The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-05-14
and
the Lottery
BY Gertrude D,AnbIn.

Take half of my ticket Senior
Alfaro, and perhaps God will dispose
that we shall win" said Senorita
Duran.
mo, will pay for my part" fee
bly, protested the Spaniard
In that case" the lady objected,
II would lose the merit of the gift.
In the drawings, sometimes heaven
is pleased to reward one for gener-
osity."
/, being an American girl Of Puri-
tan ancestry, had during nay resi-
dence in Mexico an abiding sQueam-
ishness about lotteries. I confess to
having spent few cents from time
to time for portions OF the tempting
tissue paper tickets and to having
had dreams of sudden wealth, but /
have never bought without fearing
that some good fellow countryman
would catch me at gambling. So
smiled to myself at Senorits Duran's
confidence in connecting God and the
great national game of chance.
She handed the folded half Of the
ticket across the table to Senor AL
faro, remarking that the drawing
would be in five days. If heaven had
a hand in the awarding of that lot
terry prize, so did also the devil, az /
will show you.
The night after the drawing there
was a little feast at our house. The
guests came and the dinner pro-
crossed slowly, just as any other Mex
lean repast would, with its much rum
ming back and forth OF Indian SER
wants and much changing of plates.
People laughed and talked and wished
Senior Alfaro well on his return to
Spain. OF the three participants,
who had reason to think the occa-
sion an extraordinary one, the host
think was most at ease, Lawyer Men
dez next so, and least of all.
We came to the wines, the white,
the red, the tiny glasses of cham
payne. In the presence of a de-
frauder, whose secret knew, could
not partake of the cheer, save by pre-
tense, 80 Joined but feebly in the
toasts. Senior Alfaro presented SEN
orita Duran with a large, brocaded,
silk fringed shawl, which she accept
ed with real gratitude, all unsuspeot-
ing that it was brought with her
own money. We had been two hours
at the table. l was divided between
thinking that Lawyer Mendez had
found it impossible to do anything in
the lottery matter and between be-
lieying him false to the rights Of SEN
orita Duran, when he rose as il to
propose a toast.
"Senoras and caballeros," he said,
bowling in turn, II am about to be
guilty OF breach Of hospitality, in
2 story want to tell"
The company was attentive and
lightly amused, expecting some grace
full turn Of pleasantly on the part Of
the ready tongued attorney. But he.
as seriously as If engaged in pro-
fessional duty, continued;
You WIN all remember that this
afternoon there occurred a drawing
Of the National Lottery and that one
Of the prizes was $4,000. A lady
whom have known since she was
child and whom many of you have
known, at least for years, bought
whole ticket in that lottery. Her
friends wished her good fortune, be-
cause she is orphaned, growing old,
and lives by her own labor. But her
enemy was ready to take the bread
Of age from her mouth, waiting like
a dog to snatch food from his fell
low"
had sat with my head bowed, as
II were the cllprit, not looking at
the guests for fear Of betraying my
interest and excitement; but now /
glanced at Senior Alfaro. That gem
tleman was leaning back In his chair,
at ease, as II the tale were, being told
for his amusement. He smiled, but
as ] studied his face thought his
strong eyes gazed at the lawyer in
tensity Of fear, seeking to control
what he should say
Without pausing for my thoughts,
Of course, Senior Mendez had kept on
speaking
The lady in her generosity, re-
membering the blessedness of shar-
ing, gave half Of her ticket away. On
the day Of the drawing she asked
little friend Of hers to look up the
list for her This friend did not take
the ticket. but noted down its num-
Der and went on her way. In the
meantime, The lady handed her half
ticket to man TO whom she had
made q present Of the other half. re-
rffcffnr him ofcn ~ e,-.r,f-,, ~, 'ttl4