The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-08
The One Dollar BILL.

hAON ~ utt ioiu tiot ANOfCiuDCi iikht
None of your undecided showers, with
hesitatng intervals, as it were, between ;
none Of your mild, persistent patterug-
on tho roof, but regular tempest, a wild
deluge, a rush Of arrowy drops and u
thunder Of opening floods
Squire Partlet heard the angry rattle
against the easements, and drew his snug
easy chair little closer to the Gre-a
great open mass Of glimmcring anthracite,
aud gazed with sort OF sleepy reflective
satisfaction ut the crimson noreen cur.
tains, aud the gray cat fast asleep Oh 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 fixed in the
barn roof last week. l don't object to Il
stormy night once in while, when fel.
lows under cover, aud there's nothing
particular to be done. Maryr
Yes Mrs. Partlet answered. She
was fitting about between kitchen aud
sittirg-room with a blue check apron tied
around her waist / am nearly ready
to come in now, Josiah. Now | wonder,
sotto voice, if that was really knock at
the door, or just little rush of the wind
and rain p
She went to the door nevertheless; and
a minute or two afterwards she went 10
her husbands chair.
Joe, dear, it's Luke Ruddilovc.' she
said half appreheusively. The Squire
never looked up from his paper.
Tell him he's made Il mistake. The
tavern is on the corner beyond
But he wants to know if you will lend
him dollar " said Mrs. Partet.
And couldn't you have told him No,
without the preliminary ceremony of com.
ing in here to ask me? Is it likely tha,
| shall lend dollar or even cent to
Luke Ruddilove Why, l had great
deal better throw it In among yonder red
Goals No-of course no ~
Mrs. Partlet hesitated.
He looks SO pinched and cold aud
wretched, Josiah. He says ther's nobody
in the world to let him have a cent.
'Al the better for him, if he did but
know it, sharply enunciated tho Squire
If it had come to that pitch half a dozer
years ago, perhaps he wouldn't have beer
the miserable man ne is now
I'VE used to go to school together, said
Mrs. Partlet, gently. He was the smart
est boy in the class
That's probable enough said tn,
Squire. But it don't alter the fact thai
he's poor drunken wretch now. Send
him about his business, Polly, ard JUS
let him know, it his time is Of any con
sequence, that be had better not waste il
coming here utter dollars.
Aud the Squire leaned back in hi
chair after positive fashion, as if th,
whole matter was definitely decided.
Mrs Partlet went back to tue kitcher
where Luke Ruddilove was spreading hi
poor, thin fogers over the blaze Of tn,
lire, his tAttcred garments steaming as i
ne were pillar OF vapor.
He won't let you have it, Luke Sal,
she, i thought he wouldn't.
Then I've got to starve like any othe
dog said Luke Ruddiove, turning ava,
moodily. And, after all, | don't suppos,
it makes much difference whether l shui
1e out Of the world to-day or Tomorrow
'Oh, Luke, not to your wife 2
Shed be better off without me- sal,
Luke, down-heartedly.
But she ought not to be-.
Ought and is are two different thing.
Mrs. Partlet. Good night. Iain't goin,
to the tavern, though I'll wager some
thing the Squire thought was
And isn't it natural enough he shoul'
think so, Luke?'
'Yes-yes, Mary, don't say but wha
it is murmured Luke Ruddilove, ;n tn
same detected tone he had used through
out the interview.
Stay! Mrs. Partlet called to him a
his hand lay on the door latch, in 10,
voice.
Here's a dollar, Luke Mr.. Partle
gave it to me for a new piece of oil-clot
in front of the diniug-room stove, but II
try and make the old one do little Will
longer. And Luke, for the sake of oil
times-for the sake of your poor wife
will you do better?'
Luke Ruddiloye looked vacanlly frs
at the fresh new bank bill in his hanc
and then at the blooming young matro
who placed it there.
Thank you, Mary he said, and creT
out Of the warm, bright kitchen, into th
storm aud darkness that reigned withou
Mrs. Partlet stood looking into the kitcl
en- fire.
Il dare say I've done foolish thing
she pondered, as if she had done som,
thing wrong,when she rejoincd the Squil
, in the sitting-room.
WELL said Squire Partlet, has thu
no'er-do-wcll gone at last p
Yes.
TO Stokes tavern, suppose3
Il hope not. Josiah
I'm afraid its past hoping for sal
the Squire, Struggling his shoulders. An
now for pleasant evening. How it do'
rain, to be sure =
Aud Mrs. Partlet kept the secret
the dollar bill within her own breast.
! 1t was six months afterwards that Ii