The Republican journal., 1872-12-12
The One Dollar Bill.

None of your undecided showers, with
hesitating intervals, AS it We're, between
nom al Your mild, persistent gatherings
on the roof. but regular tempest, wild
deluge, a rush Of arrowy drops and a
thunder of opening floods
Squire Partlet heard the angry rattle
against the easements and drew his snug
easy-chair n little closer to the firc-a
great open mass OF glimmering anthracite,
and @azed with a sort of sleepy, retlec-
tive satisfaction AT the crimson moreen
curtains. and the gray cat fast asleep on
the hearth, and the canary bird rolled in
to n drow~y 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. | don't object to a
stormy night once in while, when Il
fellows under cover. ami there's nothing
particular 10 be done. Mary -
yes" Mr.. Partlet answered She
was lifting about between kitchen and
sitting room with blue checked apron tied
around her waist I'm nearly ready to
come in now. Josiah. Now | wonder"
soto vocc. ''it that was really a knock at
the door, on Just a little rush of the wind
and ram 81
She went to the door, nevertheless; and
minute or two afterward she went to her
husbands chair
$40. dear, its Luke Ruddilove," she
said, half apprehensively The squire
never locked up from his paper.
Tell him he's made mistake The
tavern is on the corner beyond
'But he wants to know if YOU will lend
him dollar - said Mrs Partlet
And couldn't you have told him. no,
without the preliminary ceremony of COM
ing in here to ask me Is it likely that |
shall lend dollar or even a cent to Luke
Ruddilove? Why, had great deal bet
ter throw it in among wonder red Goals
nO-ot course nON'
Mrs. Partlet hesitated.
He looks so pinchcd and cold and
wretched, Josiah. He says there's no.
body in the world to let him have cent -
"All the better for him, if he did but
know it, sharply enunciated the squire
''lf it had come to that pitch half dozen
years ago, perhaps he wouldn't have been
the miserable man he is now"
I'VE used to 60 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 Il poor drunken wretch now Send
him aFout his business, Polly, and if his
time is of any consequence, Just let him
know that he had better not waste it COM
ing here after dollars''
And the squire leaned back in his chair
after a positive fashion, as if the whole
matter was definitely decided.
Mrs. Partlet went back to the kitchen
where Luke Ruddilove was spreading his
poor thin fingers over the blaze of fire,
his tattered garments steaming as if he
were u pillar OF vapor.
lie won't let you have it, Luke" said
she, II thought he wouldn't"
Then l've got to starve, like any Other
dogn said Luke Ruddiove, turning away
modify. And, after all. | don't sup,
pose it makes much difference whether
shuttle out of the world to-day or to-mor
row"
"Oh, 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
10 the tavern, though IN wager something
the squire thought | was"
HAnd isn't it natural enough he shoult
think 50, Luke2"
"Yes-ves, Mary, | don't say but wha
it is" murmured Luke Ruddilove in tn,
same detected tone he had used through.
out the interview.
'Stayn o Mrs Partlet called to him. as
his hand lay on the door-latch, in low
voice 'liere's dollar, Luke, Mr.. Part
let gave to me for a new piece OF Oil-clotl
in front of the dinning-room stove, bu
Pll try and make the old one do a littl
while longer. And Luke, for the sake o
old limes-lor the sake of your poor wife
will yon do better?"
Luke Ruddilove looked vacantly first a
the fresh new bank bill in his hand an,
then at the blooming young matron win
placed it there.
'.Thank you, Mary" he said, and crep
ont of the warm bright kitchen, into tn
storm and darkness that regned withou
Mrs. Partlet stood looking into the kitche
fire.
II dare say I've done very FOOLS
thing" she pondered "but indeed coui
not help it. OF course he'll spend it a
at the public house, and l shall do withol
my oil-coth that will be the end of it all
And there was conscious flush on he
cheek, rs if she had done somethn
wrong. when she rejoined the squire i
the siting-room.
"Well," said Squire Partlet, "has tn:
ne'er-do-well gone at last ?'
Yes
.'ro Stokes tavern, | suppose?"
81 hope not, Josiah"
l'I'm AFRAID it's past hoping tor,'' sal
the squire, struggling his shoulders. can
now for pleasant evening. How it dot
rain, to be sure"
And Mrs Partlet kept the secret of IL
dollar bill within her own heart.
1t was six months alterward that Il
squire came into the room where his wi
was preserving some great red apples il
to Jelly.
"Well, WE'LL" qu,th he, "wonders new
will cease. The Ruddiloves have gor
away"