The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-01-14
THELOTTERY TICKET

% you want TO hear the story OF
my marriage? Listen then, and you will
say that it is an odd one. 1t was late
near midnight-one cold, stormy night
l came out of cafe when slender
little girl, with disheveled hair and
wrapped in an old ragged shawl, beg
ged me to buy the tenth of a lottery
ticket. took it and gave her an enor-
nous sum-in her estimation-for it, l
gave her peso. Her sweet smile fully
repaid my generosity.
lt will bring you luck, senorito,
she affirmed, with the soft, clear pro-
nunclation of the girls of Madrid.
Are you sure?' asked jokingly,
as L slipped the ticket in my overcoat
pocket and folded my silk muffler close
ly around my throat to protect me fomr
the chill December winds.
VI course I'm sure of it-just as
sure as you are that you have bought
the ticket. The number-you watch the
list when it comes QUITS 1920. the
exact number of the years of my life,
IA, and the days of the month over, 90.
l wish l had bought the whole of the
ticket instead of the TENTH
"'Well, child, l responded, with the
generosity and tranquility of an old
gambler who knows that he has never
gained cent, don't worry. If the ticket
draws prize, half of the tenth is for
you and half for me-.
Senorito, for heavens sake tell me
your name, your street and number. 1
know that in four days more we shall
win the grand prize.
Il hesitated for moment, then told
her my name and where lived. Ten
minutes later, when hurried through
the Puerta del Sol to the Gale de la
Montera, 1 had forgotten the incident.
flour days passed. I was still in bed
one morning, about 10 o'clock, when
heard the grand list being called out
through the streets. I sent my servant
out to buy one, and when he brought it
to me my eyes Immediately fell upon
the number of the first prize. I thought
1 must be dreaming. No, was awake.
There 1t was-1, 420, my tenth part of
the ticket, the age of the seller and good
luck for her and me! Those blessed
ciphers represented many thousand
duros (dollars).
II got up hastily, completely over
whelmed by my good luck. My legs
shook and cold perspiration came out all
over my body. Do me the justice to be-
lieve that I never for one moment
thought Of taking back my offer. The
little girl had brought me luck she had
been my mascot. 1t was a business
transaction. We must divide the gains.
"Then it occurred to me to take a
look at the ticket. remembered per-
fectly that I put it in an outside pocket
Of my overcoat in order not to unbutton
it. Where was my coat? All, there,
hanging on it's hook searched that
overcoat thoroughly. Not a sign of the
ticket!
II shouted furiously for my man and
asked him if he had shaken my coat out
of the window. OF course he had shaken
it and brushed it carefully, but he had
seen nothing drop out of the pockets,
absolutely nothing. I looked at him.
His face showed his veracity and honor.
During the five years he had been in my
service had never detected him in the
smallest theft.
II blush now when I think how I
swore at that poor fellow. was frantic
over my loss. / lighted candle and
searched in every corner, emptied my
wardrobes looked over my old papers
and carefully investigated the waste pa
per basket. Nothing, nothing My hands
were burning, my mouth dry, my heart
filled with rage.
Late in the afternoon, was lying
on the lounge, smoking and still pom
dering over my horrible disappointment,
when l heard sharp ring at the bell,
the sound of discussion at the door,
the protestations Of some one who
wished to enter, and then there appeared
before me the little lottery ticket seller,
who threw herself into my arms, with
tears i'll her eyes, crying, 'Senorito,
senorito, we have drawn the grand
prizep
"Alas for me! l fancied that 1 had
already gone through the worst of my
trouble, but l was mistaken. l had to
tell this poor little girl, stammering
like criminal all the while, that had
lost the ticket, that could not find it
anywhere and therefore she could expect
nothing from me.
81 dreaded to see the look of sorrow
and distrust come into those beautiful
brown eyes.
"But the little girl, raising her head,
looked at me serenely and said, shrug
ging her shoulders, We'll, senorito, you
and were not born to be millionaires.
"How could repay the confidence of
that disinterested child? How could l
make fitting compensation for what l
owed her-yes, what owed her.
my remorse and the conviction of
my grave responsibility weighed upon
me so heavily that / sent her to my
mother to be well brought up. educat-
ed her and finally married her.
"And the most notable part of this
story is that l have been perfectly hap
Ply ever since From the Spanish For
Short Stories.