The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-17
BRIGITTE'S TICKET.

kept through the winter, Pere Landry was
one Of those miserly old peasants OF whom
1t is said they would somehow manage to
clip wool off an egg. Since the death OF
his wife he had given up farming" and
lived like a gentleman on his income, all
alone in a small house at the end of the
village When l say "alone," that is a
form Of speech only, for he had with him
his old servant, Brigitte but the poor
woman counted very little-a trifle more
than tho dog, somewhat less than the don
key, which had cost 100 francs. She had
been with Landry ever since she bad first
come, at twelve years of age. to tend the
cows, and was now 30 accustomed to the
ultra parsmonious habits Of her employer
that they seemed to her perfectly natural.
The faithful, somewhat simple minded
creature had also an unbounded admira-
tion for the master, who without scruplc
took advantage of her good will for his
own profit.
1t is certain that Brigitte had not made
her fortune in the miser's service; but the
good woman found herself sufficiently
compensated for her zeal when the old
peasant would say in a friendly way
"You're great goose, Brigitte, my girl,
take my word for It," A broad grin would
then spread over her homely features.
"He, he, he, my master; you must always
have your little jokel''
One day, while saving a mason's bill by
repairing himself the wall which inclosed
his property, Landry lost his balance and
fell backward into the pond beneath Just
where the water was deepest. He strug-
gled for several moments, calling loudly
for help, but no one heard his cries At
length, his strength being exhausted, he
was about to disappear for the last time,
when Briggite perceived him. The girl,
regardless Of her own safety, threw herself
courageously into the pond, and succeeded
in bringing her master to terra firma.
The old fellow was unconscious. She
carried him like a child in her arms to his
room, put him to bed, and with warmth
and friction finally succeeded in restoring
him. When he opened his eyes the excel
lent creature shed tears of Joy.
"Oh, my master, how glad l am you were
not drownedp'
The old man was glad also He re-
GREETED, though, having lost his trowel,
which had fallen into the water at the
same time as himself, but he had the deli
cacy not to speak of that Indeed, in a
first outburst of gratitude he said with
emotion;
"It is you who saved me. l shan't for
get it, Brigitte; you hear me, girl. I'll
make you present"
"Oh, master, it isn't worth while; don't
mind it."
81 shall make you present. I tell you"
Indeed that very evening, after thou
sand hesitations. he called Brigitte, and
pulling from his pocket his long leather
purse, he took from it, with the grimace
of one whose tooth is being extracted, a
twenty cent piece.
"There, Brigitte, that's your PRESENT.
Over and above your wages, You under
stand, over and abovei" he insisted
"Now don't go and waste IT,"
In comparison with the service rem
dered the recompense certainly did not be-
tray unbounded munificence; therefore,
Pere Landry, to augment the value Of his
gift, was careful to add
at is just the price OF lottery ticket.
Buy one, and you will win hundred
thousand francs!'
1t was the first time in his life that old
Landry had given way to such liberality.
He remembered it for many days after;
took deep interest in the fate of his TWEEN
ty cent piece, md asked the servant in
Vulnerable times il she had bought her
lottery ticket.
Not yet, MASTER" was the inyariable
reply.
At length, to put an end to his questions,
which seemed repeated with mathematical
regularity, she decided to satisfy the good
mans curiosity.
"Yes master, I've bought one."
"Ahl what number~
Number 34"
"That's good, that's good" said the old
man, profoundly impressing the figure on
;rL - l.. - I OIL
"Never fear, master"
because II you thought you might"-
"welli"
"Well, you could give it to me. I'd keep
1t for you in my drawer"
II shant lose it."
The habits Of Landry aud his servant,
which had been disturbed by this event,
then resumed their usual course. Little
food, still less sleep and a prodigious
amount Of work. Landry himself was al
most consoled for his prodiRality when,
ono morning at the village barber's, where
he went from time to time to read the Ca
zette, gratis, he experienced fearful emo
tion.
The newspaper gave the result of the
lottery drawing, and the story was headed
with these words, which shone like charac-
ters Of fire before the spectacles OF the daz-
zled good man. "No. 81 wins the first
prize of 100000 francs" Landry gave such
shout that the frightened barber, turn
ing suddenly about, cut a bit of the ear of
the schoolmaster, whom he was shaving.
What on earth is the matter with you,
PeIe Landryf'
Nothing, nothing at all, replied the old
fellow, who had already regained his COM
posure.
Carefully adjusting his spectacles, he
then slowly reread the announcement syl-
liable by syllable.
That time he was sure he had made no
mistake. No. 34 the number Brigitte had
bought. He let fall the paper and, COM
pletely overwhelmed, started of ut full
speed for home.
Brigitte had made ready her masters
frugal breakfast Of cheese and walnuts.
The old man seated himself at the table,
but he could not eat, he was too agitated.
"Are you sick. masteri" anxiously in
quired Brigttte.
"Non
Nothing has happened to your"
Nothing at all, tell you," he replied
angrily.
For several days he watched Brigitte
closely. Did she know that she had won a
hundred Thousand francsS But no; the
oeANah't ibhoAdhb VI VIC eCTutluJ " WHICH
she was being subjected, accomplished her
daily tasks as usual; with undisturbed
tranquility and good humor Pere Landry
was on hot coalsl
One day he risked asking hers
There's nothing new, Brigitte, my
girlih
Nothing at all, master, 'cept a hen
that's got the pip"
Without 1pubt gba 6Id not L ppxy. hue
old Landry could not make up his mind to
tell her II seemed to him monstrous that
another should have such a marvellous
windfgll the product of his twenty cent
eieae, his own money!
Time was fast passing, however, and 1t
was stated in the newspaper, of which he
had bought a copy, that all prizes not
claimed within three months would be-
come the property Of the company
Father Landry no longer ate or drank
or slept. He seemed to grow moro wizened