Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-03-04
John Blunt 5
Infatuaton
By ESTHER VANDEVE.R

John Blunt, gentleman's valet by
profession, just now out of position,
was going up to his room on the fourth
floor of tenement house when he no.
ticed dainty glove on the stair be-
fore him. Seeing figure in skirts
ahead of him. he picked up the glove
and, Fastening on, asked the somely
young woman he overlook if the glove
belonged to her. She smilingly ac-
knowledged that it did and thanked
Mr.. Blunt accordingly. Moreover, he
noticed or fancied he noticed look
of admiration in the young woman's
eyes which was not surprising. for he
was good looking man.
Il 'aven't seen you in the building
before" said John. cave you been
ere long?"
"Honly a few days. Me and my
mother ave couple O. rooms on the
next floor above, but I'll not be 'ere
very long. I'm looking for place."
What kind of place."
"a lady's maid"
"Mebbe l can 'elp you to that. I'm
valley myself when I'm at work and
know a lot o. swell folks
IF you do, please let me know. I'm
in No. on the next floor above"
The very next day Mr.. Blunt rap
ped at No. and was admitted by
an elderly woman. who called out
Susan! and in came the young wo-
man he had met the day before. He
said he had Failed to get some infor-
nation as to what wages she would
expect and other items of like nature,
but in reality he was DESTROYS of form
ing SuSanS acquaintance.
There are triflers among the lowly
as we'll us among the swells. and Mr..
Blunt was bent on an affair with the
pretty lady's maid. He called often.
and his attentions appeared to be high
ly appreciated. Susan seemed bit
fond of tinery and jewelry, and Mr..
Blunt considered himself fortunate in
being able to crafty her, especially in
the matter Of jewelry. He made her
presents of few inexpensive orna-
ments, but they did not seem to satisfy
and in order to gain her good will pro-
duced articles of greater value Finally
he found himself so deeply infatuated
that he proposed marriage.
| To his surprise Susan refused him.
Nevertheless from time to time she
she might reconsider her refusal. She
said that she had expensive tastes and
was afraid that he would not be able
! to crafty them. She limited at suit
or. plumber. who had made Il great
deal of money. but she did not love
him. Nevertheless she was thinking
of marrying him because he could give
her what she craved-jeTelS.
Upon this John SHE'D off for awhile
Susan didn't seem to mind the change
in his attentions to her a bit. Indeed.
she scarcely noticed him when they
met. One day she told him that she
was in receipt of handsome presents
from the plumber and she expected a
proposal.
Soon after she had told John this he
came to her one day with a brooch
containing several large diamonds. tell
ing her that his last master, a stock
broker. had given him tip by which
he had made lot of money. He had
spent a part of it for his beloved Su-
san.
Susan's eyes sparkled with pleasure
at seeing the ornament. She put it on
and admired it and herself in mirror
You look fine in it, Susan" said he,
loYer. Pm SO 'appy at my luck in
making the money to buy it for you
seeing as 'ow now you needn't ave tx
give yourself to the plumber"
But Susan did not quite accede tx
the proposition. John begged her t.
end his suspense and agree to marry
him. but she said that the expense o.
, living was rising every day and sh'
> was afraid that without permanent
income they would come to grief. Shl
would rather remain single and be .
: lady's maid than be married and il
poverty.
But John did not despair, for he
love for jewelry seemed to him to havt
been born in her, and his old master
the stockbroker, gave him another til
and he made more money. This tim
he gave Susan bracelet, serpen
with ruby eyes. Again Susan was de
lighted and seemed to warm; but
though on the verge of consenting, sh
did not consent.
One day John called to see his low
when she was not at home. He
mother received him and said to him:
"I'm doing all | can for you. JOIN
with Susan. Persevere and you'll wiz
It's the jewels that's doing it."
After this John became reckless i
his gifts, and before long Susan pos
sessed jewels enough to decorate
duchess.
One day when John called at No.
he elected no response. He tried tn
door and found it locked. The sam
evening he tried it again with Xix
result. When couple of days ha
passed and No. 8 was still locked job
made IN his mind that something wa