The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-09
Marriage Lottery


sold Mt ruble a ticket. The winner OF
the 5000 rubles is bound to marry a
certain girl. Should the girl decline to
marry him they may divide the money
between them. In case the man Is al
ready married he may turn over the
money and the matrimonial prize to
tany friend be may select.
One day a traveller stopped In the
town and. hearing of the lottery, gave
q servant 10 rubles and told him to
buy ten tickets The drawing was TO
take place that evening, and after sup
xper the stranger strolled around 10 the
gbuiIdlng appointed for the purpose.
The wheel was turned and a paper
drawn. He who drew 1t held 1t up,
looked at II and said:
'sThe winner Is Dmitri Waronivlch."
The stranger started. Every one
i0oked at every one else. No one
useemed TO know who Dmitri Waroni-
VIch was.
eff Dmitrl waronivich IL here, let
aim come forward"
The stranger advanced and after
some questioning was credited with
the money and conducted to the home
of the girl he had drawn.
MirAa DOvienefE was Of n station FAR
sbeyond those who would usually put
themselves up to be ratified for A
fancy for such a role had taken pos
session Of her, though she had no Idea
@of marrying the man who should draw
the prize of which she was a part
Nevertheless there is fascination In
meeting one never before seen who Is
to BE- something more TO w than
stranger and maybe OF Immense lmpor-
stnnce Naturally Mira had dreamed
of many different kinds Of men and
that AT their meeting he who had won
her would be mad TO wed her. These,
OF course, were merely dreams for she
knew the class that bought tickets in
Ghe lottery and had no doubt she would
divide the money prize with the wia-
ner and remain a splnster-at least for
MIN
II was certainly an exhllarating mo-
ament for these two when the door sep
sNrating them opened and they stood
seace to- face, Mirza's heart beating like
"a trip hammer
a am ! arrived this afternoon. l
A0onght some tickets to the lottery and.
asingularly enough. won"
II suppose You know the conditions"
''The only condition know Is that
have won wife"
'You are mistaken. have the privi-
hege Of dividing the money prize with
sFou and remaining single"
MAY ! ask why one OF your class
entered for this lotteryT'
'sFor new sensation. And you-
why did you buy ticketsF
"For d new sensation"
Are sou quite sure the hope OF win
sing the money was no lnducementY'
III shall resign my share OF the mon
80 10 you."
@And have resolved TO give my
share 10 the poor"
singular" said the man wondering
". ''that two people among 5000 shoult
aaave been eaptivated by within and
sahe man In the case should have won
Remarkable. especially since you d,
net live here"
"A never was here ill a few hour
mao."
.'You resldee-
~In lula when am at home, but
aAm seldom NJ home"
During tho dialogue the couple n
tmaincj standing. but suddenly II oC
setfrred TO the lady that she was treat
ing the man who had won her YER
.eoidiy, and she asked him TO be seated
Then she rang for refreshments
was late when the fortunate man let
sehe house, and ON reaching his Inn
was bcsieged by throng to know
'ehere would DO wedding or a division
EEe announced that there would be ne
sxher, The 5000 rubles were to be glV
sso 40 tho poor, This was done the neS
morning
The curious people Of Smolensk ha
forgotten all about the singular on
-aolue Of the drawing whom It was n
-wired by tho appearance Of the WHINE
-of the prize Ia the town. Ho locke
somewhat thinner than before az
careworn. He came frequently aftI
That, always looking more distract tina
Before. Finally az one OF his visits
Separtod looklng radlantiy happy, n
next day thu towuspe0ple were ag0
mt the announcement that the coup
who had won 1000 rubles and give
them TO the poor were 10 be marie
after all,
The groom prospective told
Npr 'h1i after their marriage tbs
hla hame IA rula. thar /
ABA hcd government position. but h
marriage for sais re,,son be dld n
9xplaln. required him Is r. ga Il n
was about to marry him for loye. Il
since be ASSURED her he could suppo
Der. was respectable and she had son
property OF her own she did not I
Qalre thoroughly lnto his social or mo
rtary condition
The wedding over. with lis peCuli
Russian customs. the couple we
about 10 depart Cor Tula when t.
gram addressed 70 Count Odon1off W
shans4,sS 70 the fyronna 10 knnvs If