Evening star., 1926-09-05

A passing man who was in rush
to get wherever he was bound for
the sort of man who is going to
Heaven if he ever takes time to die
hurried a coin out of pocket, dropped
it in one extended hand and was
sprinting off when the ancient man
halted him with shrill reminder to
come back and get what he had paid
for. The customer must have thought
this a remarkable matter, for he
wheeled back to say that he had no
use for shoestrings and had q peck of
pencils which he rarely used, because
he preferred a pen. He just wanted
to help out
Il supposed it was an understood
thing that people We're to give without
taking. Don't know that | ever saw
any customer go off with a pencil or
whatever it was on sale
We'll, sir, I'm not that kind. I'm
no beggarS My business is to sell pen
ellis and Shoestrings and matches. And
besides, If some of us have got in the
habit of not expecting customers to
take off the goods they buy, it is the
fault of their good nature. They think
it helpful thing to contribute-Which
is not the case, since it teaches the
peddler to be a pauper instead OF
trying to run a little business same as
you may run a big one. 1t kills his
self-respect until now many in my
business have come to think they are
entitled to keep their stock in hand. -
The customer touched his hat, Sc
lected green-coated pencil and men
toned that it was the first time he
had ever known a pencil seller to show
any symptom of expecting a customer
to take what he had paid for.
II bet you are the only one in
town." he added.
The ancient man gave a contradic-
tory shake of the head:
You are mistaken. There are al
ways Others-in everything"
Wisdom is worth buying" agreed
the man. "Give me a couple more
pencils
Then he sprinted on again, and the
peddler waited on-With the sunshine
covering him like a yellow blanket
brand new.
HER bob was of a gloriously fam
boyant red that the sunshine
turned into gold mine And her
skin--where it wasn't painted-was
of the satin white of a BRIDES gown.
The rest of her was a one-piece of
green organdy from low neck to
knee tops. And she stood at a
counter considering q string of
pearls.
AS she filtered them through her
fingers each bead held glow of
faintest iridescenCe, and a customer
standing by caught a picture of their
beauty against the youthful slimness
of the purchasers neck-for she
couldn't resist, though obviously the
buying of them gave her finances a
pinch. However, the lure of posses
sion is world old. And the clerk
shuff1ed the treasure into little paper
bag.
She was such a pretty youngster
and so adorably foolish than an on
looking customer, who wouldn't wear
pearls if you gave her a peck-if you
had seen her you would know why
had to chip in with remark as to
the becomingness of the gems. OF
course, the adage tells us that praise
to the face is open disgrace. which
is. doubtless the reason SO many WiSt-
full lives fade out and die without ever
having had a word of praise from
those who should have encouraged
them, but, anyway:
pearls would be becoming, and the
girl bubbled with joy:
That's lovely in you to say so!
think they will, too. Of course, they
aren't real. l know a girl who has
real pearls she paid a lot for, though
she bought them on a Friday when
they We're marked down from $5 to
S449. Still, when I get these on
bet they will look as real as hers"
The woman remarked that she bet
so, too, and the girl bubbled on:
ME and my friend are going on a
moonlight tomorrow, and nom got
me a real cute little white voile with
low neck and sleeves, and if 1 don't
let on l just paid 10 cents for them
nobody could tell the difference. Do
you honestly think they could?
bet they win look just as good on me
as them pearls that rich woman got
robbed Of in the newspapers, don't
you think SOP
The woman agreed and to herself
felt that she could take her affidavit
that the many ladies-mainly dow
agers-whose lost or stolen pearls get