The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-02-16
THE ONE-DOLLAR BILL.

none Of your mild, persistent patteringf
on the roof, but regular tempest, wild
deluge, rush Of arrowy drops and thous.
and 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 a sort Of sleepy satisfaction at the
crimson moreen curtains, and gray eat
fast asleep ON the hearth, and canary
bird rolled into drowsy ball Of yellow
down on its perch.
"This is snug" quoth the Squire. 'I'm
glad had the leaky spot in the barn fixed
last week. don't object to stormy night
once in while when a fellows under
cover and there's nothing particularly to
be DONE"
eyes, Mrs. Pratlet answered. She was
fitting about between the kitchen and sit
ting-room with Il great blue checkered
apron tied about her waist. ~ am nearly
ready to come in now. Well, wonder,' -
soto uoce, IF that was knock at the door,
or just little rush of the Wind.''
She went to the door, nevertheless, and
a minute or two afterWard she went to her
husband g chair. -"@ *"
''Joe, dear, it's Luke Ruddilove," she
said, half apprehensively. Tile Squire
never looked up from his reading,
'Frell him he has made mistake. The
tavern is on the second corner beyond"
But he wants to know if you will lend
him iol.r,' said Mrs. Pratlet.
"Couldn' yon Tell him no, without the
ceremony of coming 10 me? Is it likely
that should lend dollar, or even cent,
to Luke nuGdilove? Why, ia great deal
rather throw it among yonder red Goals
NO-of course not.
Mrs. Pratlet hesitated.
He looks so pinched and cold and
Wretched, Josiah. He says there is no
one in the world to let him have a cent?
Gall the better for him, if he did but
know it," sharply enunciated the old
Squire, eff he had come to that half u
dozen years ago, perhaps he would not
have been the miserable yagabond he now
is.'
"We used to 60 to school together"
said Mrs Pratlet, gently. ''He was the
smartest boy in the class .l ...~
'''rhat'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 lei him know he
had better not waste it coming here after
dollars"
Mrs. Pratlet went back to the kitchen,
where Luke RuGdilove was spreading his
poor fingers over the blaze of the fire, his
garments steaming as if he was
pillar of vapor.
"Then I've got to starve like any other
dog!" said Luke Ruddilove, turning away.
'sBut after all, don't suppose it makes
much difference if | shuttle out Of this
world to-day orto-morrow."
''Oh, Luke, no difference to your wife,"
s'She'd be better off without me-" he
said, down heartedly. --.-
"But she ought not to be-
"Ought and is are two different things,
Mrs. Pratlet. Goodnight. amt going
to the tavern, although I'll wager some
thing the Squire thought was
g A 80 Iot
should think SO, Luke -
Eyes, yes, Mary, ] don't say but what it
s,'' murmured Luke, in the same detected
tone he had used during the interview.
''Stop,'' Mrs. PratIet called to him, as
1is hand lay on the door-latch, in a low
voice. ''Here is a dollar, Luke, Dir. Pratt.
ct gave me for an oil-clothtogo infront Of
he stove; but will try aud make the old
one last a little longer. Luke, for the sake I
# your poor wife and little ones at home,
or the sake Of old times, try and do better.
Won't you?''
Luke Ruddilove looked vacantly at the |
lew bank bill in his hand, and then at the
blooming young matron who had placed it
there.
THANK you, Mary, will. God bless
7ou," he said, and creptou into the storm
hat reigned without. Mrs. Pratlet stood
ookng iii the kitchen fire.
IL dare say have donea foolish thing,
)ut indeed, could not help it. If he will
AXE ithonle and notspenl it at the tavern,
shall not miss my oil-cloth.'
And 1ner was q conscious flush on her
'heeks as if she had done something wrong
when she Joined her husband in the sitting
sGoin.
.'4YeIt,'' said Squire Pratlet, 'Shas that
Unfortunate gone at last?"
Yes"
'sTo the Stokes tavern, I suppose?"
ssI hope not, JOSIAH
'.l'm afraid it's past hoping for said
he Squire, Struggling his shoulders. But
Irs. Pratlet kept her secret in her own
leart.
It was six months afterwards that the |
Squire came into the dining-room where
lis wife was preserving great red apples
nto jelly.
"Well, weH,' quoth he, wonders will I
leyer cease. The Ruddiloves have gone
way
'sWhere %
ssI don't know-out West somewhere
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