Evening star., 1938-12-25


"A Wandering Troubadour?' Out of it? Well.
darn - Give me this, please I'll take
this one . How long do l have to wait
for my change, lady:
A man was showing half-dozen books at
her. An inconspcuous little man with an air
of annoyed impatience.
Please let me have these, madam
His face came into focus - plump face
with blond mustache turning gray. A
familiar face.
Hello" she said. For minute the name
eluded her. Then it came Wilbur Blon!
The man stared back at her Hello" he
said, why hello. Clara! Well, III be darned.
Do you work here?"
Neither of them noticed that the question
was something of record in the obvious
Yes" she said For eleven years now
Wilbur Blon, of all people! She hadn't seen
him for - let's see. must be all of twenty
years now. Nice little fellow. Used to tend the
soda counter in her fathers drugstore. Used
to follow her with adoring eyes which she
pretended not to notice He had the mustache
even then. An Intellectual sort, but very nice
in a shy way. Always pottering around, trying
new frappas.
What are you doing now Wilbur" she
asked, wrapping his books Presents, no
doubt, for his children.
The question foored MIR. Blon for mo-
ment. 1t had been a long time since anybody
asked him what he was doing for living.
And, obviously, that was what she meant.
Why - I'm in business. he said.
For yourself? That s nice, Wilbur
He was cropping for the name of the young
lawyer she married. Something like Grunder
A very stalwart, handsome fellow, the lawyer
Wilbur had heard that he died after year;
somebody told him that and added that the
widow was expecting baby. He'd been rather
shocked, because he had been so bitterly,
secretly envious of him.
Obviously Clara didn't read newspapers
much Asking him, that way, what he was
doing No: she always read books, not news
papers. And here she was selling them. Re-
markable. though, how beautifully preserved
she was Still pretty. And she must be all Of
let's see - forty-one or so, now. Nice trim
figure yet. A smart looking woman.
He'd been terribly in love with her Gosh
yes. He'd never forget the time her father
invited him and the pharmacist and the girl
who sold cosmetics up to the house for little
Christmas Eve supper. Come to think of it.
wasn't that a coincidence. though? Here it
was Christmas Eve again, more than twenty
years later. and he d run into her accidentally.
He would never forget that old Christmas
Eve. He'd danced with her. Danced silently,
feeling futtery. She was so beautiful, and she
used some perfume that titillated his senses.
He'd dreamed about that perfume for weeks.
He said. We'll, isn't it small world,
Clara?"
She said Isn't it though, Wilbur
His package was ready and he gave her a
twenty dollar BILL He had to wait while she
stuffed the bill and sales slip into the little
tube carrier and sent it whirring away She
couldn't stand and talk to him. She was busy
Of course. People were showing books at her,
money, hurting questions What woman,
1e thought. Look how calm and patient and
cheerful she was with all of them, always a
bright smile even for the most impossible
mes. And he'd been cranky because he ID had
O take little buffetng.
Clara Munder was thinking of him while
he waited on the others. He hadn't changed
much in these years, really. A little more
(Continved on poos 1O)