to
ask mi Z? + 1t likely chat would lend adol-
lar or even cent to uke Ruddilove? Why
l had better throw it in yonder red Goals. No,
of course, no.
Mrs. Parileit hesitated.
siIc looks so pinched, and cold, and
wrctehed. He says Illere is nobody in the
world TO let him haye cent.
The better for him il he did but know it, ;
sharply enunciated the Squire. If it had
come tn that pitch half dozen years ago,
perhaps lie would no. be the miserable man
that he is now.
Ave use.ito go to schonl together said
Mrs. Partlctt gently. lie was The stsartest
boy in the class
That's possible enough said the Squire.
But it don'I alter He fact that lie is a poor,
drulkeis wretch now. Send him about his
business. Polly, and if his Time is OF any con
sequence, just let him know he bad better
not waste it coming TO this house after dol
iars.r
And the Squire leaned back in his chair af-
ter positive fashion. Us if the whole matter
had becll thus decided
Mrs. Parllett went back into the Kitchen
where Luke was spreading his poor, thin
hands over The blazing fire, his tattered gar
ments sieaining as though be was u pdllssr OF
sapor-
~ He won't let you have It, Luke, she said !;
| thought he weulfnt.'
.Th~n I've rot 10 starre ike any other dog, :
said Luke inppdily. .AaI then, after all, 1
don't suppose il makes much di9<renss
| whether shuttle out ef sba. xorlA to-day or
TO- morrow
Oh, Luke. not TO your vile?
sSl,t.:d be better off without me, said Luke
down-heartedly- :
BIT abe onxAE not TO. be-
Ought and is are two different things. Mrs
Prtlctt. Good night. ain't gong 70 the
tavern. though Ill wager that The Squire
thought I VAS
And isn't it natural enough thai he slaa,ald ;
Luke
.Yes-yes. Mary. don't say but what it
Eis. !, n,,rmured Luke Ruddilove. ias the same
detected tone lie had used throughout the M
tersiew.
STAY said Mrs Partlett, as he laid his
hand on the door latch.
Here's dollar. Luke. Mr.. Partlett gave
it 10 me for new oil cloth TO put in front IF
the dining room stove. but I'll try and make
my old one do little longer. And Luke
ior the sake Of old tiaaes--fer ike sake Oi
your poor wiie--will You end-ayor 4. do bet
ter r
Luke R,.ddiloye iookeI vacantly first at the
fresh new Detftk Oil IN us tiaH. anu tHeH AZ
the blooming young wolnali whn had placed
1t there.
THANK you, Mary. be said. and crept ont
Of the warm, bright kit hen into the storm
that ragged witheua. Mrs. Partlett stood look
ing intently ut the iire.
Il dare SAY I've tiope 4 very foolish thing
she ponderel ;bnt Indeed couldn't help Il.
or course he will spend i At the tavern. aud
a shall do without my new OIL cloth, aud that
will be the end Of it.
An! there was aia ,lncon ci sus flush on l,ti
cheek. as il she had done something wrong.
when she rsjoinsd the squire in the sitting
room.
sWell.' sald the Squire, Has that n,'er-do-
well gone IT last z
Yes
TO Stokes tavern, suppose.
Il hope pnt~ JOsiah.
I'm afraid it's past hoping for said the
Sapirr, struggling his shoulders. And now
ffur pleasant evening. How \ does, iaii,, to
Be surc.
Mrs Partlctt kept tlae secret Of the dollar
bill locked il hxr own heart.
]. It was six mouths afterwards when the
Squire came into, the room where his vile