Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-25
THE EVENING STORY.
80 ->-><-~>->->->-%> -s->->-s<-
Mr.. BLUM Is INVITED.
BY Lawrence Alfred Clay.

| W.T. oIS" 10 JlNVlI60s
BY Lawrence Alfred Clay.
| Copyright, 1910 by the Associated
Literary Press).
Mrs. Charles Denham, widow Of the
deceased stockbroker, was supposed to
be worth one million dollars in cash.
She was worth just one-f1fth of that
sum. Between what people supposed
and what was a fact, Mrs. Denham
was placed in an embarrassing posi-
ton. There were times when she was
really in need Of money.
Mrs. Denham had a niece. She
hadn't legally adopted her, but the
niece was one of the family, and was
told almost every other day that she
was to inherit what the aunt might
leave at her death. That is, she would
inherit if she was nice and good and
married the man the aunt should
select for her. Otherwise garnet and
starvation must stare her in the face.
1t was not curious that Miss Ethel
Lynn, the niece, fell in love at nine
teen with one of the very chaps her
aunt held in adherence and was
eternally lecturing her about and
seeking to guard her from.
Earl Manning had a very slim
patrimony, but he was hopeful and
ambitious, and at twenty-three the
world was before him. He would
have been very foolish not to fall in
love with handsome girl who cared
more for the man than the money.
Miss Ethel had, been very sly IN
this love affair. Her aunt's opinions
necessitated it. The engagement was
to 20 on and on and on until Earl
had accumulated a cool million. and
then they would appear before the
aunt and ask her consent. Meanwhile,
in public, they must act as if they
didn't care a snap for each other.
This was how Mr.. Blum came into
the fray. Mr. Blum was bachelor OF
forty. He was short and pudgy. He
was without hair on the top of his
head. He wore four diamond rings
on the fingers of his right hand, and
three on the fingers OF his left. He
wore other diamonds, with here and
there ruby.
Mr.. Blum sometimes squeezed into
society. He was supposed to be
banker, but as matter Of fact he
iewelry so often that society couldn't
exactly turn him out Of doors. It was
even whispered in society that Mr..
Blum was q great catch, but at the
same time he had very poor luck get
ting caught.
Mrs Denham was introduced to Mr..
Blum. Mr.. Blum was introduced 10
Miss Ethel Lynn. In three minutes
Mr.. Blum had made up his mind to be
a winner. In half that time Miss Ethel
had made up her mind to detest him.
Within four weeks, backed by the
good aunt, Mr.. Blum proposed. The
young lady announced herself too
Young to know her own mind, and
begged for time. This was very wise
in her. It was much better that tears,
threats, protestations, and a garrett
and crust.
July came. and Mrs. Denham moved
down to her manor house on the
sound. She would have gone else
where, but there was Blum. He was
to be invited down with few others
for a month for reasons SO obvious
that they stick out like knots on
log.
The question now was where was
Earl Manning? He had cousin Nv
ing within a mile of Mrs. Denham's
country place, and it is easy to enlist
a cousin in service. Mrs. Denham
and Mr.. Manning had met, but they
had not been mutually attracted. She
would have seen him start for Texas
before inviting him to the manor.
Ethel was a poor little girl Of nine
teen in the hands of an ambitious
aunt, who was looking at the money
side and of Mr.. Blum, who was look
ing at all sides! One reason he
wanted a young wife and hand
some one was to show her off at the
seventy-five cent table d'hote dinner
where he took his meals. There must
be plotting and scheming, and in this
the lover could give little aid 1t was
a miserable time until the bright idea
came. Then, at a stolen interview,
Miss Ethel said:
earl, your brother has motor
boat and I have sailboat."
Eyes"
"My aunt has never been in one.
Neither has Mr. Blum. / am going
to take them out. 1t may be tomor-
row, and it may not be for three
days 1t will be when the wind is
in the east and the morning cloudy.
It will be for you to have your boat
ready and be on the watch
''If you take Blum out it will en-
courage him." replied the jealous
young man.
will it? That's all young man
knows
He'll feel romantic and talk about