Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-09-18
.HOIHN OGDEN's LAST BET.

John Ogden had contracted q very bad
habit; a dangerous and sinful habit. Had
any one suggested to him a game of cards
to be played for money he would not have
listened and yet he was growing to be q
gambler, Notwithstanding. 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 young man, not more than eight
and-twenty, with wife and two children
"a true and loving wife, and children
bright and good. And John was a good
kind husband, and an even-tempered, in
dulgent father. He was a book-keeper in
s mercantile house, upon salary more
an sufficient forpall his proper wants.
John Ogden's betting had come to be a
matter of emphasis and determinations
The habit had so fastened itself upon
him that he could bet off-hand, and pay q
loss, OF take a winning as a matter Of
course.
"Susan,'' he said one evening, with a
radiant face, Il have won fifty dollars to-
day."
GLOW % asked the wife, with shadow
on her face.
II bet fifty dollars that PopEins would
be elected over Shumway, and he was
elected handsomely"
"Whom did you bet with, John ?"
sWith Charles Ashcroft
"And you took his fifty dollars ?"
sCertainly-why shouldn't l? He fair
lY lost"
And you, suppose, fairly won."
"Of course [ did"
s'And do you think Charles Ashcroft
was able to bear the loss 20
"That isn't my lookout"
s'I'm sorry, John. / wish you would
put away that habit. Only evil can come
Of it,"
'EPshaw! !"
evil has already come, John. Your
heart is growing callous and hard. Time
was when you could not have taken fifty
dollars from poor needy family without
feeling Of shame and compunction."
'sHold on, Susan [ don't want another
lecture. 1 know what I'm up to. You
don't know so much of the world as 1
do"
And with this John Ogden took his hat
and went out-went out like u coward,
knowing that if he entered into argument
with his wife, she would twist him into a
labyrinth from which he could only escape
by an angry bolt.
Half an hour later Peter Cartwright
came in. HeVas year or two older than
John, and was Susan's cousin-only cou
sin by blood, but as they had been brought
up from early childhood together, they
were life and love. Peter sat down an(
chatted awhile, and found his cousin not
so cheerful as usual.
| care you not well, Susan 20
II am well in body, Peter, but sore al
heart.n
"What is it ?''
II fear not to speak to you freely. I an
worrying about John. His habit Of bet
ting is taking deeper and deeper root. To
day he has won fifty dollars from Charlie
Ashcroft on the result Of all election
Last week he won forty dollars OH thu
race-course. know his temperament
He is head-strong and impulsive. Ca1
you not see the danger 20
eyes, Susan. [ have seen it this lon!
time, but have not dared to speak of it,
If John were cold-blooded and calculatin!
he might occasionally bet with danger on
ly of doing wrong to those from whom h
won money, but as it is, with his impu]
sive mercurial temperament, there is othe
danger"
II wish you could influence him, Pc
ter''
II wish I could; but I fear he will no
listen"
Cartwright took out his watch, and sal
he must be going. He left friend at tn
Ashton House, and must go back
him.
II came down" he added, ''to get job
to call up with him. GU remember Fran
Powers 2"
"CertainlY," said Susan, with brighter
ipU ava ut was roo 6ipn IF him in the De