Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-14

1
On the morning of June 16. he wen
down about five o'clock in the morn
ing TO open the shop, watching mean
while for the carrier of the Petit
Rouennais so as to see the result Of
the drawing Of the evening before.
"ThePetit Rouennais! News from
Paris. Sitting Of the Chamber. Muir
der in the Cour des Fontaines! Draw
ing Of the Mezidon Lottery" shouted
a newsboy at the top of his voice.
At last, he possessed it. This list
so anxiously waited for, With a
humping heart he read on the third
page Of the journal:
By Telegraph.
Drawing of the Mezidon Lottery
The First prize was drawn by No
221,527. Prizes Of 10000 francs were
drawn by Nos. 291,376 and O19,O2s.'
He uttered stifed cry! "O13,02S-
10000 francs!''
thinking he was about to faint, the
confectioner leaned back against the
counter, knocking over a glass full of
assorted caramels, which broke as it
fell to the floor.
Monsieur Moulinier,' cried out
Eudoxie's sharp voice from her cham
Der, what have you broken?"
Nothing much, my dear. A glass
fell and broke. Hurry down and l
will go out and get another"
You might wait minute, it seems
to me-"
I would rather go right away. 1
will be back soon. I will take off the
knob so no one can come in"
Without even taking time to replace
the velvet cap he wore by his high
| hat, M. Moulinier rushed to the office
of the Petit Rouennais There he
asked to see the dispatch containing
the winning numbers. The 013,02S was
there on the second line as one of the
winners of the 1000 franc prizes.
After few words Of thanks to the
obliging clerk, NJ Moulinier, having
regained control of himself, left the
office and turned his steps towards his
shop, absorbed in thought.
And, to tell the truth, he had some
thing to think about. He had drawn
10000 francs. That was not all! A
fresh anxiety tortured the soul of the
fortunate confectioner. He would
have to confess to Eudoxie that,
without having said a single word to
her about it, he had dared to buy a
lottery ticket! Of course the 10000
francs would soon calm his wife's
anger. But at first he would have to
go through frightful scene
On the other hand, too, M. Moulinier
thought: eff there were only some
way of keeping this from my wife-she
would never suspect any such good
fortune
Then an infinite horizon of games
Of dominos stretched out before his
dazzled eyes.
"Yes," he decided at last, "the in
dispensable thing now is for her to
know nothing about it. But how shall
1 manage it?''
Shortly before, on crossing the square
of the Vieux-Marche, he had glanced
at the tobacco shop whose shutters
were yet closed.
On crossing the square again, he no.
ticed the lively Clorinde on the steps;
her hair was unbrushed, and she held
in her hand copy of the morning
paper On looking up and seeing NJ |
Moulinier, she uttered cry.
We'll! Of course you know the |
news. What luck! 10000 francs! !
What luck!"
That's a fact!' M. Moulinier could |
not help replying, though he was dis
pleased enough. But how do you !
know that is my number?"
''Parbleu! O13,028i 1t is the one l |
sold you. I knew it right away. I
wrote it down in my book opposite
your name, with the idea that if you
drew anything
Well, what?"
''You would surely make me little
present-to thank me for having
chosen that ticket All, Monsieur Mou-
liner, yesterday I saw, at the jewel |
er's, such a lovely bracelet with a IL
ger eye in the clasp. 1t was beautiful
and so cheap! Only twenty-five louis!"
twenty-five louis! twenty-five
louis! But that is five hundred francs"
groaned NJ Moulinier. "Really-but |
A sudden idea Illuminated his
brain.
"All right you shall have your
bracelet he said, ION condition, how
ever, that you tell no one that it was
l who won the 10000 francs. Here |
is my ticket. You may collect the |
money I drew. Keep the five hundred |
francs for your jewel, and give me the |
$500 francs left. Is that satisfactory"
1T would be only want the brace |
let right off. 1 will take the price of
difference since in two or three days
1 shall get the prize money"
Wait till you get it,
ooh, no! I want my tigers eye so
badly
We'll, do as you please"
Then congratulating himself on the
plan he had just hit upon, NJ. Mou-
liner returned home, murmuring:
'Everything is at last arranged.
am not quite a fool"
The following morning our confec-
toner went down early to open the
Bon Bonbon. Nine. Moulinier had not
yet appeared. Suddenly NJ Moulinier
saw Clorinde coming toward the shop
with an agitated expression.
A cold sweat broke out on the shop