The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-01-13

now. Well, wonder, s0tto p0ce, III
that was = knock ut the door, or just
little rush Of wind"
She went 70 the door, nevertheless.
and minute or two afterwards she
went 10 her husbands chair.
"Joe, dear, it'a Luke Rudilove," she
said, half apprehensivsly. The Squire
nsver looked up from bis reading.
Tell hin be has made mistake.
Tie taverA ia on the eoSner beyond y
"Bu. he wants to know il yeu will
lend him Q dollsr."
"Couldn't you have told him no.
without the ceremony Of coming 10 mel
Is il likely that should lend dollar,
or even a cent, to Luke Rudilovel
Why, I'd q great deal rather throw il
among yonder red Goals. No-of
course notF'
Mira. Praslet hcsitated.
"Hs looks 80 pinehed aud cold and
wr.tched, Josiah. He says there 10
nobody in the world to let him have .
cent"
GAN tbs better for himself, IL be did
but know IT," sharply enuneiAted the
old Squire. "If hs had ceme TO that
halEa-dozen years ago, perhaps he
would not be the miserable vagabond
he now il"
1--WE used 10 60 10 school together,
said Mrs. PrAtlet, gently. "He was
the smartest boy In the class"
That's probable enough" said the
Squire, "but il don't alter the fact.
He il . poor drunken wretch now.
send him abeut bis business, Mary,
and II his time 10 Of any consequence,
Just LED him know he hAd better no,
waats IL coming here after dollAra."
Mrs. Pratlst vent back to the
kitchen, where Luke Rudilovs wal
warming his poor fingers over the
blaze Of the Ere, bis tsttered garments
stsaming As IL he was pillar OF vaPor.
1--WE got to starvo like any other
dogP said Luke Rudilovs, turning
away. "But after all, / don't suppose
il makes much difference whether
shuttle out of this world to-day or TO
morrow"
"oh, Luke, no difference TO yOui
wifer
"She'd be better of without me-" he
said, down-heartsdly.
"But she ought not to be-"
"ought and 80 are too diGsren
things, Mrs. Pra.let Goodnight.
ain't going to the tavern, although II
wager something the Squire thought
was."
"And isn't il natural enough h'
should thiak 10, Luksi"
ayes, yes, Mary, l don't say bu
what il is" murmured Luke, in th'
same detected tone he used during tn,
interview.
"Stop, Mrs. Pratlet called TO him
in low voice, rs his hand lay on th,
door latch. "Here is . dollar, Luke
Mr.. Pratlet gave me for "a oil cloth
to 20 in front Of the stove, but / vii
try and make the old one last littl,
longer. And Luke, for the sake o
your peer wife and. the little ones a
home, for the sake Of old times, try
and do better, woA't youi"
Luke Rudilove looked vacantly O.
the new bank bill in his hand. anC
then at the blooming young matror
who had placed it there.
| THANK you, Mary, l will. Coo
bless you," he said, and crept out int.
the storm that reigned without.
az dare say I've done very foolish
thing, but indeed / could not help it
If he will take it home and not spsnt
it at the tavern, l shall not miss m.
oil CLOTH"
And there was conscious flush Of
her cheeks as il she had done some
thing wrong, when she joined her hus
band in the sitting room.
"Well," said Squire Pratlet, cha
that unfortunate gone at lastP
"Yos."
"To the stoker's tavern, suppasei
Il hope not, Josiah"
'I'm afraid it's past hoping for,
said the Squire, struggling his shoulder
But Mrs. Pratlst kept her secret i
her own heart.
It was six months after that th
Squire came into the dining rcon
where his wife was preserving gres
red apples into jelly.
"Well, WE'LL" quoted he, "wondel
will never cease. The Rudilovs's haV
gone away"
"Where2"
d "I don't know-out west scmewhei
. with csIony. And they say Luke
/, not drank drop of whisky for 81
months"
"I'm glad of that" replied Mr.
Pratlet.
"It won't last long," he suggeste
n despairingly.
Q "Why mott"
FL "Oh, don't know. ! haven't al
faith in these sudden reforms.
Mrs. Pratlet was silent; and 81
: thought thankfhlly that after ell Lul
had not spent the dollar in liquor.