The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-02-15
A Bet hat
Was | ost
By MARTHA v. MONROE.

gagged FOR month Wnen ne came 10
me and said that his friend Billy Ash
! urst was going to be married is,
il the girl he expected to we'd. didn't
| go back on him.
"Why do you say that?' | asked.
Because I've known the girl he's
going to marry for several years, and
she's not to be relied on
! "Whom is he going to narry?"
molly Bristow."
l knew Molly, but had no such opin-
ion of her. A week later Charlie said
| to me:
"See here, Kit, want your permis.
sion to do something-to win bet.
I've bet Billy Ashurst champagne
dinner that l can take Molly Bristow
away from him within thirty days.
10 accomplish this must do some
spooning with her, and, of course, I'M
less you understood it there would be
| trouble between you and me-"
told Charlie that there was no wis
| dom in what he proposed and it would
make trouble for some one else even
| peared to be miffed and said that
hadn't confidence in him; | would be
| jealous of him after we were mar
ried, and jealousy was bound to spoil
I any couples married life. This was
not pleasing to me, but SO long as
Charlie was not yet my husband 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
did not approve of them. They ap.
peared frivolous and unworthy of a
man with whom 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 unpleasantly involved
might get glimpse Of what there
was in him admirable or the reverse.
While Charlie was winning his bet
his visits to me were cut in half. Sev-
eral- of my intimate friends advised
me of what was going on between
him and Miss Bristow, and one Of them
limited that 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 did not relish, and began
to suspect there was more in his at
tentions to her than the winning Of
bet. But did not betray my suspi
cion to him. On the contrary, pre-
tended to be satisfied.
Leonard SweetZcr, a main twenty
years my senior had been attentive
to me before l met Charlie and, hear
ing of Charles attention to Molly
Bristow and inferring that my engage.
ment had been broken off, renewed his
suit. was, but eighteen when he
proposed to me and had not appreciat-
ed him. Two years had passed since
then-two years Of development for
me. Now Charles hippancy stood out
plain In contrast with Leonard Sweet
zer's character. Leonard proposed to
me. refused him. for did not in
tend to go back on my troth to Charlie.
Something in my manner, l suppose,
gave my sutton reason to think that
his case was not hopeless, and he ex-
acted promise from me that in case
any change came in the situation
would send for him.
began to think that Charles ef.,
forts to 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 on some other subject.
One evening when we were together
asked him if he was going to win bis
bet. The question seemed to irritate
him, and l turned the conversation
into other channels.
A certain opera was to be given,
which l wished to attend. l bought
two tickets and Informed my fiance
Of the fact. He sent me note saying
that he was not well. and l had his
consent to ask any friend chose to
escort me. l made hurried investiga
ton and learned that he was perfectly
well. At the same time l heard that
he had lost his bet and was unable to
conceal his disappointment. My in
formant let me into the secret that lie
had proposed to Molly Brlstow, been
refused, and the refusal had "cut him
up" dreadfully.
sent Leonard Sweetzer a note, in
closing Charles permission to choose
an escort, and asked him If he would
be my companion for The evening. His
response was satisfactory. Consider
ing the 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 few weeks. knew this
was to enable him to get over the re-
fusal he had received from Molly Bris-
tow. In ten days he had pulled him
self together and one afternoon sur