The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-10

Mrs Clarence Fitzgerald was the next
person announced-a lady Of the utmost
style, whose acquaintance Mrs. Whar-
ton had just succeeded 10 making.
"Hou stare at my being out in this
storm, my dear, but am raising a dol
lar subscription for poor musician who
has just broken bis arm. OF course 1
may depend upon you"
Mrs. Wharton colored.
81 will send it around in the morn
ing"
That won't do" said Mrs. Fitzger-
aid, struggling her shoulders. al am de-
termined to settle the business to-day"
81 am very sorry said our mortified
/ heroine, "but have not q single dollar
in the house"
Mrs. Fitzgetald bowed coldly; evil
IDENTIFY she did net believe the prOtesta-
tion, and Mrs. Wharton saw her enter
her carriage and drive away, with the
comfortable consciousness that she
would be invited 10 no more Of Mrs.
Fiizgerald's delightful exclusive parties.
Mrs. Wharton was now considerably
annoyed.
"TO think a dollar should be such a
useful thing" she muttered to herself,
taking up her portfolio.
y nAll-AAuleutu AElNEA lal AhNAN NIN
TO her sister, who was the wife Of a cler-
lgyman out West, with flock Of little
children around her. The last words
she had written were: 'I send you a
dollar to buy a doll for the baby-my
little name-sake."
"How provoking" she exclaimed.
81 can't even finish my letter for lack oi
the everlasting dollarr
She leaned back in the velvet cushion
Of her chair, drowsily watching the
blaze and listening to the patter of the
rain on the window, and fell fast asleep
Where was she? In the spectre boat
Of Charon, gliding over the Styx; and as
the bark touched the shores OF the Other
world, the ghastly tOll-gatherer ex.
tended his hand relentlessly.
'Nonr fare, il you please, ma'am."
Mrs. Wharton had her fare ready; she
handed il up, eager to pass through th'
gates where she could see the musica
wave of the palm trees, and sparkling
glittering tides that flow beneath tht
shadow.
"Short by a dollar, ma'am; short by
the single dollar you cheated the poo
seamstress out of. You cannot enter
! Mrs. Wharton then drew out a hund
red-dollar bill. The grim ChaTOn shool
] his head.
''If you had ten thousand they woul'
not do; nothing will serve our purpos
but that one dollar"
Charon turned the boat briskly around
Mrs. Wharton was just opening her lip
to utter a wild cry Of anguish, when sh
awoke.
She shuddered. Somehow the dolla
had assumed, preternaturally, yer.
large dimensions.
"Charles! Charles ~
How welcome were the footsteps @
her husband upon the stairs.
"Well, what is it ?n
"Have you a dollar ?n
!. "Half dozen of them, IL you want
"But 1 only want one-just q dolla
y bill"
He gave it to her, and she immedi
ately rang the bell.
e "John, want you to put on your In
, dia rubber coat, and take this bi
y around to Mrs. Leggett, and tell her
u is what l owe her."
. John departed, and Mrs. WhartO
II breathed easier.
r "PerhAps they will let me in the gate
) now" she said, dreamily.
-, "AIy dear, what do you mean ?n de
:, manded her astonished husband.
MIS-. " n0i eou eoIN nun wy
her days adventures, and the drear
u that closed them.
3 "Helen," said her husband, gravely
. "let this be a lesson to you, never {
neglect the just dues of the poor. A do
u lar is not much to US; TO them IL may b
i the last frail bulwark between them an
!; starvation"
u Bat there was no danger of Mri
Wharton ever forgetting the lesson SD
2 had received.