Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-02-12

~O~~-~e -
When human lips have ceased to speak, and human
hearts are still
JOHN OGDEN'S LAST BET.
John Ogden had contracted very bad
habit-a dangerous and sinful habit.
Had any one suggested to hiIa game
of cards to be played for money, he
would not have listened and yet he
was growing to be q gambler, notwith-
standing. His sin was that of betting,
and it had so grown upon him that he
would bet upon the result of things
most trivial or most grave. He was a
young man, not more than eight-and-
twenty, with wife and two children
q wife true and loving, and chill
dren bright and good. And John
was a good, kind husband, and an even
tempered, indulgent father. He was
book-keeper In mercantile house. upon
a salary more than sufficient for all his
proper wants.
John Ogden's betting had come to be
a matter of emphasis and determination.
The habit had so fastened itself upon
hin that he could bet off-hand, and pay
a loss, or take a winning, as a matter of
course.
"Susan," he said, one evening, with
radiant face, "I have won fifty dollars
to-day"
"How?" asked the wife, with a
shadow upon her face.
81 bet fifty dollars that Popkins
would be elected over Shumway, and
Popkins was elected handsomely"
"Whom did you bet with, John ?"
"With Charles Ashcroft. +"
Sand you took his fifty dollarsY
"Certainly-why shouldn't /? He
fairly lost"
Wand you, I suppose, fairly won 2"
"Of course did"
Sand do you think Charles Ashcroft
was able to bear the loss ?"
"That isn't my lookout.
CT am sorry, John. / wish you would
put away that habit. Only evil can
come of it."
"Pshaw p
EVIL has already come, John. Your
heart is growing callous and hard.
Time was when you could not have
taken fifty dollars from poor and
needy family without feeling of shame
and conjunction.
"Hold on, Susan / don't want an
other lecture. / know what I am up
to. You don't know so much of the
world as do"
And with this, John Ogden took his
hat and went out-went out like q
coward, knowing that if he entered into
argument with his wife, she would twist
him into labyrinth from which he
could only escape by an angry bolt.
Half an hour later Peter Cartwright
came in. He was a year or two older
than John, and was Susan's cousin
only consin by blood, but as they had
been brought up from early childhood
together, they were like brother and
sister In life and love. Peter sat down
and chattsd awhile, and found his
cousin not so cheerful as usual.
"You are not well, Susan ?"
Sim well in body, Peter" but
sore at heart"
"What is it ?"
ST fear not to speak with you freely
] am worrying about John. His habit
of betting is taking deeper and deeper
root To-day he has won fifty dollars
from Charles Ashcroft on the result os
an election. Last week he won forty
dollars ON the race-course. / know his
temperament. He is headstrong and
impulsive. Can you not see the
danger ?"
Eyes, Susan, have seen it this long
time, but have net dared to speak of it.
If John were cold blooded and calculat-
ing, he might occasionally bet with dan
ger only of doing wrong to those from
whom he won money, but as it is, with
his impulsive, mercurial temperament,
there is other danger"
"I wish you could influence him,
Peter"
81 wish I could but fear he would
not listen"
Cartwright took out his watch, and
said he must be going. He had left a
friend at the Ashton House, and aust
go back to him.
"I came down." he added, "to get
John to call up with me. You remem-
Der Frank PowersY'
Certainly" said Susan, with q
Frightening eye 81 was reading of
him in the paper last night. He has
been made q Colonel
Eyes," returned Peter, "and has
come home minus an arm, lost at Ar
tietam..
7 si,ould like to see him."
"He shall call He viii be glad,
know"
Peter had arisen and got as far as the
door, when he stopped and turned.
"Susan," he said, 81 have an idea.
Isn't John saving up money with which
to pay of the mortgage on his house p
"Yes. he has almost enough. That