The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-05

ruble ticket The holder OF the will
ming ticket is bound to 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"
lis not this a singular customs!
"That may be. but it is very good
one. We have in SmOlensk every year
q new lot Of girls that have come to a
manageable age who are without
dowrics The lottery provides for four
of them"
"And who is the prize for the present
drawing:"
Sonia Orloff."
The stranger started
do you know the girl?" asked the
landlord.
Eyes. No. Tho name is familiar to
me. But there are others of this name.
How should | know her being
stranger In SmOlensk"
"Shc has not always lived here"
Are the chances all taken:"
81 have heard that not half have
been disposed Of. The girl Is not well
known. She keeps alOOf aud Is known
to he aversc to taking husband IN
this way. Rut one Of our philanthrOPic
citizens will pay for all chances not
taken Just before the drawing"
The next evening the town hall was
crowded with those who had come to
see the drawing. The prize was present,
o girl with the fair hair and eyes OF n
,ussinn. She looked sad-indced. more
like one to he sacrificed than to lie
made n bride. Before the drawing
the philanthrOpic citizen the landlord
had spoken Of asked how many chances
| remained insold that he might pay Tor
them. lie and those about him were
surprised at being informed that all
tickets had been sold. This they con
sidered remarkable since the day H."
fore not over l.aN had been taken
A great deal of time WAS taken w
preparing for the drawing. Tickets
had been made bearing the names OF
the 1,;OO who had subscribed. but since
noon Of the day of the drawing 3'"V
more must be made to complete we
5000. A dozen persons were ENGAGED
In an antcroom making tickets WINE
those i'm the hall waited. The lA'i"i
spent the tiine chatting ind str' lliil-
back and forth before the prizc. "slln-
her On her face WAS the in'slnclio.>
of those deformrd persons whose ~"
lormitirs are exhibited IN museums
This set the spectators wondering. tn'
at these drawings the prize siri a>i@I
looked proud and happy
II was quite late when the door 81
tie autcruom was opened ana h'N
kct fun OF bits of paper on whitl
were written names Of those who ha'
subscribed for chances. WAS hgoUEh
in. The contents Of the basket Wer,
emitted into huge wheel. which "a
rcNolvcd. and when II stopped a Il
was opened and the master of ccre
monies. h,iadtoicd. put in his han'
and drew forth name. There was ;
r1ih,css silence till the announce
nnnt. Then he announced.
Paul Zahirski'
All eyes were turned upon Sonia Oh
LOFT ~ observe the effect the nam
woull have npon her. She WAS Sii
ting where She could readily he seer
In To- the speaking of the name ot ia
. u,au who had Won her she seemed IL
. different. bat the moment the word
ran- out in the hall change can.
over her She started. \ look OF SUI
pris,, came into her eyes. y rose TN
started in each cheek and spread iisrI
{ MI over her face \ light cane int
her eve Hut most noticeable of 4
was "A look of wonder.
The wonder was reflected i'll I'll
faces of those who looked upon her
What did this change in her mean
Who was this Paul Zabicski? No on
present seemed to know him.
From the outside OF those surroun'
ing the wheel and the prize a youn
man came forward. approached tt
girl, knelt before her and. taking b
hand in his. kissed It. Then he turne
to the others:
) IL am Paul Zabieskt. In Folan
4 Sonia Orloff and | grew up togeth'
and became lovers. But her paren
removed to this place. have becou
A successful merchant and came hel
yesterday to find her. l subscribed 4
the remaining chances. giving n
more than three to one to win. I
morrow the money subscribed by OF
ers will be returned to them"
II was not necessary for the bril-
to speak her acceptance Of the hu
hand provided for her BY the lotter