Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-08-26
talk at him over the dress makers shoul-


the time you lost your parents, and max
ing little savings all the while. Don't say
''only fifty pounds Every little makes
Il nickel, I've heard my grandmother say
Many a one that has earned double you
money hasn't saved penny"
Simon listened.
Fifty pounds!'' said he To himself
"Why don't she buy lottery ticket, draw
a prize, and stop sewing9 | would
He looked earnestly at Sally. The colol
came into her thin cheeks.
She was not often the object of such in
tent regard.
Could it be that this young man admired
her2
Sally Corkindahl felt sure that this was
So when Simon offered to see her home thai
! evening.
/ That was the beginning of it.
The end was that wedding which haC
awakened such astonishment at Painsted.
! The wonder that industrious Sally Cork
! indahl had married such an idle fellow,
| who certainly could not take care of her, was
only matched by the wonder that hand
some Simon Wheeler had married that
plain, utterly unattractive Sally Corkin-
dahl.
Mrs. Wheeler resented it highly.
''Since you've chosen a common seam
treSs, and married her without hint to
me, you can take care of her." she said :
II won't"
So Simon had sauntered over to the one
room which Sally hired, with his portman.
teau in one hand and an umbrella in the
other; and Sally still went out to work,
while Simon sat at the window and looked
at his paper.
lie had told her he expected to come
into fortune, and she received his state
ment with the creduhty of love, and was
content TO pinch and toll in the meantime.
She had placed her savings book in his
hands.
All she had was his by the laws of her
love, and before their wedding day was
over Simon had bought his first ticket.
1t was that that made his heart beat so
wildly, not the touch of her honest hand
upon his own as she met him IN the gloam-
ing; but he said to himself. There
shan't be any more drudgery for Sally
when l draw the capital prize"
There are twelve months in the wear
each month the great Gumbo Lottery had
a drawing-each month Simon Wheeler
bought ticket and drew a blank.
Sally knew nothing of i.
The anniversary of their wedding came.
On that day Simon bought two tickets, and
in due course of time drew two blanks.
He was always kind to his WIFE forever
talked of his expectations, and praised her
industry: forever looked at the paper, and
made little sums in lead pencil on Sally's
pine table.
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-elght blanks had
been drawn by Simon.
One day he made his purchase with trep-
idatiOn, and returned home trembling; he
had spent the last pound of his poor wifes
hoard
lie 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 at
Simon as he entered, and her eyes filled
with tears.
Husband" she said, 'G've got to ask
you about the bank book. l hoped to
leave the money lie and then add to it,
You've got it safe, suppose.
eyes, the book is safe," said Simon,
with dreary oppression.
"pd like to see it, If you don't mind"
said poor Sally. 'It seems as if it would
be a sort of comfort"
Simon took the book from his pocket
and handed it to her.
She opened it and glanced at it.
Then her face flushed and she began to
cry.
"Don't!" SAID Simon. Don't, Sallyl
don't cry. meant 1t for the best"
''If you needed it, you were welcome.
1t belonged to you as much as to me, said
Sally; ''but you might have mentioned it.
I'd have been prepared"
t'l was so sure" said Simon. $50
sure"
$50 sure of what p asked Sally.
''Of the fifty thousand pounds" said
Simon; 81 expected it long ago"
"You've never told me what you expect
ed it FROM" said Sally. ''Do you ever
think it will be left you? Was it your
fathers money If you'd tell me l could
think it over. What was lt2 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 so
worried, Simon!"
'Perhaps it 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 he did 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, sharply:
''ls this it? Is this the secret-the for
tune you've talked of? Are you crazy en-
ough for this2 Have you been buying
tickets in that cheating lottery all these
years, and is my last pound, that see you
have drawn from the bank to-day, spent
for that thing?'
Poor Simon He stared at his wife for
long time without answering; then he
said. slowly:
''Think of it-forty-nine blanks, and
every time expected prize-tEe capital
prize. Think of my disappointment"
81 can't think of anything except that
I've married fool, " said Sally. 81 could