SHORT STORY

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 383, 10 September 1903, Page 7

SHORT STORY

fmall meagre, shrivelled, like a preserved pie-apple, Pere Landry was one of thcss avaricious old peasants, of whcm it is said that thej can fiad a way to shear »n of g. Since the death of his wife, he had given op Lis farm and lived alecs in a little hoaae at the olker etd of the village, •When I aay **bne/ it is merely a figure of speech, for he had with Lim an o!d twrvant called Brigitte, hnt the poor woman coasted for bo vory little—a trifle tac re than the dog, and a trifle less than the hand-barrow which had cobl 40 crown pieces. At the age of 12 she had come to tho Lmdrys to watch the cowe, aid, once there, the had remained, she had grown up in the regime of the house bo that her mister's ultra-parsimonious ways seemed very natural to her. For the rest-, she was simple-minded, devoted as a dog, and admired her master openly, who, for his part, did not fail to use her good nature to the uttermost. It is certain that Brigitte did not make 'aer fortune is the old miser's service. Bat bah I the good woman thought herself entirely recompensed for a'l her labcr, when the old peasant said to her in an t mict bly morose manner: ' Eh, Brigitte, eld weman, thou'rt nothing but a big beast, doßt understand ?' Ti ei the good creature wouli smile broadiy and reply: 'Hi, hi, my master, you have always something funny to say.' It happened one day, that in order to save the mason's bill, pere Landry himself attempted to rough-cast his outer wall, just above the lake, asd making a false step, fell into the water in the deepest place, where there was a hole. He paddled around for a few mements, screaming for help at the top of his voice, but no one heard his cries. At length his strength exhausted, he was going: under for the _ third time when old Brigitte caught sight of him. The honest creature threw herself courageous!} -into the water at the risk of being drowned and succeeded in dragging her master to the shore. The old man had fainted. She picked him up and carried him under her arm, like a big busdle, rubbed him and worked over him until at length she brought him back to life. When she saw him open his eyes, thegcod Brigitte sobbed for joy. ' Eh, eh, my master! but I am well content that you were not drowned.' The old peasant was well content himself. He had one keen regret, that he had lost his trowel which fell into the water when he did, but he had the delicacy not to speak of it Doubtless Brigitte did the best she'could, and in his first burst of gratitude, he said in a penetrating tone: ' It is thou who hast pulled me out of the water. I will-not forget that, Brigitte, my woman, dost thou well understand. I will make thee a present!' 'Oh, my master it is not worth the trouble, I assure you!' «I will make thee a present, I tell thee.' And that very evening, after a thousand hesitations, he called Brigitte, and drawing his long leather purse from his pocket, he took from it, with the grimace of one who is having a tooth pulled, a twenty sou piece. 'Look, Brigitte, here is thy present! It is outside of thy wages, thoa underBtandest outside of thy wages!' he insisted. 'Do not waste it old woman.' In comparison with the service rendered, the recompense certainly did not reveal a frightful munificence. So pere Landry, to give more value to his present, took pains to add: ' It is Just the price of a lottery tioket. Buy one, Brigitte, and thou wilt win f. 100,000' It was the first time in his life that pere Landry had ever shown tush liberality. , The memory haunted him a long time, he grew interested ia the Jdeetiny of his 20-sou piece and many times he demanded of his servant if she had bought the lottery ticket. 'Not yet, my master,' was her invariable reply. Finally to put an end to theco questions which were renewed with the regularity of clookiroirk, she decided to satisfy the old man's curiosity. * Yes, master, I have bought one.' •Ah! What number? 'Number BA.» •Well done,thatwaß well done!' said the old miser, engraving the number deeply upon his mind. 'Thou wilt not lose it now, for instance ?' ' Have no fear, master.' 'lf, if thou art afraid lest thou lose «Well.maßter.* 'Eh, well, thou hast only to give it tome and I will lock it up in my box.' * I will not lose it' 'The customs of pere Landry and his servant, troubled for a moment by this event, soon returned to their regular course To eat a little, sleep a trifle more and work the mcstofall! But one fine morning, pere Landry was almost consoled for his prodigality, when, chatting with the village wigmaker, whom he visited from time to time in order to read the daily paper without having to pay for it, he was seized with a terrible emction. The paper gave the results of the drawiogofthe lottery, and at the top of the column, written in hnge letters that shone and glittered before the dazzled eyee of the old miser, as if written in flame, were these words: NUMBEE 3i DBAWS THE BIGGEST PBIZE OF 100.000 PBANCSI Pere Landry uttered such a cry that the barber, frightened half to death and turning quickly around, cut c 3 the end of the schoolmaster's ear whom he was just then shaving. * What in the world is the matter, pere I«andry ?' •Nothing, nothing at all,' replied the old miser, who had already recovered hie sang froid. And, readjusting his spectacles, he read it all through again, out each syllable, one after the other. This time he was sure he had read it right Number 84, that was the ticket that Brigitte had bought He dropped the paper, ajjd, <iuite overwhelmed, hurried in the direction of his own house a&

