Two financially motivated engagements collapse when May and June discover a genuine attraction, leaving the older pair with an emotionally uncertain ending.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Two Unequal Proposals
June proposes to wealthy October and reacts with disgust when she accepts. December then proposes to poor May, who agrees reluctantly.
Key Events
June Proposes to October — Penniless June reluctantly proposes to wealthy, older October. Characters: June, October
October Accepts — October accepts June's proposal. Characters: June, October
June Shows Disgust — June reacts with disgust after the proposal is accepted. Characters: June, October
December Proposes to May — Rich, elderly December proposes to poor, young May. Characters: December, May
May Reluctantly Agrees — May accepts December's proposal despite her reluctance. Characters: May, December
An Unexpected Attraction
The two couples meet, revealing that October and December know each other. May and June are immediately attracted despite their separate engagements.
Key Events
The Couples Meet — The two newly formed couples encounter one another. Characters: May, June, October, December
Old Acquaintance Revealed — October and December are revealed to know each other. Characters: October, December
May and June Connect — May and June become immediately attracted to each other. Characters: May, June
Second Encounter — The four characters meet again. Characters: May, June, October, December
Young Pair Left Alone — May and June are left alone together. Characters: May, June
Confessions of Convenience
Left alone during a second encounter, May and June admit that they are marrying for money. They conclude that the price of such marriages is too high.
Key Events
May Confesses Her Motive — May confides that she is marrying for money. Characters: May, June
June Confesses His Motive — June admits that he is also marrying for money. Characters: May, June
The Price Seems Too High — They decide that the financial price of marriage is too high. Characters: May, June
Older Pair Returns — October and December return to the young couple. Characters: May, June, October, December
The Rings Final Consequence
May and June cancel the marriages, and May returns December's engagement ring before the young couple leaves. October faints, then takes the ring after recovering, leaving December dismayed.
Key Events
Marriages Are Rejected — May and June announce that both marriages are off. Characters: May, June, October, December
May Returns the Ring — May returns December's engagement ring. Characters: May, December
Young Couple Departs — May and June leave together after rejecting the marriages. Characters: May, June
October Faints — October faints after the younger couple departs. Characters: October, December
December Catches October — October faints into December's arms. Characters: October, December
October Recovers — October recovers after fainting. Characters: October, December
October Takes the Ring — October takes the returned ring and puts it on her finger. Characters: October, December
December Is Dismayed — December reacts with dismay to October wearing the ring. Characters: October, December
Story Breakdown
June's Uneasy Proposal — June seeks security through an unwanted proposal to the wealthy October.
Penniless Suitor — June is introduced as penniless before proposing.
Accepted Engagement — October accepts, provoking June's disgust.
May's Reluctant Agreement — May accepts December's proposal despite the unequal age and wealth relationship.
December's Proposal — The rich, elderly December proposes to May.
May Accepts — May agrees, though reluctantly.
The Couples Meet — The two engagements intersect and reveal an existing connection between October and December.
Shared Encounter — Both couples meet for the first time.
Known Acquaintances — October and December are shown to know each other.
Young Attraction — May and June form the emotional center of the story through immediate attraction.
Immediate Chemistry — May and June are immediately attracted.
Private Encounter — They are later left alone together.
Truth About Marriage — The young pair confronts the financial motives behind their engagements.
Mutual Confession — Both admit they are marrying for money.
Cost Reconsidered — They decide the price is too high.
Broken Engagements — May and June reject their planned marriages and separate from the older partners.
Marriages Cancelled — They tell October and December that the marriages are off.
Young Couple Leaves — May returns the ring and departs with June.
The Ring's Aftermath — The abandoned engagement ring produces the final emotional reversal.
October Faints — October faints into December's arms after the departure.
December's Dismay — October wears the ring after recovering, to December's dismay.
The quartet comprising this story are of ages as the months are to each other. June, a young college boy, finds his resources in depletion, and to improve his financial condition, proposes to October, a wealthy spinster of the "where-is-he" stage, and is accepted with avidity, and so these two soul "mis"-mates start their engagement inning. Later, December, a wealthy old bachelor, proposes to May, a pretty miss of eighteen, and the promise of fine gowns, jewels and automobiles, so dear to the heart of the fair sex, induces her to accept with half-hearted tolerance, hence they also start the engagement period. Everything goes finely until the quartet meet.
