Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-04-07
GIVING UP
TO DICK

III 80 6laQ 10 see you, margaret,
said the girl in the blue silk kimono,
looking up languidly from the lounge.
Put your wraps on the bed. I've al
ways felt that you and were kin
dred spirits and now l know we are
since you OWNED that / was dying to
see you. By the way, I'm not going
to Agnes party tonight. I've given
up society,""
"As BELTS good church woman dur
Ing Lent, Betty" Margaret returned.
sinking into rocking chair.
I'D almost forgotten it is Lent"
Betty confessed, Pumping up pillow
behind her head
What makes you look so dismal?
Didn't Dick call last night?" Margaret
asked.
"All his things, even the dear lit
tie cigarette he gave me the first night
we met, I've made into package to
return to him." declared Betty, tragic
ally. ut he's been such a trying or
deal that simply had to lie down."
Tell nae all about it. my DEAR Mar
6olOt III 6Su
Just after Christmas" Betty began,
Il happened to say to Dick-I mean
Mr.. Blount-that l liked calendars
l mean certain calendar. 1t hap
pened this way: We were going to
the theater and he had to stop at his
office for something. Over his desk
hung calendar with the picture Of
woman entitled, The Girl / Love-
or course it was an idealized subject
and really she wasn't in the least pref
ty, but just to show that | was not
jealous and to show also that l took
some interest in Mr.. Blount's sur
roundings l said, What a perfectly
beautiful calendar!'
He seemed quite pleased with my
admiration and the next night he
brought the calendar to me.
well, John Knight called the next
evening. When he saw the calendar
he said at once that he had beauty.
which he would bring to hang along
side 1t. He said he was glad to know
! liked calendars, because he liked
them, too. You know, Margaret,
never can bear to hurt another's feel
ings, so l permitted John to believe
that l longed to own his calendar also.
Perhaps l may have added, when he
hung it up beside MIR. Blount's, that
the other.
Bert Waldron called Sunday after
noon. He said he didn't know l was
fond of calendars. He added that he
had two beauties in his Office which
he'd send up on Monday. A messenger
boy brought them next day, together
with lovely big bouquet of violets.
Yesterday was Monday, wasn't it?
oh, it seems ages ago. Well, of course
hung Bert's calendars beside the
other two
Shortly afterward Prof Morton
/ dropped in with piece of music
which he promised me. When he saw
/ the calendars he said if he had known
| cared so much for such things he
would have sent me the one in his
studio, which he greatly priced be-
cause it reminded him of me- What
could say but that should be de-
lighted to own the calendar?
I'VE were just hanging it over my
desk last night when Mr.. Blount
called. You will never believe how
dreadfully he acted l was glad the
professor could remain only few
minutes-he was on his way to play
at recital. After he had gone, Mr..
Blount said he'd like to punch that
old FOOLS head He went on to say
that he didn't know / had craze for
calendars or he'd have sent me hun
bred. He said that after all the adj
miration l had wasted on his horrid
calendar and the interest l had taken
the trouble to show in his business!
| 1t will always be to my credit that I
smiled sweetly and amiably while he
was making his unkind remarks BY
way of changing the subject asked
him if he didn't think Bert's violets
were lovely.
81 never before realized how rude
Mr.. Blount is. When I asked him that
innocent question. he sprung to his
feet and, still with calendars on his
mind. positively roared out that his
office boy had calendar which doubt
less would be pleased to add to my
collection and he would send it up
Then he went away without even hold
ing my hand for the briefest moment
1.-THE calendar came a little while
ago, picture of a dreadful-looking
creature called The Coquette.' I'm
sure l can't imagine why Mr.. Blount
should have thought I'd like to add
that to my collection. AS matter OF
fact, it's burning up in the furnace
with the other calendars and all my
dreams.
Life is over for me, Margaret.
shall never speak to Mr.. Blount
again"
Please, Miss Betty, it's Mr.. Blount
calling you on the Phone" interposed
a white-capped maid at this moment
Betty sprung to her feet and flew
out of the room When she returned
her eyes were shining.