The lottery Ticket,

f: st 5 8 his eld leg-, would carry him. 1 Brigitte had fiaished preparing her master's frugal breakfast, a few ants and some ch- !se. The old man sat down to the tab », but te could not eat. Hiß •motion choked him, and he could not swallow a mouthful. 'What is the matter, master/ it quired Brigitte anxiously. ' Nothing at all.' ' Are you not sick ?' *• • I telltb-e, nothing at all.' he repeated angrily For several days he watched Brigitte slyly. Did she know tbat she had won f.l00,0C0? No, tie honest creature, ignorant of the cloae sciutiny of her master, accompli«hed her daily dutieß with her usuil tranquility and good nature. Bnt pere Landry was living on glowing coals I One day he plucked up courage to ask, tremblingly: •Anything new yet, Brigitte, gcod woman ?' ' Nothing at all, my master, except one of the hens haa the pip.' So she knew nothing, then! As for telling hor tbe ?ood newe, that was beyond pore Landry's strength. It seemed monatrous to him that some one else should pioflt by this marvellous windfall, this f. 100 000, when they were procured by hia 20 scu piece, by his money, his beautiful money! The time went on! And a notice printed in the paper, a copy of which he had bought Baid that the priz9 if not claimed within three months would go back to the owners uf the lottery. Pere Landry neither ate nor drank nor slept He grew more withered and rhrivjlled locki3g. Twenty times a day he tiied to make soma casual allusion to Brigitte about her ticket, and 20 times a day did he hold his tosgua. A word too much, and he world have given a hint to his servant One morning, aftar spending the night, like all the preceding ones, in tossing and turning on his bed. he got up with a crafty emile on his thin lips. He had found a way! He commenced by drdering Brigitte to kill a fowl, the fattest one in the benyard, and to put a fine piece of bacon in the oven with it. While she was doing that, he went down into the cellar to hunt for an old bottle of wise, care'ully hidden away behind the piled-up logs. Finaily he gave his servant some money to buy coffee, sugar and brandy. Brigitte grew anxious, and aeked herself if her master had suddenly gone crazy. ' What demon is troubling M 3 mind ?' she wondered. Her anxiety increased when the old man, after having her lay two covers on the table, told her to take her place opposite him. • Oh, my master, I should never dare, never.' • Sit where I tell thee, fcol!' Brigitte had heard it said that one must never contradict crazy people, so she obeyed without replying, and sat down on the edge of the chair, much alarmed. 'Eat now, drink, Brigitte. my pretty one,' said Landry, filling his plate to overflowing. Honest Brigitte had not yet come to the end of the surprises in Btore for her. When the coffee was served, the old man said suddenly. • This is what it is, Brigitte, old woman, dost understand I am going to get married !' 'Dame, my master,' she gasped, approvingly. 'You are still quite.young enough. Although old, you are well preserved.' ' Since that is your opinion, I will marry yen, if you like.' . After the roasted pullet and the bacon and the hidden wine. Brigitte was prepared tor almest any eccentricity on the part of her msster, but not for that!' ■You are joking, master,' she stammered. ' Not at all, not at all,' replied the miser. Then he began to explain. He was growing old, he had no children, he had no family. He did not wish to die alone like a dog. And then, he was grateful too, by our ledy. He did not forget that Brigitte had saved his life, his good Brigitte. He did net want to show himself ungrateful. In short Pere Landry pointed out bo many good reasons that he ended by convincing the honest creature of hia sincerity. That Bhe, the humble servant, should marry Master Landry. Jt was too overwhelming, imagine it! It was enough to turn a body's head. The banns wore published. The marriage took place. The couple presented themselves at the church amid the applause of the whole village. After the ceremony the new bridegroom hastened to lead his bride away, and they had hardly entered the house when, rubbing his bands together briskly, he demanded : ' Brigitte, my girl, where has thou put it, thy number?' ' What number f' ' Thy.lottery number.' 'What lottery P' 'Thou knowest perfectly well,' said Landry impatiently,' the tioket that thou bought with the 20 sous that I gave thee.' The new wife began to laugh loudly. ' Ah, the 20 sous,' said she. ' Listen, master, the lotteries are so seldom successful, and it was so very cold last winter that ' 'What?' demanded Landry changing color. • Eh*, well,' she finished. ' I did not buy any ticket, I bought me some good furred shoe s with the 20 sous, yes, by Our Lady,' —Michael Teivaks.