Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-03-06
Taking a
Chance

ticketS said LeSlie'S wife in burst
of Indignation. II haven't heard OF
anyone being so shallow-brained in
years."
Never mind, if Sits wins you'll be
able to buy all the luxuries your little
heart Graves for and I've always de.
sired you to have. Don't be too skep-
teal but-wait-" replied Leslie.
'Pd prefer any day to have the two
dollars you've wasted for some real
necessities instead of imaginary lux
uries. A pair of gloves, rug for the
hall, silk for a waist, and a thousand
and one things"
Lets not quarrel over the money
until we get it" broke in her husband.
After the above conversation Mrs.
Leslie tried to forget all about the lot
terry ticket, but impossible.
Meanwhile her husband, occupied
with the cares Of business, had for
gotten completely about the little blue
ticket Matters Of much greater i'm
port occupied his mind.
Belinda" he said one night, "the
bills for the last month are simply
enormous. My income does not war
rant these expenditures. There's more
money going out than coming in. I'm
neither parsimonious, miserly nor
stingy, but there's limit to all extrav-
agance."
For once Mrs. Leslie was silent; she
simply smiled and kept on sewing.
When she looked up she was startled
to notice the silvery tinge to her hus-
bands hair, how tired and old he
looked, while she seemed to grow
more youthful in appearance every
day.
Don't you feel WE'LL" she ques-
toned, anxiously.
"Can a man feel we'll and happy"
was his curt answer, when he's con-
tinually harassed with financial
troubles?"
The wife, wishing to end the discus
sion, proposed that they go to the
nickel show
Astonishing that you did not sug-
gest a box at the opera" grumbled
her husband as he assented
Mrs. Leslie finally threw all caution
to the winds She seemed to have
been bewitched by the demon of buy.
The old portieres in the little parlor
were replaced by elegant new ones,
which made the parlor carpet appear
so shabby in contrast that it was not
long before a new rug adorned the
floor.
The comments Of their friends were
numerous When they noticed the ma
hogany bookcases and the piano which
had been purchased on the installment
plan and Mrs. Leslie expected to pay
for when the lottery money was dis
tributed. 'Mr Leslie must have made
a great deal of money" they said.
After three months Of apprehension
and anxiety Mr.. Leslie gave vent to
his pent-up feelings. Opening the new
tangled desk to look for pencil, he
burst forth in a voice of anger, dismay
and evaporation, Bills, bills, bills
that's the only kind of correspondence
In this house nowadays. None of them
receipted either I'll have to borrow
money on my life insurance if this con
tinUes"
yes" answered Mrs. Leslie with
tears in her eyes. But l figure it viii
be all right if we only have little
patience"
what do you mean?"
TITS rather inconvenient just now
but I fancy it will be all right whe1
your lottery ticket comes due. Didn'
you maintain vociferously that the lot
terry money would eventually pay 70
everything. Maybe then you can taxi
vacation ard rest up little"
what coinage of your brain ar
these vivid imaginations?" said MI
Leslie as he sprang to his feet, givini
his wife one long look as if he ha
never seen her before. After a tens
silence which seemed aged to his wife
he exclaimed, THE lottery money
What do you mean? l suppose it's
woman's prerogative to change he
mind, but didn't you distinctly assel
that you wouldn't touch one penny {
that money!"
Yes, but"
That's the reason why l never too
the trouble to inform you that tn
drawing was weeks ago and our nun
Der was not among the lucky ones.
Mrs Leslie turned pale. What
foolish woman I've been," she sal
Ell thought so much about it that
didn't realize we could lose"
Mother. called a sweet, your
voice, where are you? I've some wo
derful, glorious news to tell YOU"
What is 1t, dear?" she asked, as
young girl entered the room.
Don't look so gloomy, moth
mine," she replied, as she wound h
arms around her mothers neck "B
Thorsch is coming tomorrow to al
fathers consent to our wedding. O
I'm deliciously happy"
ct was not prepared for this gre
surprise, my dear, didn't know
was even counting you," said her
Their.
ooh, he's been coming here all wi
ter He said the DarlOr was so CO.