, 1884-01-12

The Dutch government maintains
lottery, and derives a considerable
revenue therefrOm. The drawing
is conducted by series Of numbers,
and is prolonged for several weeks.
The capital prize of 100000 florins is
always drawn on the last day. Now
the ticket which Aunt Ess bought
bore a number which had not been
drawn on the previous days, and
therefore had a chance in the great
and last chance.
Fancy for yourself how they must
have been building castles in the air
for few days before the drawing!
"If you see me coming in car
riage tomorrow night" said Karel
to Aunt Ess, "then you may be sure
our ticket has drawn the capital
prize"
And next day Aunt Ess was at her
door very early in the morning.
How impatient she was! Every
time she saw Il carriage approaching
her heart palpitated violently.
Luckily there were but few carriages
that day upon the Amsterdam quays.
At last, however, her brain sudden
ly reeled. She felt that she had
turned white as death. A vigilantc
(cab) had hailed right before her
door.
She caught a glimpse of Kareps
head in the doorway. Inone second
all the projects nurscd for so many
long years rushed through her mind.
1t was hers at last, then-that happi-
ness 50 earnestly prayed for. There
could be no question about it; they
had won in the lottery; for Karel
was in Il carriage. Then she ran to
the door of the cab, which opened
slowly. Karel's face was terribly
agitated.
"What hast thou ?" she asked, all
trembling. as it the capital prize"
"No," he replied; "but l have
broken my leg"
She nursed him there, in her shop
gave up her armoire to him, and
contentcd herself with sleeping on
chair When he was fully restored
again, he recommended his cigar
trade.
And thus it was that years and
years passed by, that disillusiOns sue
cee,cd to disillusiOns, without ever
breaking down their faith in a bet
ter future; and side by side they
grew old, incorporating that their
brows were wrinkling--that she was
Gi-that he was 70, and that even
their health was growing feebler and
feebler
Aunt Ess was very sick, but she
said nothing about it to anyone.
She was dying With consumption,
but mastered herself sufficiently to
carry on her little business in some
sort Of fashion. After all, she suf-
fered very little pain, never muir
INJURED, and never even dreamed Of
calling in doctor.
One day, feeling herself weaker
than usual, she retained her be-
trothcd with her, although he had
an order for twenty-five cigars TO
fill. They talked a great deal. Their
eternal hopes seemed nearer of real
ization than ever. Indefatigable as
ants, the two lovers had been finally
able to lay some money by. They
now needed only half the sum-that
would only be the work Of a few
years.
While they were talking together
the night came-a lukewOrm aut-
umn night. Aunt Ess was feeling
well.
81 have an idea ~ she said. "See,
we are old now, after all. 1t is very
likely we shall have no children.
Suppose we content ourselves with
the little we have-tO get married
upon ?"
He thought that was very reason
able. What was the use, in fact, of
waiting any longer? Yes,yes they
would marry without further delay.
She had taken his hand in hers,
pressed it with force-then she had
closed her eyes.
"Well, then, it is settled" he said
to her: 81 will have everything ar
arranged at once"
She did not answer him.
lie went out on tip toe, very softly
thinking her fast asleep.
She was dead.
When | returned to Amsterdam
the last time l saw at my friends
house a tall and powerfully built old
man, all clad in black.
1t was Aunt Ess' betrothed.
The poor woman's relatives had
taken care of him they surrounded
him with with kindly care and af-
fectiOnate consolation. He is still
one of the family circle. e.-TrdnsLdted
from ArROld MOrtier.