Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-20
THEHIGHEsT PRIZE.

perty beloging to the noble family OF
Tours mobiles de Fleucar was considered
to be the most secure and valuable In
Sprir but political vlcissitud and other
misfortUnes gradually wasted it. The
lastsmarQus Of Iours mobiles, sperdthrlfb
and T0ue, who used TO give great cOuse
for gossip at the court, finished by making
ducks and brakes Of it. When the marquis
Of Tours-nobles was about sixty years Old,
be determined TO retire TO his estate
FueGcar, the only unmortgaged property
which he had, and there devote his Whole
attention 10 taking care Of his health,
which was not less impaired than his
fortune. As Fuencar did not produce
enough to allow him to i've in luxury, he
determined TO regulate his household
affair 50 that he might not lack any Of
the comforts Of lie. So he provided
himself chapa: Il who in ADDITION to cele-
braItng mass on Sundays and holidays,
woula play whist and checkers with
MaJquis He would also Tegale
him With the latest news from
the % itical journals, and make remarks
on t...r contents. He had, beside the
chaplin a steward ar butler, who collect
ed tla rents most rigidly and overlooked
the farming; a stout and plagmatic coach
mar. who sOImnly drove the two mules
hitched TO the family coach; hOusekeeper,
quIer and sOllCltouS, not young enough 10
be dangerous, nor Old enough to be repul
sive; 4 vaIent, whom he had brought from
Maulid. a reminder as we'll as a relic Of
the Il sjpated life he had led but who bad
now reformed as ruuch as his master, and
was is discreet and quick as ne had ever
beer; and lastly, cook, Clean as a smeIt,
with wonderful skill in cooking all the
dishes of the old fashioned Spanish
cuisine, which satisfied the marquis aE-
petite without impaIriDg his digestion.
Win such excellent functiOnaries, the
maIqd SIS household affairs ran ON as
smCu,biy as we'll regulated watch, and
he te.t more than ever rejOiced to think
that lie bad abandoned the temptations of
Mad~'d to cast anchor at Fuencar. His
health improved, and his sleep and diges-
tion we're duly regulated.
II the marquis lived we'll his servitors
were "ot 30 badly off, either. So that they
might not leave him, he paid them higher
wages than anybody else paid in that
province; and, furthermore, he was always
shOwcring presents and other kindnesses
upon them, consequently they Were de
lighted with their master They had lit
tie work to do, and that was we'll regulat-
ed and methodlcaI.
1t was exceedingly cold last December,
and tae country surrounding Fuencar was
covered three feet deep with snow. The
marquis, Sunable TO drive out as usua,
would sometimes descend to the farm
kitchen, fleeing from solitude, and in
stinctiyely seeking social intercourse.
Here he would warm his hands before the
fire while his teeth chartered with the cold,
and join in the laughter which the over
seer and the old shepherd excited with
their cownish pranks. He also observed
that the cook had beautiful eyes,
Among all the things they talked of, he
heard that his servants intended to clRb
together and buy lottery ticket for the
Christmas drawing
Very early on the following day the mar
quis sent a telegram to a ueighbOring city,
and that same evening the good natured
gentleman entered the kitchen furnishing
some papers, and announcing TO his do
mestIcs with great glee, that he had full
filed their desires by taking a ticket in
the next drawing, of which ne would give
them two-tenths.
When they heard him, they burst into
cries Of jov, and blessed him heartily,
with the exception of the shepherd an old
and waggish but sagacious man, who
shook his head, Saying that anybody who
took shares in ticket with gentleman
drove away good luck. His remark dis
pleased the marquis greatly, and he re-
torted by saying that the shepherd should
not have any share in his ticket.
The marquis did not sleep as well as usu-
at that night. Some troublesome thoughts
kept him awake. He did not like the
VIII ol, I, L
talked about the money they might get
These people "aidithe marquis to HIM
self, IF they could fill their pockets, would
leave me in the iurch. And what plans
they are making! Caledonia, the coach,
man, spoke of setting upa tavern in order
to guzz(e down wine without doubt. That
stupid Rita the housekeeper, wants tc
open boarding house, Jaclnto, my
valet, kept quiet. but he kept looking al
the cook out of the corner of his eye b
the way, the cook is quite good looking.
BAH"
As the marquis said 'Bahr' ne turned
over IN bed and wrapped the bed clothes
around mis- ears, for the cold crept in al
his neck.
well, what do car9?' he continued;
they will not draw the nigh prize at all,
and they will have to wait for what
leave them when | die" A few moment;
later the marquis was sound asleep anG
snoring loudly
The lottery drawing took place two
Gays later, and Jaointo, who was as smart
as steel trap, arranged it so that hi.
master should send him at that time to tht
city after something that was needed
Night came, and still Jacinto had not re
turned, although he had left the house a
dayLraak.
The servants were gathered together In
the kitchen as usual, when they heard tbs
sound of horses boots on the fresh-falier
snow, and man, whom they recognized
as JacinGo, fell IN their midst like bomb
skel. he was pale and trembling, all
cried, in faint voice: The highes
prize!
The marquis was in his study, with hi
legs wrapped up in a thick shawl and en-
gagged In smoking cigar, while the chap
lain tickled mis- ears with the politica
news of the day, taken from Ell Siglo
Suddenly he stopped short and both list