The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-10-20

At the end Of two years Sally
began to feel little anxious. at
the end Of three little weary, at
the end of four alarmed.
Forty-eight months had passed
by, forty-eight drawings bad been
made by the Gumbo Lottery, and
forty-eight blanks had been drawn
by Simon.
One day he made his purchase
with trepidation, and returned
homo trembling; he had spent the
last pound of his poor wife's hoard!
He had bought his fiftieth ticket
in the Gumbo, and for the first
time his heart failed him he had
always expected prize before,
now he only looked for a blank.
He went into his small room.
Sally sat at her table sewing. She
looked up as Simon entered, and
her eyes filed with tears.
Husband she said, I've got to
ask you about the bank book. ]
hoped to let the money lie and
then add to it. You've got it safe,
l SUPPOSE
Yes, the book is safe,' said ST.
mon, with a dreary expression.
I'D like to see it, if you don't
mind said poor Sally. 1T seems
us if it would be a sort of comfort.
Simon took the book from his
pocket and handed 1t to her.
She opened it and glanced al it.
Then her face flushed and she
began to cry.
'Don'tr said Simon. Don't,
Sally !-don't cry. l meant it for
the best
Ifyou needed it, you were well
come. 1t belonged to you as
much as to me- said Sally; 'but
you might have mentioned 1t.
Id have been prepared
4 was so sure said Simon. so
sure
so sure of what 2 asked Sally.
OF the fifty thousand pounds,
said Simon; I expected it long
ago
You've never told me what you
expected it from,' said Sally. DO
you ever think it will be left to you?
Was it your fathers money? If
you'd tell me I could think it
over. What was it? You wouldn't
deceive me, and you are not crazy
but / can't think what you mean by
expecting fifty thousand pounds.
And, oh, 1 am so worried, Simonr
'Perhapsit may come yet, Sally
said Simon.
He took his handkerchief from
his pocket as he spoke and wiped
his wife's eyes with it.
AS be die so a bit of yellow
paper fell into her lap-the last
Gumbo Lottery ticket, bought
but an hour before.
She caught at it and her face
flushed again. She looked at her
husband with the CLEAN Of anger
IN her eyes, and cried out, sharp
ly:
is this it? Is this the secret
the fortune you've talked Of?
Are you crazy enough for this?
Have you been buying tickets
in that cheating lottery all these
years, and is my last pound, that
I see You have drawn from the
bank to-day, spent for that thing?'
Poor Simon! He stared at his
wife for a long time without an
swering; then he said, slowly:
Think of it-forty-nine blanks,
and every time expected prize
the capital prize. Think of NY
disappointment
4 can't think of anything ex-
cept that I've married d FOOL said
Sally. L could kill myself when
l think of it. l believe you mar
ried me to get that fifty pounds to
gamble WITH
Then she began to cry.
Yes, I've been fool he said;
but though the money made me
think of asking you to have me, l
meant to mako you rich. l did,
Sally I VOW 1 did. We've got
along very we'll. haven't we? l
think a great deal Of you. l
meant to do everything for you !;
but it's ali over now. | look at
that ticket, and ! know it's blank.
II should never buy another
never, never! You see, that dream
i told you once of my dream
anSeared as if il must come true :