The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1872-06-20

that he had better not waste it coming
here after dollars.n
And the Squire leaned back in his chair
after positive fashion, as if the whole
matter was definitely settled.
Mrs. Partlet went back to the kitchen,
where Luke Ruddilove was spreading his
poor thin fingers over the blaze of fire, his
garments steaming as if he was
pillar Of vapor.
He won't let you have it, Luke said
she. 81 thought he wouldn't
"Then I've got to starve, like any other
dogw 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 tomorrow -
ooh, Luke not to your wife ?''
"She'd 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"
Sand isn't it natural enough he should
think so Luke?'
"Yes-yes, Mary 1 don't say but what
it is" murmured Luke Ruddilove, in the
same detected tone he had used through
out the interview.
"Stopp' Mrs. Partlet called to him, as
his hand lay on the door latch, in a low
voice. "Here's dollar, Luke. Mr. Partlet
gave it to me for new piece of 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 s-for the sake of your poor wife and
the little ones at home-do, do try to do
better"
Luke Ruddilove looked vacantly 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 looking into the kitchen
fire.
"I dare say I've done very foolish
thing" she pondered but indeed could
not help it. OF course he'll spend it all at
the public house, and [ shall do withou
my new oilcloth that will be the end of
| it all.
| And there was conscious flush on her
cheek, as if she had done something wrong,
when she rejoined the Squire in the sitting
room.
"Well," said Squire Partlet, i" has that
neer do well gone at last ?''
"Yes.
''To Stokes tavern, suppose 2"
| "I hope not, Josiah"
| Pm afraid it's past hoping for" said the
| Squire, struggling his shoulders. !" And
Jnow for pleasant evening. How It does
Jrain, to be sure.'
j And Mrs. Partlet kept the secret of the
dollar bill within her own heart.
1t was six months afterwards that the
4 Squire came into the room where his wife
was preserving great red apples into jelly
II ''Well, WE'LL" quoth he, "wonders never
\ will cease. The Ruddiloves have gone
Il away"
II "Where %
u 81 don't know-out West somewhere
4 with colony. And they say Luke hasn't
u touched drop in six months.
4 "I'm glad of that" said Mrs. Partlet
Y "It won't last long," said the Squire
despairngly.
"Why not?
"Oh, 1 don't know. I haven't any faitl
Il in these sudden reforms"
Mrs. Partlet was silent; she though
,,l thankfully that, after all, Luke had no
r spent the dollar in liquor.
Six months-siX years-the time spe
along, in days and weeks, almost befor
:. busy little Mrs. Partlet knew that it wa
V gone. The Ruddiloves had come back
Sequosset. Luke had made his fortune, a
n the story went in the far away Ell Dorado
vaguely phrased &c out West" by the sim
# pie Sequosseters.
"They de say" said Mrs. Buckingham
"that he's bought that ere lot down OF
u posite the Court House, and he's goin' t
l. build such house as never was.'''>
"He must have prospered greatly" sal
gentle Mrs. Partlet.
"And his wife, she wears silk gov
that will stand alone with it's own ricl
h ness" said Mrs. Buckingham. II can r,
member when Luke Ruddilove was notl
N ing but poor drunken creetur."
e. "All the more credit to him now," sal
Or Mrs. Partlet emphatlcally.
It's to be sure all O stun," said Mr.
Ie Buckingham, "with marble mantles ar
10 inlaid floors. And he's put lot O pape
a and things under the corner one."
te sThe corner what p' said Mrs. Hartle
c. laughing.
IN "Floor or mantle @
IN "Stun, to be sure" said Mrs. Buckin
to ham. "Like they do in public building
b. yeu know"
m "That is natural enough
,of "Well, it's kind O. queer, but Lu
nv Ruddilove never want like anybody ell:
Ter Folks thinks it's dreadful strange he shou
be put one dollar bill in with other things
Mrs. Partlet felt her cheek flush scarle
'as involuntarily she glanced up to where t
ng Squire was serenely checking off a list
ed legal items in the bill he was making G
to against some client. But the Squire ney
r." looked around, and Mrs. Bucking gham we
at Or with her never-ceasing dow of chit ch
he and so the hot color died away in her chez
After all, the money had been her own
nd give, and the old oilcloth in front of
to dining room stove had answered very W,
She met Luke Ruddilove that afterno
she for the first time since his return from
ire quosset-Luke himself, yet not himself
the demon of intemperance crushed out
7he his nature, and it's better, nobler eleme
triumphing at last. He looked her brigh
md in the face, and he held out his hand.
Mary"
No, 81 am glad to see you back here ag;
m Luke" she said, tremulously.
It "And well you may be-" he rejoin
ike "Do you remember that stormy mig
Ieal Mary, when you gave me that dollar |
als and begged me not to go to the tavern
eyes"
"That night was the pivot on which
and whole destiny turned. You were kline
ody me when every one spoke coldly
trusted in me when all other faces v
but averted. vowed VOW to myself to pl
lire. wsrthy of your confidence and I KEEP