Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-02-18
"Oh Luke. not to your wife"
"She'd be better off without me, SAID
Luke. downheartcdly.


longer. And Luke, for the sake ol old
times-.tor the sake of your poor wife,
Wi YOU do better 9'
Luke Ruddioye looked vacantly first
at the fresh new bank bill in his hand,
and then at the blooming young mairon
whn 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 Parllet stood looking in;o the kitch-
en- fire
Il dare say I've done very foolish
thing she pondercd; but indeed |
gould not help ii OF course he'll spend
il nj the public house, and shall do with
ont my oil cloth, that wiI, be the end of
il all"
And there was \ conscious flush on her
check. as it she had done something
.yyous. when .he reioiucd the squire in
The sitting, room,
Well" said Squire rartlel, "ha' that
nc'rr do well gone ut last?"
Yes"
TO stokes tavern, | suppoSc'"
IL hope not. Josiah"
Pm afraid It's past hoping for" said
The sqnirc. Struggling his shoulders.
And now for pleasant evening. How
it does rain to bc sure"
And Mrs. partlet kept the secret OF the
dollar bill within her own heart.
It was six months atlcrward that the
squire came into the ,oom where hi, wife
" Is preserving some great red apples
into jelly.
We'll, WELL" quoth he. "wondcrs
never will cease. The Ruddiloyos have
gone away"
Gone where p
Il don't Anow-oui West somewhere
with a colony. Aud they say Luke hasn't
touched drop in six months
"Im glad OF that, said Mrs. Parllei.
1T Won't last long" said the squire
despairingIy.
why nol?"
"Oh. don't know; mNcu'tuuy faith
in these sudden reforms
Mrs. Paltlei WAS silent; she thought
lhauhlully that. alter al, Luke had not
spent the dollar bill IN liquor,
SiA months six ycars-lhe time sped
along in days and wecAs, almost before
busy little Mrs. Par,Ict knew that it WAS
gone. The Ruddiloyes had gone back 10
Sequosset.
Luke had made his fortune rs The story
went in the lar away FL Dorado, vaguely
phrsscd "Oui West by the simple Sc
quossetcrs,
They do say" say Mrs Buckingham,
..that hes bought that ere lot down OPP
positc The CoUrl House, and is going to
build such house rs never was
"lle must have prospered greatly
said The gentle Mrs. Partlet
"And his wife wears a silk gown that
will stand alone with lis own richness.
sal Mrs. Buckingham; II can remember
hen Luke Ruldilove was nothing but u
poor drunken c,etuf."
ITS to be all % stun" said Mrs. Buck.
| ingham, with marble mantles and inlaid
doors; and he's put "a lot of paper aud
things under the corner one"
The corner what ?" said Mrs. Partlet,
/ laughing. Floor OF mantle?"
stun, to be sure" said Mis-. Bucking'
ham. Like they do in public buildings
you SNOW"
That is natural enough"
"Wcll, ia kind Of queer. but Luke
Ruddiloye never want like nobody else.
Folks thinks it's dreadful strange he
should put one dollar bill in with the
other thiugs,"
Mrs. Partlet felt'her ceeeks flush scar
let; she glanced up TO where the squire
was checking off list of legal items in
the bill lie was making out against some
client But he never looked around anC
MIS-. Buckingham went on with her neyel
ceasing flow Of ehit-chat, and 80 The
color died away in her cheek. Alter al
the money had been her own 10 give, ant
the oil cloth in front OF the dining room
stove had an swered ye!y well,
She met Luke lluddilove That alter
noon Tor the first time since his retnrn L
Sequosset-Luke himself, yet not him
self-the demon intemperance crushed
out of his nature, and its better, nobleI
elements triumphing at last. He looked
her brightly in the face. as he held ou
mis- hand.
MARY"
al am glad to see you back here again
Luke" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
"And we'll you may be- he rejoined
"Do you remember the night You gave
me the dollar bill, and begged me not t
90 to the tavern ?"
Eyes"
That night was the pivot on which
nv whole destiny turned. You wer'
kind to me when every one spoke coldly
YOU trusted me when all other face: