The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-03-04

very goodI" said her master, repeat
ing the number to impress it on his
mind. Be careful not to lose itfr
"Never fear, master"
"Because if you do fear sometimes to
lose it
"Eh, masterG"
well, you need only give it to me
and l will hide it in my bureau"
"Oh, / shall certainly not lose itin
Tho habits of daily life in the little
household, disturbed by these events.
soon settled into their regular course /;
eating sparely, very temperate drinking,
few hours for sleeping and many for
work.
Farmer Landry was almost consoled
for his forced prodigality, when one
morning, in the BARRIERS shop, where he
went from time to time to read gratis the
Gazette, a terrible emotion struck him.
He read the result Of the lottery drawing
and at the head these words, like lines of
IRE, flashed before the dazled spectacles
Of the good man:
"Ihe humber t~hirty-four has won the
great prize Of 100, 900 francs. The old
gentleman gave such a sudden cry that
the startled barber, in turning towards
HIM, almost clipped a corner from the
ear of the schoolmaster, whom he was
shaving.
"What's the matter, Father Landry9"
he asked.
"oh, nothing, nothing, answered the
farmer, who quickly recovered his calm
ness.
Rearranging his spectacles, he read
again slowly, spelling each syllable to
"make assurance doubly sure"
There was no mistake; the number "a,
Brigitte's ticket, had won. He dropped
the journal and started off In great agi-
tation towards his house. Brigitte had
prepared her masters frugal breakfast oil
nuts aud cheese. He placed himself at
the table, but he could not eat, for his
emotion seemed TO clinch his throat and
prevent him from swallowing.
"What is the matter, master2" anx-
iously asked Brigitee.
"Ncthing at ALL"
"You are not illf"
mo, ! tell you," he answered angrily.
During several days he secretly OBJ
served the poor woman. Did she know
that she had won 100, 900 francs9 No
indeedi Entirely ignorant that she was
the object of such close scrutiny, she per-
formed her daily tasks with her usual
good humor, while her master was In n
fever Of unrest.
One day he dared to asked her, tremb-
ling while doing SO:
us there any news, my good girlw
"Nothing, master, except that one of
the hens has the pip"
Very goodl She knew nothing abou:
her good fortune. AS for announcing IL
to her--that was entirely too much for
his nature and long life habit. 1t seemed
to him monstrous that another should
profit by this marvellous windfall of a
hundred thousand francs, produced by
his piece of twenty sous-his W bright,
silver bitl Time was heightened from
days to weeks. A notice in the journal
Che really bought a copy of the one con-
tanning the annouucement) formally
stated that after a delay of three months
the unclaimed prizes would be employed
for a new capital.
The poor man had no more appetite
for eating or drinking, or power to sleep;
he was dying of uneasiness. Twenty
times he was on the point of speaking of
the ticket TO Brigitte; aud twenty times
he bit the tip of his tongue. One word
only might put his servant in the way to
learn her good fortune.
One morning, after an unusually Sleep
less night passed in turning and return
ing in his bed, he arose with a smile on
his thin lips. He had found the key to
the problem. He commenced by order
ing Brigitte to KILT the plumpest chicken,
and TO cook it in the oven with a good
piece of pork. And finally, he gave his
servant money to buy coffee and sugar.
Brigitte asked herself if her master had
gone madG
''Surely some demon has taken pos
session of his mindl" she thought with
a thrill OF fear.
1t seemed a fearful increase of the
malady when the old gentleman, after |
having ordered her to lay the table for
two, asked her to take her place as his
vis-a-vis.
A"Ob, master, I should never, never
dare to do thatl"
''Sit down there, I tell you, foolish
woman"
Brigitte had heard that one must not
oppose the wishes of maniacs.
30, without answering, she seated her
self in great embarrassment on the edge
of the chair.
"Come, eat and drink, Brigitte, my
glrl," he said, filling her plate gener-
ously.
However, this was not the last surprise
for Brigitte. When the coffee was
served the old gentleman suddenly said
"You see, my good Brigitte, this
means that | am going to get mar
'Indeed, master, it is not yet too late;
If you are old, you are still hale and
we'll, " answered the simple servant, APP
provingly.
'Since that is your view, if you like,
will marry each other"
After the roast chicken and pork, and
the coffee and sugar, Brigitte expected to
hear almost any strange thing on the
part of her master. But thatl Oh, not
"You are joking me, masterl"
"Not at all" answered the old peas
ant. He explained that he was growing
old, was without children or family, and
did not wish tn die alone like a dog. Be
side he was GRATEFUL He could not for
get that Brigitte had saved his life-his