The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-05-22

lou re DetteI OH WITHOUT nOne.
Simon neither desired wine or cigars,
nor any other luxury of dissipated youth;
but if he could have had the price of 8
lottery ticket without working for 1t, he
would have rejoiced.
In his early boyhood he had dreamed
that he had drawn lucky number. He
believed in dreams-that dream in par
ticular.
1t had the effect upon him that having
his name in a will has upon many a
young man.
He saw no need of learning trade,
of going into shop or setting himself
to earn his bread anywhere or in any
manner.
With his first pound he would buy q
lottery ticket, draw the fifty thousand
prize, reimburse his aunt for all that she
had expended upon him, be very jolly and
generous to everybody, and live luxu-
riously every day." like the town mouse
in the fable.
One afternoon as he sauntered in,
sleepy-eyed and dreamy, he found Sally
Corkindahl at the tea-table.
She had been sewing for his aunt all
the afternoon.
Meanwhile he also had been very busy.
He had found an imaginary pound,
bought ticket, drawn the prize, and be-
slowed upon his aunt a little carriage,
two cream-colored horses and black
silk dress.
Her delight over the unexpected pres
ent and wonderful news had kept him
from opening the canned fruit as he had
promised to do.
Mrs. Wheeler, who knew nothing of
this fine waking dream, desired to scold
him.
However, Sally's presence prevented
her from doing so. She contented her
self with talk at him over the dress
makers shoulder.
She praised the girls industry, her
prudence, her economy.
THAT the way to get on" she said
=" that's the spirit like. Independent
from the time you lost your parents, and
making little savings all the while.
Don't say, only fifty pounds Every
little makes a mickle, I've heard my
grandmother say. Many one that has
earned double your money hasn't saved
penny"
Simon listened.
Fifty poundsr' said he to himself.
"Why don't she buy lottery ticket,
draw prize, and stop sewing? l would. !"
He looked earnestly at Sally. The
color came into her thin cheeks.
She was not often the object of such
intent regard.
Could it be that this young man ad-
mired herp
Sally Corkindahl felt sure that this was
so when Simon offered to see her home
that evening.
That was the beginning of it.
The end was that wedding which had
awakened such establishment at Painsted.
The wonder that industrious Sally
Corkindahl had married such an idle
fellow, who certainly could not take care
of her, was only matched by the wonder
that handsome Simon Wheeler had mar
ried that plain, utterly unattractive Sally
Corkindahl.
Mrs. Wheeler resented it highly.
+" Since you We chosen q common seam
stress, and married her without hint to
me, you can take care of her." she said;
81 WON'T
So Simon had sauntered over to the
one room which Sally hired, with his
portmanteau in one hand and an um-
brella in the other; and Sally still went
out to work, while Simon sat ut the win
dow and looked at his paper.
He had told her he expected to come
into fortune, and she received his state
ment with the credulity of love, and was
content to pinch and toll in the mean
| time.
She had placed her savings book in his
hands.
All she had was his by the law of her
love, and before their wedding-day was
over Simon had bought his first ticket.
1t was that that made his heart beat SC
wildly, not the touch of her honest hand
upon.his own as she met him in the gloam-
ing; but he said to himself, .sThere
shan't be any more drudgery for Sally
when I..draw the capital prize"
There are twelve months in the year
each month the great Gumbo Lottery
had a drawing-each month Simon
Wheeler bought ticket and drew Q
blank.
Sally knew nothing of it.
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, for.
ever talked of his expectations, and
praised her industry; forever looked al
the paper, and made little sums in lead
| pencil on Sally's pine table.
n Il q
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 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 trem.
bling; he had spent the last pound of his
poor wife's hoard!