Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-07-14
O13,O.S.
By w. Busnach.

! tlemen. But | swear on my honor
that | will never touch a domino
again in my life!"
So saying, NJ Moulinier strobe In
dignantly out Of the Cafe du Com
merce. This cafe stood land doubt
| less still stands.-on the rue Saint
| Sever, Rouen
NJ. Theophile Moullnier. the propri-
/ etor of confectionery shop, the Bon
/ Bonbon, In the abovc-named city, had
| had a habit for the past twenty years
| Il going every evening to play dom
| mos with NJ Rigaudon. the halter, NJ
/ Florant, the hosier. and NJ Briancois,
/ the clothier
For many years. NJ. MouIinier had
had most excellent luck. Nearly
, every evening he won about sixty
centimes. This was fortunate; for
Nine. Eudoxie Moulinier, his wife, al
| lowed him to indulge in his favorte
pastime only on condition of its cost
| ing him nothing.
| Remember, Monsieur Mouliner,"
she said severely, "the only excuse for
| gambling is always to win"
But nothing lasts forever here be-
low! And one fine day--one sad day
rather-ill-luck made sudden descent
upon the unfortunate confectioner,
and marvels of skill became necessary
to enable him to conceal the deficit
in his purse from his ill-natured wife.
When he was out in the street on
this particular evening. he said to
himself with a heavy heart:
Eighty confines, That makes
more than thirteen francs | have lost
since the first. And 1t is not the eigh-
teenth yet l shall have to confess all
to Eudoxie"
Soon after ner marriage with NJ
Moulinier, seeing what sort Of a per-
son she had to deal with. the wife at
, once hung upon the wall of the con-
iugal wardrobe the trousers she was
henceforth to wear herself If her
mild husband had wished to regain
/ lost authority he would have needed a
supply of courage and will which was
entirely lacking in his nature. There
fore, Nine. Moulinier became absolute
mistress of the house. the shop and
the cash box.
These things understood. one can
easily comprehend the anguish to
which the proprietor of the Bon Bon
bon was prey
He walked slowly along towards his
| home. Almost mechanically, he paus
ed before the show windows of to-
| bacco-shop. AS he did not smoke, he
had never set foot in the establish
ment. In the window was displayed
poster which read as follows:
The Mezidon Lottery.
200 900 francs in prizes
One prize of 10000 francs.
Two prizes of 10000 francs.
Other prizes ranging from 5000 to
100 francs.
Tickets one franc.
Drawing June Is. without postpone
ment)
n. B.-All prizes paid in cash.
Below this seductive poster, on
glass shelf, in the midst of heap of
pipes, tobacco pouches and amber
mouth-pieces lay a pile of tickets for
the aforesaid lottery.
AS ten o'clock sounded from all the
clocks in the neighborhood, one could
hear these inarticulate words from the
lips OF the confectioner:
100000 francs!-it is not probable
but it is possible, after all. II not
100000, why not 100000"
When anyone mentioned a lottery
that door opened by chance upon
fortune-before his wife she invariably
replied;
Eyes, yes; | know how one can win
money in a lottery. have found out
the way to make sure!"
How do you manager" inquired
some innocent listener
It never buy a ticket-so I win the
twenty sous | did not invest in one"
After hearing this, NJ. Moulinier
never thought of risking one frame
in any enterprise of this kind.
This evening, however, while re-
D
which his love for dominos had
plunged him, this advertisement of
the Mezidon lottery had an indescrb-
able fascination for him. He contin-
ned his monologue in the following
fashion:
With twenty sous | might gain a
| hundred-fold. ten hundred-fold, one
hundred hundredfold. In a month
/ from now my deficit would be made up
and | should have nothing to fear
i from Eudoxie's anger.
After a pause, he continued; How
/ the name OF that lottery, Mezidon,
/ fascinates mel 1t might be that 1t is
the voice of fate, saying to me: Buy
a ticket, Buy a ticket!
So, after this mental tempest NJ.
Mouliner crossed the threshold Of the
tobacco shop.
Clnrinde the confidential clerk OF