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

At the end of two years Sally
began to feel a little anxious, at
the end Of three a little weary, at
the end of four alarmed.
Forty eight months had passed
By, forty-eight drawings had 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
home trembling; be had spent the
last pound of his poor wife's hoard!
He had bought his fftieth ticket
in the Gumbo, and for the first
timo 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 filled with tears.
Husband she said, I've got to
ask you about the bank book. ]
hoped 10 let the money lie and
then add 10 it. You've got it safe,
1 suppose
Yes, the book is safe,' said ST.
mon, with dreary expression.
I'D like to see it, if you don't
mind said poor Sally. 1T seems
as 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 at it.
Then her face flushed and she
began to cry.
sDon'tp said Simon. Don't,
Sally !-don't cry. l meant it for
the best
IF you needed it, you were vel
come. It belonged to you as
much as to me- said Sally; but
you might have mentioned 1t.
Id have been prepared
Il was 80 sure said Simon. so
sure
so sure of what p asked Sally.
OF the fifty thousand pounds,
said Simon; L 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 l 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, am 30 worried, Simonr
'Perhapsit may come yet, Sally
said Simon.
He took his handkerchief from
his pocket as be spoke and wiped
his wife's eyes with it.
AS be did so a bit of yellow
paper fell irto 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 l expected prize
the capital prize. Think of ny
disappointment
4 can't think of anything ex-
cept that I've married a FOOL said
Sally. 4 could kill myself when
l think of it. | believe you mar
ried me to get that fifty pounds to
gamble WITH
Then she began to cry.
Yes, I've been a fool,' he said ;
but though the money made me
think of asking you to have me, |
meant to make you rich. l did,
Sally; I VOW l 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 all over now. l look at
that ticket, and | know it's blank.
1 should never buy another
never, never! You see, that dream
Il told you once of my dream
appeared as if it must come true ;
but my luck is bad, / see that