Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-16
CHAPTER I.

Psychological interest.
At that time was living in Paris as thu
clerk in the Office of an underwater in thu
Rue du Quatre Septembre. 1 was 80 year
of age.
My parents were dead. My one sister
lived with nv grandmother in the north o.
England. was exceedingly attached tc
both. 1 used to write every Thursday to my
sister, and every Sunday to my grandmother.
When could afford it, used to send a
little present to one or to the other. Thl:
was not very often, however, for 1 was moi
very rich. My salary amounted to 912 a
month, which was considered handsome.
My room cost me sos. a month; my board,
taken at restaurant in the Rue de Richie
lieu, came to e5; and Ispent e2 10s month
on clothes, for I was very particular about
preserving tidy and respectable appear
ance. invested 30s. every month in the
French Postofice Savings Bank in view of
my old age, and applied the remainder TO
minor expenses, pleasure and pocket money.
I was a man of great method, and had a
character with my employers for scrupulous
punctuality and grea: application. 1 do
not think that at that time had ever once
arrived late at the office, either in the morn
ing or after the hour allotted for dinner.
1t has been said that every man has three
characters, and that his own estimate OF
himself is as different from his real nature
as it is from that which exists in the opinion
OF his acquaintances.
However this may be, / believe / am
right in saying that at that time was a
man of scrupulous houesty, and if there
was one good trait in my character more
pronounced than any other it was that my
word was sacred to me. 1 should as soon
have thought OF breaking promise as of
dishonoring my signature.
l was not an ambitious man. My idea of
happiness in life was always to be able to
earn by work sufficient to live in decency
and comfort. 1 never could understand the
anxiety which is shown by so many people
to amass large fortunes. 1t always seemed
to me that the advantages of wealth can
hardly compensate one for the trouble of
managing a large estate. And another
thing which made me congratulate myself
on the mediocrity of my position was the
comparative solitude it procured me. IL
had been q rich man l should almost GER
talnly have been surrounded with friends.
Now, BY my nature 1 am of a retiring dis
position, and, though by no means misan-
thrope, preferred my own company, and
that OF my books, to society. l had only
one friend, and there was only one family in
Paris that 1 used to visit.
The friend was a fellow clerk in my
office. His name was Brunot. He was
much older than myself, but not being a
man of great capacity, was in a lower po-
sition than was. His salary was only e8
per month, and, as he was married and had
children, was hardly an adequate one. 1
had liked him from the first. His appear
ance was sympathetic, his views were in
unison with mine, and he was an excellent
player at chess, which is game was very
fond o. Indeed, it was Brunot who first
taught me to play, and thought could
never be sufficiently grateful to him for
having so initiated me.
We used to meet almost every evening,
now at his house, now at my room, for
the purpose of the game. We were of
about equal strength. 1 won as often as 1
lost.
1t was one morning about three months
ago that Brunot, in a moment when there
was no work on hand at the office, remarked
to me, after reading paragraph in his pa
per, 1.-THE lottery of the Decorative Arts So
ciety Is to be drawn in two months. see
that the committee has at last come to de-
cision. And not too soon either. bought
my tickets year ago."
''Do YOU mean to say" cried, ''that you
waste your money in lottery tickets?"
IT do indeed" he answered. 81 have 80
and nv wife has 10. The big prize is
800. OOOf. Just think how it would butter
our spinach if we were to win it, or even one
of the smaller prizes-say 50,O00t! And
there is really no reason why ] should not
be the lucky man. As my wife says, that
we are constantly complaining
about fortune we have never really given
her chance to show us any favor.
The chief entering just then, our con-
was interrupted, and / thought no
more about It's subject until that evening,
when, taking my seat at Brunot's chess
able. nv friend informed his wife, who was
arranging the figures on the board, OF the
decision of the committee. The lady-a |
AIDED blonde-clapped her hands. ''In two |
months" she said, 1--WE may be rich. 1t |
won't be TOO soon, after years of wretched- !
less. We should move into the country, |
ind would breed poultry"
'tWhile planted roses, said Brunot.
"And Monsieur would come down every |
Sunday to see u.s." added his wife.
YES" cried her husband, "and play |
hess with me in an arbor on the lawn. 1 |
zee it from here. 1t would be all covered |
With Virginia creepers. No-stay; think
should cover it. with Spanish haricot
,eans, which grow quicker and are OF
hicser foliage"
'Charley would go to the Lycee."
."Grandmamma would have a fixed al
owance."
1.-The girls would be dressed at the
Iouvre."
"And we should not forget the poor either.
would set aside so much every month for
hem"
"And 1, said the wife "would see that
very tramp who knocked at the gate got
ood bowl OF SOUP"
This lottery and the hopes he based on it
ere the incessant topic OF my friends con-
ersation on the following days. As the
ate fixed for the drawing approached he
ecame quite excited. I say him consult
lg the advertisement columns of his news
aper and marking such country houses as
ere advertised for sale as seemed likeiy to !
lit his requirements.
I am unable to trace the inception of the
cling that grew up in me, but | am
'hamed to confess that after listening to
is rosy predictions OF happiness Tor HIM
III for some weeks began to grow jealous, |
nd found myself comparing my very
umble lot with what would be his when
is expectations were realized. Thus, once
hence lunching meagerly at nv restaur-
ut in the Rue Richelieu, L remembered
linking that when Brunot had won the
-and prize his fare would be very superior
what was then before me. 1t did not
EN- fair-why should he be so favored? I
felt angry with him for having taken $
cLetS Althouuh T had no wish tn win |
le money myself, did not want him to s
i it. We we're all very comfortable {
gether before; why should he disturb US :
!, Ilnrinn iuto a,,athar s,ahara of lifa2 i ,