Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-02-26
That One Dollar Bill.

How it did rain that November night !.
None OF your undecided showers, with
hesitating intervals, as it were between ),
none of your mild, persistent patterings
on the roof, but regular tempest, wild
deluge, a rush of arrowy drops and a thun-
der Of opening floods
Squire Pratlet heard the rattling up
against the easements, and drew his snug
easy chair closer to the fre-a great open
mass Of gimmering anthracite, and gazed
with sort of sleepy, reflective satisfac-
ton at the crimson mOreen curtains, and q
gray cat fast asleep On the hearth, and the
| canary bird rolled into a drowsy ball of
yellow down upon it's perch.
This is snug.' quoth the squire I'm
glad had the leaky spot in the barn fixed
| last week. | don't object to q stormy
night once in while when fellows un-
Ger cover, and there is nothing particular
| ly to be DONE"
| Yes" Mrs. Pratlet answered. She
was fitting about between the kitchen and
sitting room. with great blue checked
apron tied about her waist. Il am nearly
ready to come in now. Well wonder"
soto voice, ''if that was knock at the
door, or just a little rush Of the wind"
She went to The door, nevertheless and
a minute or two afterwards she went to
her husbands chair.
Joe, dear, it's Luke Ruddilove, she
said, half apprehenslvely. The Squire
never looked up from his reading.
Tell him he has made mistake. The
tavern is on the second corner beyond.
But he wants to know if you will lend
him dollar, said Mrs. Pratlet.
Couldn't you tell him no, without the
ceremony of coming TO me Is it likely
that should lend dollar or even cent,
to Luke Ruddliove: Why, I'd great
deal rather throw i; among yonder red Goals.
No-of cours. not.
Mrs Pratlct hcsitated.
''Hc looks SO pi chcd and cold and
wretched, Josiah. He says there is no.
body in the word to let him have a cent. !"
.'All the better for him, if he did but
t know IT," sharply cnunciated the old
dozen years ago, perhaps he would not
have been the miserable vagabond he now
is''
.'We used 10 60 to school together, u
said Mrs. Pratlet, gently. lie Was the
smartest boy in the class. "
That's probable enough, said the
Squire, but il don't alter the fac,. He is
a poor drunken wretch how. Send him
about his business, May and if his time
n is Of any consequence, just let .hlm know
he had better not waste it coming here
= after dclar>
J, And the Squire leaned back iu his chair,
: after positive fashion, as if the whole
matter was settled.
Mis-. Pralvt went back to the kitcher
where Luke Ruddilovc was spreading his
poor fingers over the blaze OF the fire, hi
lattereu garments stean.ing rs if he was
pillar OF yapur.
Then I've got to starve like any othe
o dog ~ said Luke Ruddilove, turning away
q But after all, don't suppose it make
q much difference if | shuttle out OF thi
?. world to-day or tomorrow.
: '!Oh Luk,-no difference TO your wife:
10 Shed be better OFT without me,
,ss sald, down heartedly.
rs But she ought not to be-
u ought, and is, are two different thing!
Il Mrs. Pratlet. Good night amt goin
I Is the tavern, although I'll wager som,
Thing the Squire thought was"
And isn't it natural enough that |
should think So Luke
Yes yes, Mary; don't say bu, what
;. Is. muImured Luke, III the same dejecte
tone he had used during the interview
STOP Mrs. Prat!et called TO him
lis hand lay on the door latch, in 10
=. voice. Heres ID dollar. Luke Nj
nj iratlet gave i, TO me Tor al olicloth TO
cd IL front If the parlor stove bu, will Il
and make the old ose last q little longe
And Luke, for the sake Of Your poor WI
and little ones al home, anu for the sake
Old times, Go Try and do better. Woi
YOU
Luke Ruddilove looked vacantlv Ut I,
new baCk bill IN his haud, and then u, [,
- blooming young lna,ron who had placed
=, there.
os, '.Ihapk you, Mary, l will. God bic
IN YOU. he said. and crept out into the s,oI
~ ,ha, reigned without. Mrs Par,!es s,o
~. locking INTO the kitchen fire.
an an Il dare say I've done tolish thing
s. iuteed could not help il, ]. he will OF
e.. e.. take /, home and not spend i, a, the tave
.l'y | shall no, miss my oilclo,h.
lcu And there was a conscious flush on /
-e.G si checks, as il she had done somethi
sho wrong, when she joined her husband In
AZ. sitting room.
M.ll' said Squire Praile,, has Il