Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-06-29
THAT ONE DOLLAR BILL.

| How II did ram that November nlSnI!
None of your undecided showers. with
hesitating intervals, as it were, between;
none of your mild, persistent gatherings
on the roof, but regular tempest, a
wilo deluge, a rush of Arrowy drops and
thunder of opening floods!
Squire Pratlet heard the rattling up
against the easements, and drew his snug
easy chair closer to the fire-a great,
open mass Of glimmering anthracite,
and gazed with sort of sleepy. retiec-
tive satisfaction at the crimson moreen
curtains, and a gray cat fast asleep on
the hearth and the canary bird rolled
into drowsy ball of yellow down upon
its perch.
This is snug" qnoth the Squire /;
'Tm glad 1 had the leaky spot IN the
barn fixed last week. don't object to
stormy night once in a while when II
fellows under cover, and there is moth
ing particularly to be done"
Eyes, Mrs. Pratlet answered She was
fitting about Letween the kitchen and
sitting room with o great blue checker
ed apron tied about her waist. 81 am
nearly ready to come in now. Well, L
wonder" soto voce, 'if that was a
knock at the door or just little rush of
the wind"
See went to the door. nevertheless,
and minute or two afterward she went
to her husbands chair.
"Joe, dear, it's Luke Ruddilove, "she
said, half apprehensively. The Squire
never looked up from his reading.
'Tell him he has made mistake.
The tavern is on the second corner be-
yond."
'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 I should lend dollar, or
even a cent to Luke Ruddilove? Why,
I'd a great deal rather throw it among
yonder red Goals. No-of course not.
Mrs. Partlet hesitated.
"Re looks so pinched and cold and
wretched, Josiah. He says there is no.
body in the world to let him have a
cent.
"AIl the better for him, if he did but
know it," sharply enunciated the old
Squire. eff he had come to that half
dozen years ago perhaps he would not
have been the miserable vagabond he
now is.
~"We used to 60 to school together. "
said Mrs. Pratlet, gently. HE was the
smartest boy in the class.
''That's probable enough" said the
Squire, ''but it don't alter the fact. He
is q poor drunken wretch now. Send
him about his business, Mary, and If
his time is OF any consequence, just let
him krow he had better not waste ii
coming here after dollars.
And the Squire leaned back in his
chair, after positive fashion, as if the
whole matter was settled.
Mrs. Pratlet welt back to the kitchen
where Luke Ruddllove was spreading
his poor fingers over the blaze of the
fire, his tattered garments steaming as
if he was pillar of vapor.
s.Then I've got to starve like any
other dogI said Luke Ruddilove, turn.
ing away. "But after all, I don't sup
pose it makes much difference if
81 uffie out of this world to-day or to-
morrow"
.'Oh, Luke, no difference to your
wife ?"
Shed be better off without me, he
said down heartedIy.
"But she ought not to be"
"Ought. and Is, are two differen
things, Mrs. Pratlet. Good night;
amt going to the tavern, althought III
wager something the Squire thought
was."
"And isn't it natural enough that h'
should think so, Luke?"
"Yes, yes, Mary; I don't say bu
what it is, murmnred Luke in the same
detected tone he used during the inter
view."
''Stop," Mrs. Pratlet called to him al
his hand lay on the door latch. in low
voice. "Here's dollar, Luke. MIR
Pratiet gave it to nae for an oilcloth t.
90 in front of the parlor stove; but L will
try and make the old one last littl
longer. And Luke, for the sake of you
poor wife and little ones at home, ant
for the sake of old times, do try and d.
better. Won't you?"
Luke Ruddilove looked vacantlY q
the new bank bill in his hand, and the
at the blooming young matron who ha
placed it there.
"Thank you, Mary. I will. Go
bless you," he said, and crept out int
the storm that reigned without. Mrs
Pratlet stood looking into the kitchel
fire.
"I dare say I've done foolish thing