The Placer herald., 1873-07-19
The ONE DOLLAR BILL.

THE ONE DOLLAR BILL.
How it did rain that November night.
None of your undecided showers, with hes
itating intervals, as 1t were, between; none
Of your mild, persistent pattering on the
roof, but regular tempest, wild deluge, a
rush Of arrowy drops and thunder Of open
Squire PaTt1ett heard the angry rattle
against the easements, and drew his snug
easy-chair little closer to the fre-a great
open mass Of glimmering anthracite--and
gased with sort Of sleepy, reflective salts
faction at the crimson moreen curtains, and
the grey cat fast asleep on the hearth, and
the canary bird rolled INTO drowsy ball of
yellow down on its perch.
"This is snug," quoth the squire. 81
am glad that had that leaky spot fixed in
the barn roof last week. don't object to a
stormy night once in while, when fellows
under cover, and there's nothing particular
to be done, Mary!.
eyes," said Mrs. Partlett. She was
fitting about between kitchen and sitting
room with blue check apron tied around
her waist. 'l'm nearly ready to come in
now, Josiah. Now wonder" soto voce,
Il that was seslly knock at the door, or
just little rush Of the wind and rain?'
She went to the door nevertheless; and
minute or two afterward she went to her
husbands chair.
"Jo, dear. it's Luke Ruddildove," she
said, half apprehensively. The squire new
er looked up from his paper.
"Tell him he's made a mistake. The
tavern is on the corner beyond"
"But he wants to know if you will lend
him dollarl' said Mrs, Partlett.
"And couldn't you have told him, No,
without tho preliminary cetemohy Of COM
ing in here to ask mei 1t is likely that
shall lend dollar or even a oeht to Luke
Ruddildove Why had great deal rath-
er throw it among yonder red Goals! no-of
course nol'
Mrs Pattlett hesitathd.
"Hs looks 50 pihched and wtetched Jo-
slab. He says there's nobody in the world
to let him have cent
"All the, better for him, if he did but
know It," sharply ehtnciated the squire.
"lf it had cbme to that pitch half dozen
years ago, perhaps he wouldn't have been
the miserable man he is now"
"We used to 20 to school together" says
Mrs. Partlett; gshtly. "He was the
smartsst boy in the class"
"That's probable ek6hEh," said the
squire. "But it don't alter the fact that
he's a bUbr drunken wretch now. Send
him about his business, Polly, and if his
time is Of any consequence, just let him
know tbat be had better not waste it COM
ing here after dollars"
And the sauire lyaned back III his chair
after bbsi!ive fashion, as II the whole mat
ter was definitely decided:
Mrs. Partlett wetit back to the kitchen
where Luke Ruddildove was spreading bis
poor, thin fingers over the blaze of the fire,
his tattered garments streaming as If be
were pillar Of vapbr. "He won't let you
have it Luke" said she, II Thought he
wouldn't
"Tbeh i've g0t tS stsrvs, ike any other
dog" said Luke Ruddiaove, turning away
moodily. "Ahd, after all, don't suppose
it makes ahy difference whether shuttle
out af the world to-day or tomorrow.
"Oh, Luke, not to your wife"
"She'a be better off without me, said
Luke do~n-heartedly.
"But she ought not to be-"
"Ought and il are two different things,
Mrs: Pattlett. Good night! l amt going to
the tavSfH, though I'll wager something the
squire thought was"
"And isn't it natural enough he should
think 10; Luke ?"
"Yes-yes Mary, don't say but what
it is," hurmured Luke Ruddiaove, in the
same detected tone he had Used through
out the interview,
"Stayr Mfs. Partlett called to him, as
bis hand lay on the door-latch, in q low
voice.-"Here's dollar, Luke, Mr.. Part
let gave to me for new piece of oil-cloth
in front Of the dinipg-room stove, but III
try and make the old one do little longer.
And Luke, for the sake ;.of old times-for
the sake Of your poor wife, win you do bet
ter?"
Luke looked yacantly first at the fresh
now bank bill in bic hand, and then at the