Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-08
THAT ONE DOLLAR BILL.

uealtAllnH intervals, rs 10 were, be-
tween; none OF your mild. persistent
patterings ON tho roof. but n regular
tempest, wih deluge. rush Of ar
rowy drops and thousand Of opening
lloodsl
Squire Putlet heard the rattling up
against the easements. and drew his
snug. easy chair closer 10 the lire-a
great open mass Of glimmering anthra-
cite, and gazed with n sort Of sleepy
satisfaction nc the crimson mOreen cur
tains. and q gray cat fast asleep on the
hearth, and canary bird rolled into
drowsy ball Of yellow down upon its
perch.
"This is snug" Quoth the Squire,
'Im glad had the leally spot in the
barn fixed last week. / don't object to
stormy night once In n while when n
fellows under cover, and there's moth
ing particularly 90 be DONE"
EYES," Mrs. Pratlet answered. She
was fitting about between the kitchen
and sitting room with great blue
checkered apron tied about her waist.
"I am nearly ready 10 come in, now.
Well. / wonder" soto uoce, 'if that
was a knock no the door, or just little
rush of the wind"
She went to the door, nevertheless,
and n minute or two afterward she
went 10 her husbands chair.
"JOe. dear, It's Luke Ruddilove,"
she said. half apprehensively. The
Squire never looked up from his read
ing.
"Tell him he has made a mistake.
The tavern Is on the second corner be-
yOnd."
"jut he wants To know if you will
lend him u dollar" said Mrs. Pratlet.
Couldn't you tell him no, without
the ceremony Of coming TO me? Is il
likely that / should lend dollar, or
even u cent. 10 Luke RuddlOye? Why.
I'd u great deal rather throw IL among
yOnder red Goals. No-of course not"
Mrs. Pratlet hcsitated.
"tle looks 50 pinched and cold and
wretChod, Josiah. lie says there is no
one I'm the world 20 let him have
cent"
"All the better for him. If nc did but
know t." sharply Cnunciated the old
Squire. eff he had come TO that half
dozen years ago. perhaps he would
not have been the miserable vagabond
ne now is"
ave used To 60 TO school together"
said Mrs. Pratlet, gently. "IIe was
the smWest boy in the class"
That's probable enough" said the
Squire. "but it don't alter the fact.
He Is u poor. drunken wretch now.
Send him about his business. Mary. and
u his time Is OF any consequences, Just
let him know ho had better not waste
II coming here after dollars"
Mrs. pratlet went back 10 the kitch-
en-, where Luke RuddilOve was spread
ing his poor gngers over the blaze of
the Ore. hiS tattered garments steaming
as II he was pillar of vapor.
"Thcn I've got 90 starve like any
other dOgT' said Luke RuddilOve. turn
ing away. "But after all. don't sup.
pose Il makes much difference III II
shuttle out Of this world to-day or to-
morrow"
"Oh. Luke, no difference to your
wifoY'
"She'd be better of without me-" he
allus uoWll uCliteUly.
"But she ought not 90 be-"
"Ought and Is are two different
things. Mrs. Pratlet. Goodnight. II
ain't going TO the tavern, although I'll
wager something the Squire thought
was."
"And isn't it natural enough that he
should think 50. LukeY"
~Yes, yes. Mary, / don't say but
what 10 is murmured Luke, i'm the
same detected tone he had used during
the interview.
"SlOp" Mrs Pratlet called TO him, as
his hand lay on the dOor-latch. in a
low voice. "IKere Is n dollar, Luke,
Mr.. Pratlett gave me for an oil-cloth
to 60 In front OF the stove; but 1 will
try and m Ike the old one last little
longer. Luke, for the sake of your
poor wife and little ones nc home, for
the sake of old times, try and DO better
Won't youy'
Luke Ruddiloye looked vacantly at
the new bank bill in his hand. and
then ut the blooming young matron
who had placed IL there.
THANK you. Mary, l will. God
bless you,' he said, and crept out into
the storm that reigned without. Mrs.
Pratlet stood looking nto -, kitchen
Gre.
IL dare say have done foolish
thing. but. indeed. l could not help il.
IL he will take it home and not spend
1t ut the tavern, / shall not miss my
oil CLOTH"
And there was 4 conscious flush ON
her cheeks as ifshe had done some
thing wrongwhen she Joined her hus-
band IN the sitting room.
"Well," said Squire Pratlet "has
that unfortunate gone at last ~
"Yes."
"To the Stokes tavern, supposeY"
III hope not, Josiah"
I'm afraid its past hoping for" said
the Squire, Struggling his shoulders.
But Mrs. Pratlet kept her secret in
her own heart.
III was six months afterward that the
Squire came into the dining room
where his wife was preserving great
red apples into jelly.
"Well, we'll" quoth he, "wonders
will never cease. The Ruddiloyes
have gone away"
"Where2'
II don't know-Out West somewhere
with a colony. And they say Luke's
not drauk a drop OF whisky for six
months"
Il am glad of that" replied Mrs.
Pratlet.