The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-09-29

He took four half-eGgleS from the
box, and put them in his pocket. His
wife said nothing. She played with her
| baby to hide her sadness, for she did
not wish to say more on the subject.
She had seen that little pile Of gold
gradually accommodating, and both she
and her husband had been happy in an
ticipating the day when the pretty
cottage would be all their own. But
when she saw those four pieces Of geld
taken away from the store, she felt a
foresLadowing of evil. She might have
spoken again against the movement,
but she saw that her husband was
sorely tender upon the subject, and
she let the affair so to the hands of
fate.
A week elapsed from the time that
James bought his ticket to the draw
ing of the lottery, and during that time
the young man had not moment OF
real enjoyment. He was alternating
between hope and fear, and therefore
his mind was constantly On the
stretch.
At length the day arrived. James
went to the Office, and found that the
drawing had taken place, and that the
list of prizes had been made out. lie
seized the list and turned away, so
that those who stood around should
not see his face. He read the list
through, but he searched for his num-
Der in vain! 1t was not there. He had
drawn a blank! He left the office an
unhappy man. Those twenty dollars
which he had lost had been the saw
ings of two months of hard labor, and
he felt their loss most keenly.
When he returned home that night
he told his wife that he had lost. She
found no fault with him. She only
kissed him and told him that the lesson
was 4 good one, even though it had
been dearly bought.
But James Lanning was not satisfied.
He brooded over his loss with a bitter
spirit, and at length the thought came
to him that he might yet draw prize.
He wished that he had not bought the
first ticket, and if he could only. get
back his $50 he would buy no more;
but he would not rest under his loss.
He was determined to make one more
trial, and he did so. This time he pur-
chased the ticket without his wife's
knowledge. The result was the same
as before. He drew :: blank!
Forty dollars!" was sentence that
dwelt fearfully upon the mechanics
lips.
"Oh, must draw prizew he said to
himself. 81 must make up what have
lost. Let me once do that, and I'll
buy no more tickets"
Another $50 was taken from the little
bank, another ticket was bought, an
other blank was drawn. At the end
Of three months the little bank was
empty, and James Lanning had the last
ticket in his pocket. All, how earnestly
he prayed that that last ticket might
draw @ prize! He had become pale
and careworn, and his wife-poor, con-
fiding soul!-thought he only replned
because he had lost $50. When she
would try and cheer him, he would
laugh, and try to make the matter
light.
James," said his wife to him one
day-it was tie day before that on
which the lottery was to be drawn in
which he had the sixth ticket-"Mr.
Rowse. has been here to-day after the
semi-annual interest. I told him that
YOU would see him tomorrow
eyes, 1 will,' said James, in faint
voice. Eyes, tomorrow I shall see
him."
Young Lannirg thought of the lottery
and of the prize. This was his sixth
trial, and he felt sure that he should
draw.
The morrow came, and when James
Lanning returned to his home at night
he was penniless! All his golden Wis
ions had faded away. and he was
left in darkness and misery.
James, lave you paid Mr.. Rowse
his interest yet:" asked Hannah.
The young man leaned his head upon
his hands and groaned aloud.
"For heavens sake, James, what has
happened:" cried the startled wife,
springing to the side of her husband,
and twining her arm about his neck.
The young man looked up with a
wild, Eagsard expression. His lips
were bloodless. and his features were
all stricken with a death-hue.
What is it? Oh, what:' murmured
the wife.
Go look in our box-oUr little Dank!'
groaned the poor man.
Hannah FASTENED away, and when
she returned, she bore an empty box
in her hand.
Robbed" she gasped, anG she sank
treriJlingly down beside ncr husband S
side.
Yes. Hannah whispered the hus-
band, Il have ROBBED YOU
| The stricken wife gaZed upon her
| husband with Il vacant look, for at first
! I;,1 oo,,probocI. b,,t che ra-