The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-04-13
The BoNBoN MAN !
BY LILLIAN M. ROYCE

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Eva Richards glanced at her wrist
watch, then expectantly down the
street. With a disappointed look in
her blue eyes she bent her pretty head
over the typewriter and began making
out bills for her employer, Mr.. Tasker.
Somehow Eva had grown to look
forward to the semi-weekly visits Of
the bashful youth who, at exactly five
o'clock on Wednesdays and Saturdays
would ease his broad shoulders care
fully into the tiny shop. He always
bought bonbons. The young lady did
not care for chocolates, he said, and
so Eva always thought Of him as the
bonbon man. Though the candy must
be for his sweetheart, Of course, Eva
felt a personal interest III making the
box as attractive as possible. "Just
as If it were for me-" she confessed
to herself with blush.
On other evenings Eva had been in
no haste to reach her dreary little
room after hasty dinner in some
cheap restaurant, but tonight was diff
ferent. She had moved just the day
before to a large boarding house filed
with young people and she looked
forward to seeing them again. One
girl, especially, Alma Gray, had been
very friendly and finding that Eva
was stranger in the city had asked
her If she would like to go out some
evening with her, accompanied by
Alma's fiance, George Hamilton, and
his friend and roommate, Arthur
Bailey. Alma was sure she would like
Mr.. Bailey, but Of course no one could
be as nice as George. Perhaps they
might decide to go tonight. She re-
traced her steps to little millinery
shop and with a certain jaunty toque
In her possession, walked quickly to
the boarding house.
And there Alma met her with the
news that George and his friend were
to take them to the movies and to sup
per afterward. Eva couldn't help
wishing that the bonbon man were to
be her escort instead Of the mysteri-
GUS Mr.. Bailey, but she felt that she
was being ungrateful to Alma and
tried to keep her thoughts on the
party before her. Alma invited her
to stop in her room moment before
dinner, and there on the dresser Eva
spied box Of candy like the one she
TO roe ry11x tho
bonbon man an hour before.
do have some candy, Eva. I've
had this since Wednesday, but it's
still fresh. George brings me a box
twice week. There are no cnoco-
lates, though. I never eat chocolates
Eva felt that a piece of that candy
would choke her.
mo, thanks-I have a chance to
eat it all day if I like You see
work at Mr.. Tasker's candy store"
she said with an effort. So the bon
bon man was engaged to Alma. She
couldn't understand that young lady's
expression as she looked at her sharp
~ and then began to laugh.
"Oh, you do. This is too good" She
murmured about fate and Cupid's best
friend, but Eva was too miserable to
listen.
Then they hurried down to dinner,
but Eva no longer looked forward to
the evening. She had felt all along
that the bonbon man was engaged,
but she could not bear to see him at
tenttve to another girl, even Alma,
who had been so good to her. She
couldn't remember how she managed
to finish her dinner, but with all her
misery she was conscious that Alma
was very much excited about some
thing. They had to dress quickly and
Eva was just slipping on the new hat
| at becoming angle when Alma
knocked at the door.
"You look spiffy. Come on down.
The boys have come"
Alma led the way into the big par
| lor, and yes, there was the bonbon
man and another man waiting for
them.
Miss Richards, allow me to intro
duce Mr.. Hamilton" Eva half turned
! toward the bonbon man. But here
was the other man holding out his
hand.
"And this is Mr.. Bailey" said Alma,
turning toward the bonbon man. She
laughed as they shyly shook hands.
Arthur, don't you think I'm pref
| ty good friend to Cupid? You have
been wanting to meet the charming
girl who works in Mr.. Tasker's shop,
and here she Is. Eva, I thought I'd
see If you couldn't distract Arthur's
attention from his unknown lady fair
and you turn out to be the very one
herself"
'But don't understand" said Eva,
as they paired off and started down
the steps. "You always bought the
candy" The bonbon man laughed.
"Well, that was because George
| works out of town and has to catch
a certain car uptown which doesn't
give him time for any shopping. 1
was certainly faithful friend, but
Alma was getting tired Of the same
kind of candy all the time and I didn't
dare ask you out without meeting
you In the proper way and couldn't
find anyone who knew you, but it's all
right now" and he took her arm pos
! sessively as they walked down the
street.
Il always thought you were en-
gagged" murmured Eva.
"Not yet, but hope to be soon,"
the bonbon man replied meaningly as
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