originally published The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1964
Irvin Rubin is a schlub who works for a small press publisher and hates his life. One day he starts hitting up his co-worker, June Kramer, for tips and help with his romantic life. It seems he's met a girl. A mysterious, beautiful, fashionable girl, who walks her dachsunds and shares Irv's belief that HPL is the greatest author that's ever been.
He pulls June out of her bridge game to come to his boarding house room and make it look like he has a social life, cuz the mystery girl's on her way over. She doesn't show. And doesn't show. And as June is finally making her way home, Irv running after her begging her to stay, mystery girl does show. But something about her frightens June off.
Irv returns to work and says he and the mystery girl are getting married. Soon after another co-worker sees them walking in the park. Soon after Irv turns up dead. One day the mystery girl is seen out walking her dogs again. This time she's carrying a copy of Ovid's poems.
Very well written but … HUH?
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