Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-21
THE COST OF PLEIsURE.
John Ogden's Last Bet,

any one suggested TO him game OF cards
TO be played for money, he would not have
listened aud yet he was growing - be a
gambler, Notwithstanding. His sin was that
OF betting, and II 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
wjie and two children-a wife true and
loving, and children bright and good. And
Jebu was good, kind husband, and an
even-tempered. indulgent father, He was
took-keeper In mercantile house, upon
q salary mora than sufficient for all his
proper wants.
John Ogden's betting had come TO bo
matter OF emphasis and determination. The
habit had so fastened itself upon him that |
he could bet of-haud, and pay a loss, or |
take winning a. matter of course. |
"Susan," he said, one evening, with rad |
| ant face. " have won fifty dollars to-day"
How" asked the wife, with shadow |
upon her face.
~ bet fifty dollars that Popkins would
be elected over Shumway, and Popkins was
| elected. handsomely"
| "Whom did you bet with, john,
with Charles Ashcroft"
And you to ,k his fifty dollars"
Certainly, why shouldn't II He fairly
lost.'
And you, suppose, fairly won"
"Of course did"
! "And do you think Charles Ashcroft was
, able to bear the loss?'
II That isn't my look out"
al ~ ain sorry, John. l wish you wou Id
put away that habit. only evil can come of
oil itv
. "Pshaw."
"Evil has already come, John. Your
o heart la growing csilous and hard. Time
0 was when you could not have taken fifty
Q dollars from poor and needy family with
y out feeling OF shame and compunction.'
Hold on, Susan don't want another
hat I
: don't know SO muca of the world as do.
70 And with this, John Ogden took his hal
aud went out-went out like a coward
knowing that If he entered into argument
with his wife, she would twist him into
70 labyrinth from which he could ouly escape
10 by an angIy bolt.
Hall an hour later Peter Cartwright CAM
- In. he was a year or TWO older than john
se and was Srsan's cousin-oDly a cousin b,
~ blood, but as they had bsen brought u
7 from es-ly childhood together they wer
= like brother and sister in life aud love
III Peter sat dow L, and chatted awhile, au
L; found his cursin not 80 cheerful as usual.
l. You are not well, Sosan? %
4 i am we'll In tody, Peter, but sore a
%. heart"
b, "What is it >"
IT. II fear not to speak to you freely. | al
. worrying about John. his habit of betting
y taking deeper and deeper root. To-day h
n has won fifty dollars from Charles Ashcro
of on the result OF an election. Last week
nd won forty dollars on the race-course. kno
u his temperament He is headstrong and in
+. Ipulsive. Can you not see the danger"
Yes, Susan, haye seen it this long tin
r. but haye not dared to speak of it. II Jon
er. was cold-blooded and calculating, he mig
rs. occasionally bet, with danger only of doiI
wrong to those from whom he won Il
money. but as it is, with his impulsive me
!. cur.al temperament, there is other danger.
- 81 wish you could influence him, Peter.
Il wish l could; but fear he would L
- listen.'
Cartwright took out his watch and So
he must be going. lie had left friend
the Ashton House, and must 90 back
M him.
II came down" he added to get John
call up with the. ou remember Frank Po
AL. ers?"
wal, Certainly" said Susan, with brghteni
'Fai eye. Il was reading of him in the paper i
>, night. lie has been made q colonel
20. "Yes" returned Peter, "and has come no
minus an arm, lost at Anti.tam.'
81 should like to see him
=. HE shall call He will be glad, know
TO- Peter had arisen, and got as far as the do
where he stopped and turned.
Susan" he said, 81 have an idea Is
John saving up money with which 10 pay
the mortgage on his house"
- Yes. He has almost enough The mt
TER gage is eleven hundred and fifty dollars, .
u
e "Donrt say anything to him that hi
~ been here, and say nothing about Colo
l. Powers"
"But-Peter-"
IN "Trust me, Susan. think see wa
give him a lesson. Hold your peace and nv
- the result
and On the following day Peter Cartwright
ma; John Ogden in the store, and informed hin
s1iS ,his the arrival of Col Powers.
~ at And he wants to see you old fellow.
/ va you go up with me this evening"
,able "Certalnly l WILL" replied John, gla
COT "How Is he'"
anu Comfortable, considering. He has hi
TX. hard time of it though. You knew he
- lost his ARM"
" II heard of his being wounded at Antiet
And so the arm had to Gomez"
1t YES
= (Which"
Excuse me, John. | have an appoiAtu
to keep at the bank. will call for you
evening"
"All right. I'll be ready"
And in the evening Peter called, an'
gethcr the two went to the hotel. They Il
Col. Powers in his private room, seated
big easy-chair. and looking somewhat
nnQ and woIr.
Dvo Frank my dear fellow, how are y
cried John, advancing,
"Johp, old boy, am glad 10 see you.
5 be- excuse me- not rising. am pretty well .out
strong as | have been"
Ike sp your seat Frank. am very 81
see you back alive; and I'm sure you'll pi
In time"
ITS. The eispty coat-seeve dangling over the
- of the chair was eloquent, and Johns eyes
ened es he fixed his gake uponit
Aud yet the conversation howed pleasantly
h u tune. The colonel had much TO tell, al
hearers were wlllng 10 listen.
Satur- John sross to depart first. He told hi
lshaw. be should not be out late. Cartwright wou
Muller main while longer.