Smyrna times., 1932-05-11
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
UNUSUAL INTELLIGENCE
By Ruby Douglas
"W ANTED-A young woman
w of unusual intelligence to

! tisement over and over, her tenn
/ perature rising with each reading.
She had been lying on the reed
chaise Tongue in her own room read
ing weekly literary journal that
she always enjoyed Suddenly she
arose and went to the mirror on the
wall.
Il wonder if | might call myself
of unusual intelligence? she asked
herself, studying her own face crit
ically.
Barbara had always wanted to
handle books in some capacity.
They had had a fascination for her
ever since the days when she used
to go into her fathers untidy study
and sit on the floor to look at the
books he never had time to put
away nor space to shelve. She
wrote a little, but not books.
And now, into her very lap. had
dropped the idea. She picked up
the paper again and decided that
it was Fate whispering in her ear.
Il shall apply tonight" she de-
clared. Il always have more per-
sonality after noon. believe |
must be nocturnal. And the tav-
ern is sure to be candle lit-my
favorite atmosphere"
She had a small runabout that
she had named Asthma" and as
the diminutive car wheezed It's way
to the front of the tavern, whose
proprietors sought young woman
of unusual intelligence" Barbara
began to feel a trifie nervous about
her venture. However, it was too
late to turn back. and she parked
Asthma underneath a linden tree
and entered.
Business evidently was not
rushing. few moldy-looking per
sons sat in stalls here and there eat
ing and smoking and chatting. or
trying to read in the pickering can
die light. But Barbara liked the
place the moment she put her foot
over the threshold. and it mattered
not to her that business was dull.
A prepossessing man of middle
age approached her. He looked as
If he might have been an actor.
Il came to see If perhaps
might qualify for the position you
advertise in the Literary Review"
Barbara began.
"Oh-a-yes. Won't you sit DOWN."
Together they sought one of the
dark wooden tables in a stall. and
each sat on a bench. The man
moved the brass candlestick so that
the lighr would show him the young
applicants face.
you think you could sell books?'
asked the nan.
Barbara liked his rich, mellow
voice. II was a cultured voice. 81
feel sure that | should love to sell
them-here." she said simply.
"Why hereT queried the man.
81 like the atmosphere.
sit isn't exciting. There is nc
jazz, no obvious merriment," he in.
sisted.
81 understand. 1t seems to be q
place patterned after the old Eng.
lish tavefns of Pickwickian days"
the girl said. "It is just the sort
of place think we In this country
are beginning to need IL think
If you can hold cut. financially
she had guessed that it might be
problem-"undl the better sort OF
people here on the North Shore be
gin to know about you. you Will
have q great success Even In win
ter. with a big cracking log fire In
that great stone fireplace and tables
and comfortable chairs all about
and an atmosphere of leisure, / be
lieve both the tavern and the book
department will pay. All these
shelves should be well filed and
books should be intelligently shown
"What kind of fairy sent you to
me todayT asked the man.
Barbara laughed Perhaps the
ghost of my dad. who loved books
from every angle"
you can help me buy the books
as well as sell them" The man
was growing enthusiastic "Wiu you
would you come for a small com.
petence-to begin with?"
"Pd love to. I'm not completely
dependent, but I want to do some
thing congenial."
Later. over a cup Of coffee brought
to them by a quiet-looking young
woman. who looked as If she, too
had stepped out of Dickensoniar
days, Barbara and the struggling
proprietor Of the tavern book stall
had struck a bargain.
II feel sure ft has been a day that
will always be marked high on my
calendar" said Barbara. as she
cranked Asthma
"Tm hoping you won't be disap.
pointed. But |, too. feel that 1t has
been a golden day."
Barbara began her work the fol
lowing week, and the more she
delved into the business of making
a success of the book stall and this
tavern, the more she realized what
was coming over her. She was be
T.