Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-01-28

whsre with colony. AID they say
Luke hasn't touched a drop in SIX
months"
I'm glad of that" said Mrs. Part
let.
ut won't last long," said the
squire despairingly.
"Whv not 7"
"Oh. | don't now. Bat | hsvn't
any faith in these sudden reforms.
Mrs. Partlet was silent; she
thought thankfully that after all
Luke had not spent the dollar bill 10
liquor.
Six m0nths-six years--the time
sped along in days and weeks, al
most before busy little Mrs PARTIES
knew that it was gone. The Ruddi-
loves had got back to Sequosseters.
They do say" sail Mrs. Buchan-
an. THAT he's bought that ere lot
down opposite the Court House, and
is going TO build such house as
never was"
"He must have greatly prosper
ed" said gentle Mrs. Partlet.
"And his wife wears q silk gown
that will stand alone with its own
richness" said Mrs Buckingham ;
IL can remember when Luke Rad dl-
love was nothing but poor drunk
en- creature
GAN the more credit to him now,
said Mrs. PartIet, emphatcally.
"It's to be all o'stun," said Mrs
Buckingham. "with marble nantes,
and inlaid Il ,ors. And he's put lot
of papers and things under the cor
ner one"
"The corner what7" said Mrs
Partlet, laughing.
"Stun, to be snre," said Mrs
Buckingham. Like they do in pub
lie buildings, you know"
"That is natural enough"
"WelI, it's kind O. queer, but
Luke RuddiIove never want like
anybody else. Folks thinks it's
dreadful strange he should put one
dol ar bill in with the other things I"
Mrs. Partlet felt her cheeks flush
scarlet she glanced up to where the
squire was checking off q list eff legal
items in the bill he was making ouI
against some client. But re never
looked around, and Mrs Buckingham
went on with her never ceasing fl w
of chit-ohat, and so the color died on
her cheek. After all the money had
been her owe to give, aud the old
oiI-cloth in front Of the dining >room
stove had answ rcd very we'll.
She met Luke RuddiIove that af-
ternoon for the first time since his
return to Seqposset- Luke himself
yet not himself-the demon ofintem
perance crushed out of mis- nature.
and its better, nobler elements tri-
umphing at last. He looked her
brightly in the face, as he held on
bis hand.
Mary"
ii am glad to see you back here
again, Luke" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
"And we'll you may be-" he rejoin.
ed. "Do you remember that night
you gave me the dollar bill, aud beg
ged me not to 60 to the tavern 2"
Eyes"
THAT night was the pivot on
which my whole destiny turned
You were kind TO me when every one
spoke coldIy; you trusted mo when
all other faces were averted. l VOW
ed VOW to prove worthy of your
confidence, and | kept it. | diu not
spend the money! treasured it up
and heaven has added nightly TO
my little store. | put the dollar bill
under the corner stone of nay new
house, for the house has risen from il
and it alone won't offer to pay
you back, for l am afraid" be ad-
ded smilingly, 'the luck would 60
from me with 1t; but I'll tell you
what l will do, Mary; will give
money and words of trust and en-
couragement to some other poor
wretch as you gave to me-"
And Squire Partlet never knew
what his wife did with the dollar bill
he gave her to buy @ new piece OF
oil-cloth.