sed it from him at the same
price the usurer had given for it, for Sandgoist was only too glad to
dispose of it at that price now there were no more bidders for it.

"It was not for the sake of an improbable chance of gain that I wished
to restore it to Hulda, my brave Ole," Sylvius Hogg remarked, as
he gave him the ticket; "but because it was a last farewell you had
addressed to her at the moment when you believed all was lost."

And now it seemed almost as if Professor Sylvius Hogg had been
inspired of Heaven, certainly much more so than Sandgoist, who was
strongly tempted to dash his brains out against the wall when he
learned the result of the drawing. And now there was a fortune of one
hundred thousand marks in the Hansen family. Yes, one hundred thousand
marks, for Sylvius Hogg absolutely refused to take back the money he
had paid to secure possession of Ole Kamp's ticket.

It was a dowry he was only too glad to offer little Hulda on her
wedding-day.

Perhaps it will be considered rather astonishing that Ticket No. 9672,
which had attracted so much attention from the public, should have
happened to be the one that drew the grand prize.

Yes, it was astonishing, we must admit; but it was not impossible, and
at all events, such was the fact.

Sylvius Hogg, Joel, and Hulda left Christiania that same evening.
They returned to Dal by way of Bamble, as, of course, Siegfrid must
be informed of her good fortune. As they passed the little church of
Hitterdal, Hulda recollected the gloomy thoughts that beset her
two days before, but the sight of Ole, seated beside her, speedily
recalled her to the blissful reality.

By Saint Olaf! how beautiful Hulda looked under her bridal crown when
she left the little chapel at Dal, four days afterward, leaning on her
husband's arm. The brilliant festivities that followed were the talk
of the whole Telemark for days and days afterward. And how happy
everybody was! Siegfrid, the pretty bride-maid, her father, Farmer
Helmboe, Joel, her affianced husband, and even Dame Hansen, who was no
longer haunted by a fear of Sandgoist.

Perhaps the reader will ask whether all these friends and
guests--Messrs. Help Bros., and hosts of others--came to witness
the happiness of the newly married couple, or to see Sylvius Hogg,
professor of law and a member of the Storthing, dance. It is hard to
say. At all events he did dance, and very creditably, and after having
opened the ball with his belov