Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-03-06

i
the fate of his bright silver pieco He
often asked the servant if she had yet
bought her lottery ticket.
''Not yet, MASTER" was her unvarying
answer.
But at length she decided to end this
constant questioning by pacifying him.
So one day she replied:
"Yes, master, have bought one."
''Indeed! What number9"
"Oh, the number is 34."
every good" said her master, repeat
ing the number to impress it on his
mind. Be careful not to lose itp'
"Never fear, master"
"Because if you do fear sometimes to
| lose it."
Sch, master9"
swell, you need only give it to me
and will hide it in my bureau"
"Oh, shall certainly not lose it'll"
The 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 barber's shop, where he
went from time to time to read gratis the
Gazette, terrible emotion struck him.
He read the result of the lottery drawing
and at the head these words, like lines of
fire, flashed before the dazled spectacles
of the good man:
''The number thirty four hasswon 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 corner from the
ear of the schoolmaster, whom he was
shaving.
"What's the matter, Father ,Landry2"
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 breakfastof
nuts and 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.
'fWhat is the matter, masters" anx-
iously asked Brigitee.
'Nothing at all"
xtUa,, 90 ,.o< ;Ilo,S
.'No, tell you," hetanswered angrily.
During several days he secretly OBJ
served the poor woman Did she know
that she had won 100000 francs2 No
indeed Entirely ;gnorant that she was
the object of such close scrutiny, she per-
formed her daily .asks with her usual
good humor, while her master was in
fever of unrest.
One day he dared to asked her, tremb-
ling while doing so:
''1s there any news, my good girl2"
"Nothing, master, except that one of
the hens has the pip"
Very good She knew nothing abou:
her good fortune. AS for announcing it
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
hundred thousand francs, produced by
his piece of twenty sous-his own bright,
silver bit Time was heightened from
days to weeks. A notice in the journal
Che really bought copy of the one con-
tanning the announcement) formally
stated that after delay of three months
the unclaimed prizes would be employed
for 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; and 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 smile On
his thin lips. He had found the key to
the problem. He commenced by order
ing Brigitte to kill the plumpest chicken,
and to cook it in the oven with good
piece of pork. And finally, he gave his
servant money to buy coffee and sugar.
Brigitte asked herself if her master had
gone made
"Surely some demon has taken pcs
session of his mind'' she thought with
thrill of fear.
1t seemed 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.
S"Oh, master, should never, never
dare to do that!"
.'Sit down there, tell you, foolish
womanW
Brigitte had heard that one must not
oppose the wishes of maniacs.
So, without answering, she seated her
self in great embarrassment on the edge
of the chair.
"Come, cat and drink, Brigitte, ny
girl," he said, filing her plate gensr-
ously.
| Hoyynvar thic yyas not the Last surprr 40