The morning call., 1891-12-22
TIE LOTTERY TICKET.

The scene was not an uncommon one-a
tired mother trying to hush to sleep fret
full child. 1t was o'clock. almost tea time,
and Jane, her cook and maid of all work,
had taken this most inopportune hour to
have violent attack Of toothache and gone
bowling 10 the dentist.
Poor little Mrs. Seymour looked ruefully
around her sitting-room, strewn with the
days sewing. Not very inviting" she
thought; and she did like the house to look
bright and tidy when Tom came home.
Then her mind wandered back to her own
home, that she had left only two short years
ago to follow through life the man OF her
choice. handsome Tom Seymour. Her
parents had done all in their power to per-
suade her to wait awhile; at least, not TO
be in too great hurry to change her pleas
ant home for the uncertain one of Tom
StymouT'S making.
But what parent was ever eloquent enough
to convince a girl of the folly of such step
when a handsome, ardent lover talked of
"lOve in a cottage" by moonlight? Pretty
Kate Stanley proved no exception to the
general rule. So TO tears and entrealies h er
parents finally yielded, and the young
couple were married.
Tom had very good position as book
keeper in large wholesale dry-goods house,
and they set up housekeeping in pretty
cottage in the suburbs of Chicago.
Their cup of happiness, seeming full be-
fore, flowed over when at the end of q year
baby boy came to bless their home. Yes,
Mrs. Seymour, sitting tonight luliing her
babe TO sleep, assured herself that they had
been very happy; but she was tired, and
baby had been so crOssi That, perhaps.
was the cause of the homesck feeling she
,ffrlA -.
thought of her PARKWAY home, where she
had always been the petttd and spoiled
daughter, brought tears to her eyes and a
pain TO her heart that surprised her.
Sitting thus by the dying fire the babe,
now hushed to sleep in her arms, and
Delayed in tears. her husband found her
when lie came home at o'clock He was in
high good humor and greeted her brightly
"Nhat are you sitting here in the dark
for, kitten?" he said, STOPPING TO kiss her :;
then he started back, eXclaimlug, why,
wife, you are cryiDgl What is The matter?
ANY bad news from home? Or is the boy
sick"
At the mention of home Hates tears
flowed more freely than ever and threatened
10 deluge poor Tom, who had taken his tired
little wife on his knee. At last, between
tears and sobS, she managed to tell him her
troubles.
as that all. ?" lie said, when the
simple narration WAS ended, why, l
thought something terrible mad happened.
From the sound in the kitchen | Judge
Jane has come back-let us hope minus the
tooth. She can look after the little man,
and well lun around to the restaurant and
have something to eat In no time. So dry
your eyes, lite girl, and put on some wraps.
/ have piece OF good news for YOU"
Kate, feeling great deal relieved and a
little bit ashamed of her child shness, in a
few minutes joined him, looking as bright
and fresh as usual.
Twenty minutes later they were seated in
gayly lighted restaurant.
Now, Tom, am ready for good news"
said Kate, when they had given their order.
You remember that lottery ticket l
bought? You said it would be sure to hit,
because 1t ended with nine, your lucky
number"
"ot cOurse. I do. Oh, Tom, have you
heard from it?"
For answer he displayed an official list of
the months drawing. There. sure enough,
was the number they held opposite the cap
ital prize. Kate could hardly believe her
eyes, but sat staring at the paper in dazed
Wav until Tom, fearing that some one would
notice her manner, returned it to his
pocket.
She walked home like one in a dream,
only speaking once to ask her husband if
he was sure that 1t was all right.
LAS good as wheat in a MILL" be laugh
ingly answered
cue Hau NOTkeu SO DaTQ-haruer than
Tom kuew-to make their expenses come
within their means, that now, when the
need OF close economy was gone, she began
to realize how toilsome her life had been.
Just think. Kitten, no more worry for
You, trying TO make refractory ends meet.
and no more Uffce-work for me. l think I'll
go luto some nice paying business.
But Mrs. Seymour hardly heard him. She
was saying to herself, Now | can lake nv
baby out OF the city for this summer"
Two weeks later they were installed in a
large hotel at fashionable watering-place.
Nate would rather have gone to her fathers
house, where they could have enjoyed them
selves IN their own way, unhampered by
conyentionalities, but Tom declared that
they must not bury themselves-his wife
vas born TO shine in society, and she should
do So. Besides, he wanted to see little
himself.
For while Kate thoroughly enjoyed ex-
islence. The freedom from money troubles.
the gay. bright life charmed her. The one
1aw In her happiness was the fact that
ION went out great deal or was sur
rounded by a gay set of men. No matter
how late they entertained company he must
always 90 to the club for little while
lie told Kate not to sit up for him, so that
she rarely knew at what hour he came
home. Once. however, when she felt nery-
Gus and could not sleep she concluded to
await his coming. When he returned at
early dawn she hardly recognized her
handsome, genial husband so haggard and
disheveled he looked. He walked INSTEAD
lily, too, and she involuntarily put out her
hand to help him.
illP
But he angrily shook of her hand and
went past her TO his ROOM
That afternoon lie forbade her to sit up
Tor him again, and she never did, though
she often listened for his step until both
head aud heart ached.
Poor Kate. She had already found that
riches do not always constitute happiness
She looked forward with eagerness to their
return to the city, for then Tom would 20
INTO business and be surrounded by dir
Ierent influences. She had yet to learn
sipation it is hard to check him.
ne hrst week IN September found them
az nome, Dut not in the cottage they had
!eit. MIS- Seymour thought with a sign
mat perhaps 1t would be better if it were.
SStahy were her misglvlngs for the future
one leIt mat her happiness was daily Slip
ping away, and yet she was poweriess to
hold 1t. Alas! that lottery ticket had proved
anything but blessing. She would have
peen glad indeed to exchange her handsome
nome for her humble cottage-and her peace
OF mind. Poverty, though a tria, to one So
gently reared, had never caused the anguish
OF heart and mind that followed her newly
found riches.
Every day Kate would ask her husband
why he did not settle in business; but he
evaded her question, or gave some excuse.
The truth was that he had spent nearly ali
his money In one dissipation and another
This he did not dare tell his wife: he had
not the courage to meet the indignation he
knew he would see in her eyes. So he lei
himself DRIFT along, trusting to luck to win
wealth back again. "-''
Things had gone on In this way for three
months when Mrs. Seymour met her hus-
band In the hall one morning, as he was 90
ing out.