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

Short, thin, dry and wrinkled as an
apple that lay wiUhered during long
winter such was the good man,
Farmer Landry Indeed, he was one
of those close-fsted old peasants of
whom it is graphically said that they
can shave something from an egg
shell.
Since the death of his wife he had
retired from agriculture and lived
alone in little house at the end of
the village
And yet not entirely alone, for he
had with him his old servant Brigitte.
But the poor woman counted for so
littre in the household, little above
the dog, but not so much as the
donkey, that cost I20 francs. She
entered his family at the age Of II to
guard the cows, and had been there
ever since She knew no other family
life than this one, and the exceeding
parsimony of the master, seemed Ito
her entirely natural. She was now a
tall. hale woman of fifty, red-faced,
uare-shouldeIed, with feet and
hands that might have been the pride
OF pugilistic trainer. While exact
ing very little in the way Of compen-
sation. she drudged like pack horse;
for, indeed, she could not do other
wise in Farmer Landry's house. Be-
sides, in her simple mind existed a
canine attachment and real admira-
tion for her master, who was not
ashamed to take advantage Of her
good nature.
OF course, in the service Of this
miSer Brigitte had not earned fort
une. But the honest creature was
amply satisfied when the old peasant,
in patronizing tone, praised her
zeal: What good, simple creature
you are, Brigitte, are you not?"
Then the good wOman's mouth
would open into loud laugh.
lie! he! he! master! You have
always your little manner of joking;
he! he! he!"
One day while Farmer Landry was
himself replastering his garden wall,
so as not to pay the mason, he made
a false step and fell into the pool just
over the point where the deepest hole
was. He splashed wildly about for a
few moments, calling vaInly for help
with all the power Of his lungs At
last worn out by his efforts, he was
about to sink from sight when Brig
lite at last heard him. The devoted
creature cOurageously jumped into
the water, at the risk of drowning
herself. She succeeded in pulling
him to the bank; he was entirely un-
conscious, but she raised him in her
strong arms, as she would child, put
him to bed, and with rubbing and
remedies recalled him to life. On see
ing him open his eyes the good Brig
lite shed tears of Joy.
"Ah, good master, how glad l am
that you are not drowned and buried
in that hole"
The old peasant was glad of it, too,
although he had one lively regret
the loss Of his troWel, which fell into
the water at the same time with him
self. However, he had the decency
not to express the wish that Brigitte
should return and jump in after that
also. Indeed, in the first impulse of
gratitude, he said to his servant with
a touch Of emotion:
: lit is you who pulled me out of the
hole; shall never forget it, my good
girl, you may be assured Of that
am going to make you present"
fhnrn -
need of that"
''But 1 tell you will give you some
thing; don't doubt it,"
And really, the same evening, after
a thousand hesitations, he drew forth
his long leather purse and called
Brigitte to him. While making a
grimace like one having a tooth
drawn, he selected a silver piece of
twenty-five cents.
Here, Brigitte, is your present 1t
shall not be counted in your wages,
you know. Oh, no, this is extra out.
side of your wages DO not be ex-
travagant with it; that would be
sin.
For the service rendered it was not
uGbrldled generosity on the part or
the giver, and the former had some
dim intimation of the fact for he
added las if to enhance its value):
sit is just the price of lottery
ticket Buy one, my girl, and you
may win $40, 000."
1t was the first time in his life
that the poor man allowed himself to
be so liberal, so the thought OF it
haunted him for long time; he con-
stantlY wondered about the fate of
his bright silver piece. He often
asked the servant il she had yet
bought her lottery ticket
mot yet Master" was her un-
varying answer.
But at length she decided to end
this constant questioning by pacifY-
ing him. So one day she replied:
"Yes, Master, have bought one"
''1udeed! What NUMBER"
'Oh, the number is "a.
"VerY good!" saiu her master, re-
peating the number to impress it on
his mind ''Be careful not to lose
itw
''Never fear, master"