Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-07-29

The habits of daily life in the lit
tie 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 BARRIERS shop where
he went from time to time to -ead
gratis the Gazette, terrible emotion
shook him. He read the result Of
the lottery drawing and at the head
these words, like lines of fire, flashed
before the dazZled spectacles OF the
good man:
THE number thirty four has won
the great prize Of 100000 francs. "
The old gentleman gave such a sud-
den cry that the startled barber in
turning toward him, almost clipped
corner from the ear of the school,
master whom he was shaving.
whats the matter, Father Lam
dry" he asked.
''Oh nothing, nothing" answered
the farmer, who quickly recovered his
calmneSS.
Rearranging his spectacles, he read
again slowly, spelling each syllable to
''make assurance doubly sure"
There was no mistake; the number
81, Brigitte's ticket, had won. He
dropped the journal and started off
in great agitation towards his house.
Brigitte had prepared her masters
frugal breakfast of nuts and cheese.
He placed himself at the table, but
he kcould not eat, for his emotion
seemed to cIinch his throat and pre-
vent him from swallowing.
What is the matter, Master?"
anxiously asked Brigitte
Nothing at all"
"You are not iIl?"
mo, 1 tell you," he answered
angrily.
During several days he secretly OBJ
served the poor woman. Did she
know that she had won 100, 900
francs? No indeed? Entirely ignor-
ant that she was the object Of such
close scrutiny, she performed her
daily tasks with her usual good
humor, while her master was ip a
fever Of unrest.
One day he dared to ask her,
trembling while doing so:
''Is there any news, my good girl?"
Nothing, Master, except that one
of the neuS has the pip"
Very good! She knew nothing
about her good fortune AS for an
nouncing 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 100, 900
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
(he really bought copy of the one
containing the announcement form
ally stated that after a 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
sleepless night passed in turning and
returning in his bed, he arose with a
smile on his thin lips He had found
the key to the problem. He COM
menced by ordering Brigitta to kill
the plumpest chicken, and to cook it
in the oven with good piece of pork
In the meanwhile, he brought from
the cellar, where it was hid behind
the fagots, a BOTTLE of old wine. And
finally, he gave his servant money to
buy coffee, sugar, and brandy.
Brigitte asked herself if her master
had gone mad:
Surely some demon has taken po-
session of his mind" she thought
with a 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.
'Oh, Master, should never, never
dare to do that"
''Sit down there, 1 tell you, you
foolish woman!
Brigitte had heard that one must
not oppose the wishes of maniacs.
So, without answering, she seated
herself in great en Embarrassment on the
chair.
'Come, eat and drink, Brigitte,
my girl" he said, filing her plate
generously.
However, this was not the last sur
price for Brigitte. When the coffee
was served the old gentleman sud-
denly said:
"You see, my good Brigitte, this
means that l am going to get mar
ried!"
Indeed, master, it is not yet too
late; if you are old, you are still hale
and we'll, answered the simple ser
want approvingly.