The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-17

Is oil any consequence, just lcthim know
that he hal better not waste it coming
here after dollars" Hh
And the Squire leaned back in his char
sftcr.a positive fashion, as il the whole
matter was definitely settled. .... b..
Mrs. Partlet went back to the kitchen,
where Luke Ruddilove was spreading his
poor thin fingers over the blaze Of fire, his
tlttercd garments steaming us il be was a
pillar Of yapor.
"Ile won't let you have it, Luke. said
she, :" thought he wouldn't"
"Then I've got to Siarye, like any other
dog ~ said Luke Ruddilove, turning moodi-
ly away. "And. after all, I don't suppose
it makes much difference whether | shuttle
out of the world to-day or tomorrow !"
"Ob, Luke not to Your wilc7"
"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.n
"And isn't it natural enough he should
think so Luke ~
HYCs--yes, Mary don't say but what
It is" murmued Luke Ruddllove, in the
same detected tone he had used through.
out the interview.
"StopW Mrs. Partlet called to him, as
his hand lay on the door latch, in low
voice. Here's dollar, Luke. Mr. Partlct
gave It to me for a now piece oil oilclVth in
trout of the dining room stove, but III
try and make the old one do little while
longer, And Luke, for the sake Of old
times Tor the sake Of your poor vile and
the little ones at honc-do, do try to do
better"
Luke Ruddlovc looked vacantly first at
the fresh. new bank Lll in his hand, and
thcu nt the blooming young matron who
had placed it there.
"1hnnk you, Mary" he said, and crept
ont Of the warm, bright kitchen into the
storm and darkness that reigned without.
Mrs. Partlet stood looking into the kitchen
fire. ......
81 dare say I've done very foolish
thing" sue pondCred; hut indeed could
not help it. OF fcVurse he'll spend it all at
the public house, and shall 10 without
my new olclOth; that will be the end Of
1t all. .l-
And there was conscious flush on her
cheek, as Il she had done something wrong,
when she rcjOined the Squire in the sitting
room.
"wcll," said Squire Partlet, "hos that
nc'er do well gone at last 2"'
ayes.
ITO Stokes tavern, | suppose ~
"I hope not, Josiah" q
I'm afraid it's past hoping for said the
Squire, Struggling his shoulders. "And
now for pleasant evening. How 1t does
rain, to he surc.n ..
And Mrs. Pattlet kept the secret Of the
dollar bill within her own heart.
1t was six months afterwards that the
Squire came into the room where his wife
was preserving great red apples into jelly.
"Wcll, we'll" quoth hr, "wondes never
will cease. The Ruddiloves have gone
away" t.I
"Where p
81 don't know-out West somewhere,
with colony. And they say Luke hasn't
touched q drop 10 six months.
"I'm glad Of that" said Mrs. Partlet
at won't last long" said the Squire,
dcspnirinsly.
"Why not7"
"ob, | don't know. haven't any faith
in these sudden reforms" IA
Mrs. Paltlet was silent; she thought
thankfully that, after all, Luke had not
spent the dollar in liquor.
Six montbs-six years-the time sped
along. IN days and weeks, almost before
busy little Mrs Partet knew that it was
gone. The Ruddiloves had come back to
Sequosset. Luke had made bis fortune, rs
the story went in the far away FL Dorado,
vaguely phrased out West" by the sim
pie SequosseteS.
"They do say" said Mrs. Buckingham,
"tliat he's rouelt that ere lot down op.
rosite the Court House. and he's gOin' to
build such house as never was"
"He must have prospered greatly" SAID
gentle Mrs. Partlet. "A.
Sand his wife, she wears u silk gown
that will stand alone with it's own rich
ness" said Mrs. Buckingham. "l.can re.
member when Luke RuddiIove was moth.
ing hut poor drunken crectur"
"All the more credit to him now," said
Mrs. PaItlptemphatically.
3" It's to be sure oil o stun" said Mrs.
Buckingham, "with marble mantles and
inlaid floors. And he's put alot o papers
and things under the corner one"
"The corner wlat!'' said Mrs. llartlet,
laughing.
EFloor or mantlc7"
"Stun, to lie sure" said Mrs. Bucking.
Ian. "tike they do in public buildings,
you know" i
THAT is natural enough" 4
"wcll, It's kind o queer, but Luke
RuddiIoye never want like ANYBODY else.
Folks thinks itsdreadIul strange be should
put one dollar bill mwith other things"
Mrs Partlat felt her cheek flush Harlct
iuvoluntarilyshe glanced up to where the
Squire was Seteucly checking Oifa list Of
leealite in the bill he was making out
against some client. But the Squire never
looked around, and Ms. Buckingham went
Ul: with her never-ccasing How Of chit chat,
and so the bot color died daway in lier cheek. !
After all, the money had been her own to
give, and tue old ollcloth in front of the
dining rom stove had answered very well.
She met Luke Ruddilove that afternoon
for the first time since bis return flom Sc.
uuoSet-Luke himself, yet not himself
the demon ofintempetaHce crushed out Of
hls nature, and is better, noblcr elements
ttiumphiug at last. lie LOOKED her brightly
in tue lace, aud he held out lis hand.
Mary" =.
al am glad to sec you hack here again,
Luke, she said, tremulously.