The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-11
A Bride Prize
By IVAN TRocLoFF
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

The fourth drawing for the year Of the
matrimonial lottery win take place at the
town hall tomorrow evening. Nov. IL. at
o'clock.
The stranger turned TO the landlord
and asked for an explanation Of the
strange notice.
'In this place." said the landlord
-four times a year we have lottery,
One of our girls is put up as prize
Five thousand tickets are sold at a
ruble a ticket The holder Of the win
ming ticket is bound 20 marry the girl,
the money serving as her dowry IT.
however, she will not have him they
may divide the money between them.
In case the man who wins is already
married he may turn over the prize to
any friend he may select"
as not this singular customT
THAT may be, but 1t is a very good
one. We have in Smolensk every year
a new lot Of girls that have come to
marriageable age who are without
dowries The lottery provides for four
OF them"
"And who is the prize for the present
drawing?"
"Sonia OrloiH."
The stranger started.
"Do you know the glrl?" asked the
landlord.
"Yes. No. The name is familiar TO
me. But there are others of this name.
How should know her. i being
stranger In SmolenskP
"She has not always lived here"
"Are the chances all takenT
~ have heard that not half have
been disposed Of. The girl is not well
known. She keeps aloof and is known
to be ayerse TO taking a husband In
this way. But one of our phllanthropic
citizens will pay for all chances not
taken just before the drawing"
The next evening the town ball was
crowded with those who had come to
see the drawing The prize was present,
O girl with the fair hair and eyes Of
Russian. She looked sad--indeed. more
like one TO be sacrificed than to be
made a bride. Before the drawing
the philanthropic citizen the landlord
had spoken of asked how many chances
remained unsod that he might pay for
them. He and those about him were
surprised nj being informed that all
tickets had been sold This they con
sidered remarkable since the day be
fore not over 1900 had been taken
A great deal Of time was taken up
for the ORA wing. Tickets
had been made bearing the names OF
the 1,500 who had subscribed, but since
noon of the day Of the drawing $500
more must be made TO complete the
5000. A dozen persons were engaged
In an anteroom making tickets while
those in the hall waited. The latter
spent the time chatting and strolllng
back and forth before the prize. ogling
her On her face was the melancholy
OF those deformed persons whose de-
formities are exhibited In museums.
This set the spectators wondering. for
at these drawings the prize girl usually
looked proud and happy.
Ii was quite late when the door OF |
the anteroom was opened and q bas-
ket full OF bits of paper. on which
were written names of those who had |
for chances. was brought |
in. The contents of the basket were |
emptied into a huge wheel. which was
revolved. and when it stopped Il lid |
was opened and the master of cere-
blindfolded. put in his hand |
and drew forth a name There was a
silence till the announce /
ment Then he announced:
paul Zabieskiw
All eyes were turned upon Sonia Or |
loff to observe the effect the name
would have upon her. She was sit t
ting where she could readily be seen.
Up to the speaking of the name of the |
man who had won her she seemed in |
different. but the moment the words /
rang out in the hall a change came
over her. She started A look of sur
prise came into her eyes. A rose tint
started in each cheek and spread itself
al over her face A light came into
her eve. But most noticeable OF all
was q look of wonder.
The wonder was reelected in the
faces of those who looked upon hers.
What did this change in her mean?
Who was this Paul Zabieski? No one
present seemed to know him.
From the outside of those surround
ng the wheel and the prize young
nan came forward. approached the
yirl. knelt before her and, taking her
hand in his kissed It. Then be turned
o the others:
~ am Paul Zabieski In Poland
Sonia 0rloff and grew up together
md became lovers. But her parents
emoved to this place ! have become
/ successful merchant and came here
yesterday to find her ] subscribed for
he remaining chances. giving me
more than three to one to win To-
morrow the money subscribed by 9TH
RS will be returned to them
1t was not necessary for the bride
o speak her acceptance Of the hus-
,and provided for her by the lottery.
Her face was beaminp Takiur the