The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-03-01
A Marriage Lottery
[Original.l

sold at a ruble ticket. The winner of
the 5000 rubles is bound to marry n
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
any friend he may select.
One day a traveller stopped in the
town and, hearing of the lottery, gave
a servant 10 rubles and told him to
buy ten tickets. The drawing was TO
take place that evening, and after sup
per the stranger strolled around to the
building appointed for the purpose.
The wheel was turned and a paper
drawn. He who drew it held it up,
looked at it and said:
1.-THE winner is Dmitri Waronivich.'
The stranger started. Every one
looked at every one else. No one
seemed to know who Dmitri Waront-
Yich was.
IF Dmitrl Waronivlch is here, let
him 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.
Mira Dovienieff was Of station far
beyond those who would usually put
themselves up to be rallied for. a
fancy for such q 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. us than
stranger and maybe of immense impor-
lance. 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
the lottery and had no doubt she would
divide the money prize with the Win
ner and remain a spinster-at least for
him.
1t was certainly an eXhilaratlng mo-
ment for these two when the door sep
arating them opened and they stood
face to face. Mirza's heart beating like
a trip hammer.
"You are stranger here" she said.
II am. l arrived this afternoon.
bought some tickets to the lottery and,
singularly enough, won.'
81 suppose you know the conditions"
THE only condition l know is that
have won wife"
you are mistaken. l have the priv
lege Of dividing the money prize with
you and remaining single"
MAY ask why one of your class
entered for this lotteryT
For a new sensation. And you
why did you buy tickets"
For new sensation"
Are you quite sure the hope Of win
ming the money was no lnducement|'
81 shall resign my share of the mon
ey to you"
"And l have resolved to give my
share to the poor"
Singular" said the man wondering
ly, that two people among 1000 should
have been captivated by a whim and
the man in the case should have Won"
Remarkable, especially since you do
not live here"
81 never was here till few hours
ago"
you reside
"In lula when L am at home, but I
am seldom at home"
During the dialogue the couple re-
manned standing, but suddenly it oc-
Cured to the lady that she was treat
ing the man who had won her very
coldly, and she asked him to be seated.
Then she rang for refreshments. 1t
was late when the fortunate man left
the house. and on reaching his inn he
was besieged by a throng to know if
there would be a wedding or a division.
He announced that there would be nel-
Their. The 5000 rubles were to be Civ
en- to the poor. This was done the next
morning.
The curious people Of Smolensk had
forgotten all about the singular out
come of the drawing when it was re-
vived by the appearance of the winner
of the prize in the town. He looked
somewhat thinner than before and
careworn, He came frequently after
that, always looking more distract than
before. Finally at one Of his visits he
departed looking radiantly happy. The
Vt ~ a
at the announcement that the couple
who had won 5000 rubles and given
them to the poor were to be married
after all.
The groom prospective told his
fancee that after their marriage they
would live in his home in Tula; that he
had held government position, but his
marriage, for some reason he did not
explain, required him to resign 1t. She
was about to marry him for love, but
since he assured her he could support
her, was respectable and she had some
property of her own she did not in
quire thoroughly into his social or mon
etary condition.
The wedding over, with its peculiar
Russian customs, the couple were
about to depart for lula when a tele.
gram addressed to Count Odendoff was
handed to the groom to know If he
knew any such person, He tore it
open, read 1t and handed it to the
bride. 1t was an order from the en-
peror to return to ST. Petersburg at
once and ended, Your marriage will
be recognized"
Then the recipient explained to his
bride that he was of blood royal, but