Nebraska advertiser., 1878-05-02
Yes


i am afraid it's past hoping for
said the Squire, struggling his shoul-
ders. And now for pleasant even
ing. How IL does rain, to he sure
And Mrs. Pratlet kept the secret
within her own heart.
It was six months afterwards, that
the Squire came into the dining room
where his wife was preserving great
red apples into jelly.
We'll. WELL quoth he. wonders
will never cease. The Ruddiloves
have gone away
'Where?'
Idont tknow-out West somewhere.
with colony. And they say Luke
hasn't touched a drop of whisky for
six months
lam glad of that, ''said Mrs. Pratt
let.
1T won't last long, said the Squire.
despsiringIy.
why nOt?'
'Oh, don't know. I haven't any
faith In these sudden reforms
Mrs. Pratlet was silent; she thought
thankfully that, after all, Luke had
not spent the dollar. for liquor.
Six mOnths-six years-the time
sped along In days and weeks, almost
befor busy little Mrs. Pratlet knew it
was gone. The Ruddiloves had come
back to Sequosset. Luke had made
his fortune. so the story went, far
away into Ell Dorado, vulgarly phras-
ed out West, by the simple Sequos-
settlers.
They do say said Mr.. Bucking-
ham, that he has bought that ere lot
down opposite the Court House. and
he is going to build such a house as
never Tas.'
He must have prospered greatly
said gentle Mrs. Pratlet.
And his wife, wears a silk gown
that will stand alone with it's own
richness, said Mrs. Buckingham. Il
can remember when Luke Ruddilove
was nothing but poor, drunken orea-
ture.'
All the more credit to him now,
said Mrs. Pratlet, emphatically.
IT'S to be all of stun.' said Mrs.
Buckingham white marble mantels
and inlaid floors. And he has put a
lot of papers and things under the
corner one.'
The corner whst?' said Mrs. Pratt
let. laughing. Floor or niantel?'
Stun, to be sure,' said Mrs. Buck
ingham, like they do in public build
ings, you know
That is natural enough
We'll, it's kind o. queer, but Luke
Ruddilove never was like anybody
else. Folks think dreadful strange he
should put dollar bill in with other
things
Mrs. Pratlet felt her cheek flush
scarlet; involuntarily she glanced to
where the Squire was secretly check
ing off list OF legal items in the bill
he was making out against his client.
But the Squire never looked around,
and Mrs. Buckingham went on with
her never-ceasing flow of chit-chat,
and so the hot color died away in her
cheek. After all, the money had been
her own to give, and the oil-cloth in
front of the dining room stove had
answered very veil.
She met Luke Ruddilove that after |
noon, for the first time since his re-
turn to Sequosset-Luke himself, yet
not himself--the demon of intemper-
ance crushed out of his nature, and |
his better elementstriumphing at last.
He looked her brightly in the face,
and held out his hand.
Mary
I'm glad to see you here again,
Luke she said, TREMENDOUSLY.
And well you may be, he rejoined.
DO you remember thatstormy night,
Mary, when you gave me that dollar
bill, and begged me not to go to the |
tavern
Yes
That night was The pivot on which |
my whole destiny turned. You were |
kind to me, when every one spoke
coldly; you trusted In me, when all
other faces were averted. I vowed |
vow to myself to prove worthy of
your confidence, and / kept it; / did /
not spend the money; | treasured it |
up-and Heaven has added nightly |
to my little store. / put the dollar
bill under the cornerstone of my |
new house, for the house has arisen
from it alone. l won't offer to pay you
back, for l am afraid be said smil
ingly, the luck would go from me
with IL; but I'll tell you what 1 will
do, Mary: 1 will give money, and
words of trust and encouragement, to
some other poor wretch, as you gave
to me-
And Squire Pratlet never knew
what bis wife did with the dollar bill
which he gave here to buy anew piece
Of oil-cloth.