The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-14
A Bet That
Was Lost
b. MARTHA v. MONROE.

Charlie Perkins and I had been en-
gagged for q month when he came to
me ana said that his friend Billy Ash
urst was going to be married-that is,
II the girl he expected to wed didn't
go back on him.
Why do you say that?" I asked.
Because I've known the girl he's
going to marry for several years, and
she's net to be relied on"
Whom is he going to marry?"
Molly Bristow."
1 knew Molly, but had no such opin-
ion Of her. A week later Charlie said
to me-.
"See here, Kit, 1 want your permis.
sion to do something-to win a bet.
I've bet Billy Ashurst a champagne
dinner that I can take Molly Bristow
away from him within thirty days.
TO accomplish this I must do some
spooning with her, and, of course, I'M
less you understood it there would be
trouble between you and me-"
l told Charlie that there was no wis
dom In what he proposed and it would
make trouble for some one else even
II not for him and me. But he ap-
peared to be mifed and said that l
hadn't confidence in him; l would be
jealous of him after we we're mar
ried. and jealousy was bound to spoil
any couples married life. This was
not pleasing TO me, but so long as
Charlie was not yet my husband l con-
Guided to let him do as he liked. So
/ told him to go ahead and win his
bet If he could.
didn't doubt that his intentions
were what he stated them to be. but
l did not approve of them. They ap-
peared frivolous and unworthy of a
man with whom l was to be united for
life. But it seemed wise In me to
accede to his proposition. He had
shown weakness in making it, and If
he became u%npleasantly involved 1
might get a glimpse of what there
was in him admirable OF the reverse.
While Charlie was winning his bet
his visits to me were cut in half. Sew
erai Of my intimate friends advised
me OF what was going on between
him and Miss Bristow. and one of them
limited that l had better look out for
my fiance, for there had been an af-
fair between him and Molly before he
had become engaged to me. This was
news that l did not relish, and l began
to suspect there was more in his at
tentions to her than the winning of a
bet. But I did not betray my suspi-
cion to him. On the contrary. I pre-
tended to. he satisfied.
Leonard Sweetzer, q man twenty
years my senior. had been attentive
to me before I met Charlie and, hear
ing Of Charles attention to Molly
Bristow and inferring that my engage
ment had been broken of, renewed his
suit. I was but eighteen when he
proposed to me and had not a%ppreciat-
ed him. Two years had passed since
then-two years Of development for
me. Now Charles fippancy stood out
plain In contrast with Leonard Sweet
zeris character. Leonard proposed to
me. I refused him. for l did not In
tendtts go back on my troth to Charlie.
Something in my manner, l suppose,
gave ~ sutton reason to think that
his ease was not hopeless. and he Z
acted q promise from me that in case
any change came In the situation I
would send for him.
I began to think that Charles ef-
forts 10 win his bet were not prom
Using success. He seemed morose and
fretful His visits to me continued to
be- few. and when with me his mind
seemed to be Oh some other subject.
One evening .whenrwe were together
asked him IL he was going to winshis
bet The question seemed to irritate
him, end I turned the conversation
into other channels. ea
A certain opera q to be given,
which I wished to attend. l bought
two. tickets and Informed my fiance
Of the Gnct. He sent me a note saying
that he was not well. and l had his
consent to ask any friend l chose to
escort me. I made q hurried investiga-
ton and learned that he was perfectly
wen. At the same time l heard that
he had lost his bet and was unable to
conceal his disappointment. My in
forunaat let me into the secret that he
had proposed to Molly Bristow, been
refused. and the refusal had "cut him
up" dneadfully.
I sent Leonard Sweetzer a note, in.
closing Charles permission to choose
an escort. and asked him II he would
be my companion for the evening. His
response was satisfactory. Consider
ing Ahe situation, my invitation was
.tantamount to an acceptance of his
offer Of marriage.
Charlie Perkins wrote me that he
had suddenly been called out of town.
to be gone a few weeks. l knew this
was to enable him to get over the re
fusaiiae had received from Molly Bris-
tow. h ten days he had pulled him
self together and one afternoon II
prised me with q call, sending up a
beautiful bouquet with his card.
When / went down to see him he
knew By my expression that all was
Ao%c,oon ,rc r told him NATL