The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-06-23
A MISER'S DIPLOMACY.
Old Brigitte and Her Lucky Lot
terry Ticket.

Old Briaitte and Her Lucky Lot
terry Ticket.
Old Landry was thin, shriveled up |
little man, very rich, and so parsimoni- |
GUS that people said he could shave an
egg.
Since Che death OF his wife he had
lived all alone in tiny house in his ma |
tive village. We say ''alone," although |
he had an old servant with him, but |
Brigitte was of small account, little |
more valuable than the dog, perhaps,
but less than the donkey, for that cost
forty crowns. She had entered the |
Landry household as COW girl when only |
twelve years old. and had remained |
there ever since, and was a simple, hon.
est soul, with boundless7 admiration
for ''the master" He did not hesitate
to turn to good account her blind, dog
like devotion, and, as consequence,
Brigittes savings were not large,
though her duties were arduous.
you are good old FOOL he would
sometimes say to her, by the way of
recompense for her ceaseless industry,
and then her wide mouth would expand
slowly in delighted grin, which dis
played her toothless gums as she ex
claimed admiringly;
Master loves to make little jokes'
One day the miser thought he could
save u .nasons bill by repairing a
broken wall at the side of pond, but
while he was at work his foot happened
TO slip and he fell into the water just
where it was most deep. He went
foundering about for minute or two
calling for help at the top of his voice,
but no one heard him, and his strength
being exhausted he was about to sink
for the third time when Brigitte caught
sight of him, and, leaping into the pond
at the risk of her own life, she succeed
ed, after desperate efforts, in bringing
him to land. The old man was uncon-
scious, but Brigitte took him I'M
der her arm as il he were bundle OF
straw, carried him home and rubbed
him so vigorously that animation was
restored. When he opened his eyes the
good creature she'd tears of JOY, and
he had the delicacy not to mention the
fact of her having neglected to save his
trowel, which he had dropped in the
water, and which was great loss, be-
ing quite new. On the contrary, he
exclaimed, in a burst of grateful gen.
crosby:
''You saved my life, and shall not
forget 1t. 1 shall give you present,
Brigitte."
True to his word, the next day he
called her to him, and after some hest
tation drewout his Tong leather purse
from his pocket, and then, with as much
effort as If he were pulling tooth, he
took out n coin and handed it to her.
Twenty cents" he said, lover and
stand, this is not to be deducted; it is a
present Now do not spend it foolishly.
You can buy lottery ticket with it,
and perhaps you will win hundred
thousand francs!"
1t was the first time in his life that he
had been SO generous, and he could not
forget it, but seemed to take a tender
interest in the fate of his twenty-cent
piece. Again and again he asked the
old woman whether she had bought the
ticket.
Not yct, iudSttr, Wdo hCh uhoW OA,
every time he asked, but one day she
replied to his usual inquiry:
''Yes, master, have bought it."
.'What number is it?" he said.
Number thirty-four."
Take care that you do not lose the
ticket. l will lock it up in my closet
for you, if you like
.Oh, no, master, will not lose it,.
After that excitement matters re-
sumed their usual course in old Landy's
: house, plenty of work and very little
food continuing to fall to Brigitte's
share. The miser was beginning to
forget his own prodigality in rewarding
the servant, when one day, at the bar
ber's shop, where he had dropped in, as
usual, to read the newspaper without
buying il, he caught sight of a para
graph which gave him terrific shock.
1t was the result of the drawing of the
lottery, and one line stood out in flaming
figures which nearly dazzled him.
Number "a wins the grand prize Of
one hundred thousand francs!"
The miser uttered such cry as he
read, that the startled barber grazed
with MS razor bne ear Ol bHc SCHoOl
master, who was being shaved at that
moment.
What is the matter?" cried both men
at once.
"Oh, nothing, nothing answered
Landry, recovering his presence OF
mind, and then he readiusted his spec
tacles and read the line again, spelling
each word carefully. There was no.
mistake; number thirty-four, Brigitte's
number, had won the grand prize! He
put down the paper and rushed out OF
the shrr A. he strobe along on his home
ward way, he became conscious OF the
fact that old hrigitte, the drudge, was
now rich woman, and that 1t was BY
means Of his twenty-cent piece that
this wonder had come to pass. His
money, he reflected, had won the prize.
So, did not the fortune belong to him?
A dozen different schemes for possess
ing himself Of the money passed through
his mind, and at least he decided upon
a desperate plan.
We'll, Brigitte, any news?" he said,
as he entered his house, where the
woman was busy at her usual tasks.
No, master, except that one OF the
chickens has the pip"
Ut was clear that she had not yet
beard the. news, and the old man
a