The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-11-20
THE ONE DOLLAR BILL,
BY NJ. l..

f, Nohe OF your unur, ittrU showers, with
lrsitatiny intervals, as it were, me.
tween; none of Your mild, PERSISTENT
gatherings Oh the roof, but Il ,esula,
tempest. wild delugc, a rush o,
ar"Ny drops, and Il thunder OF open
ing clouds!
Squire Pa'tlet hea Il the angry rat
tie against the easement, and drew his
>nn. easy chair Il little closer to the
lire" great open mass nf glit,eiing
anthracl,e-and gazing with IL sort of
sleepy satisfaction ut the crimson mo
reen curtains, and the old gray cat fast
asleep ui"n the hearth, and the canary
bird rolled into Il ball Of yellow down
upon its perch.
This is snug," qnoth the squire; 81
am & lad had that Ieaky spot in the
roof Of the barn fixed last week. I
don't object t"a stormy night once in
while, when a h".l,'s under cover;
and there's nothing particular 10 he
done. Maty!'
YES" MIS-. partlet answered. She
was Fitting about between kitchen and
sitting room, with blue check apron
tied about her waist. 'I'm nearly
ready to come 10 now, josiah. Now, |
won1tr,' soto vncp, ''it that was r,ally
II knock at tile door, orjuss u littlrrusi,
Of Wind and rain Z"
She went to tho door, nevertheless,
aud minute or two aftcrwarL she
went I" her husbands chair.
"J"e, dear, Its Luke R"dii!ovr,n she
said apprelrnsiv'l!. The squire new
er leaked up from his paper.
"Tei' !'il" he's made IL mistake. The
tavern iS'ihe next corner beyond"
but he wantsto know It You'll lend
him ii dollar" said Mrs. pattIct.
"And c"ultn't y"n have told him M.
without the preliminary ceremony nf
coming here to ask me? Il it likely
that l shall lend Il dollar nreven a cent
to LIKE Rrn!tli!ove? Why, l had
great deal better throw it in yonder Ted
Goals. No, Of course, nn!'
Mrs Pari!et hesitatrd.
Gle looks \" pincl,e.l aud cold and
Josiah. lie says there is
'"t"dy in the world to let him have
cent"
1.-The better for him if lie did hut
know it, sharply c"nncia.ed the
squire. ''if it had come to that pirch
'alf dozen years aga, perhaps he
SOn'l not have been the miserable
nan that he is now" @
1--WE used I" go t" school Together"
'aid Mrs. Partlet gently. '.He was the
hoy in the class.v
"rha,'s possible cnonsh," said the
'Inire. ''But II don't alter the fact
hat he ia Il poor, drunken wretch now
send him about his business, Polly. /
md it his time is of any consequence,
INST let HIM know that he had better
rot waste it coming to this l,uuse after
And the squire feared back in his
hair, after positive fashion, as if the
while matter WAS definitely decided.
MIS-. lartitt Went back into tie kiIc!,-
n, where Rnddil"ve was spreading his
,onr tiiin hands over the blaze of the
ire, his tattercd garments stea,niny as
h"nsI' he WAS a pillar of vapnr.
ale won't let ynn lave it, Luke
he sai'l-'i though, he wouldn't"
"Ihen I've got to siarve like any
'thcr dug" said Luke RnddiInvp,
sand then, after all. don't
suppose it makes much difference
whether ] shuttle ont Of the world to-
lay or tO-m0rlnw."
"Oh, Luke, not 10 yonr wife"
"Shed be better off without me-"
aid Luke. down-heartedly.
"But she ought not to be-
''Ongl,t and is are two very different
hinss, Mrs. Partlet. Good night. ]
int going to the tavern, though I
will wager something the squire thought
was"