The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-31

a grand display OF goods in the window |
aud before the doors of Mrs. Wilbank,
with prices attached to them which |
speedily drew away the crowds who for
merly tucked to the store of Harold. |
The latter was no less surprised than
indignant; though that he should be
indignant was rather strange, for had he
not lnaugurated the " war of prices. "
In less :han a week Harold had mar.
ked his goods still lower than those OF
his enterprising rival, fully expecting to
thus effectually crush her, and compel
her 20 abandon the unequal conquest, as
he styled it. But If he meant that his
rival was the party who was unequal in
the contest, he was destined to be great.
ly mistaken, for to the surprise of the
whole town, as we'll as of himself, Mrs.
Wilbank not only reduced her goods to
a level with his prices, but actually had
new stock forwarded to her from one
of the most prominent establishments
in Philadelphia, all Of which she offer
ed at the prices Harold asked for his
old stock.
The unhappy rivalry was checked at
this stage. Harold was obliged to sue
cumb; he had almost ruined himself in
the unmanly endeavor to effect that of
anorher, He put the former standard
prices on his goods, supposing his suo.
cesstul rival would follow his example.
But in this he was disappointed Tho
Mrs. WiIbank did raise the prices, she
still sold her goods lower than Harold.
S e sold at slight advance of first
cest, so she sad, and hoped to secure
the patronage Of the town when the cit.
izens would learn that her prices were
no higher than those of Philadelphia.
This assertion was ascertained to be
literal fact, and the consequence was
tina. she secured the balance Of power
in her hand, and held it, too. Harold
was completely defeated, though he
would not acknowledge it.
Months few by, and one night the
store OF Mrs. Wilbank was burned to
the ground. Some of the citizens Sc.
cretly suspected it to be the work OF
Harold but, as there was no evidence
to warrant such charge, none accused
him of it, though he was base enough
for such dastardly deed. However,
cor trary to the fears of her friends
Mrs. Wilbank was not at all depressed
in spirits She made arrangements with
neigbbor to open shop in his resi-
dence. and, in few weeks, richer dis.
play Of goods than ever was presented
to the astonished gaze Of the citizens.
Harold was heard to say that he be.
lieved the evil one aided her, or that
she must have had large sum of mon.
ey in bank, to enable her to recover Sc
soon from hel misfortune. Part of the
mystery was made clear by the fact that
both her property and goods had been
fully Insured hence no loss had been
sustained by her, save the temporary
suspension OF business occasio ned by the
fire.
A new building, larger than the for
mer, was in course of erection in a short
time, and ere many months had expired
Mrs. Wilbank was established in hel
new store, which was stocked with good.
Of every description pertaining to the
dry goods profession. Haroid's stor,
dwindled into "thread and ueedl,
shop" when compared with the "nev
store" and every day that saw the pros
perity of the widow witnessed the de
cline of Joshua Harold. Doubtless, b,
saw the folly he had beeu guilty o
when too late, and in chewing the cue
Of better reflection, he severely con
demned his more fortunate rival, ye
scarcely once thought that this strang
state of affairs had mostly been brough
about by his own acts.
1t is now time to explain how a wo
man, who was supposed to be only a re
move or two above dependence, coulC
compete so successfully with so deter
mined and perscvering rival as Josh
ua Harold had proved himself
Some years before our story opened
Harold was travelling in Europe. Ii
became intimate with young married
lady named Downe. Her husband wa
absent from home at the time, and Har
old being a handsome young fellow
with fascinating address, coutrived t
entlce her from her home, taking he
only child, boy, with her. They cam
to n America, and in the meantime wer
informed OF the de ith OF Chas. Downe
her husband lie uied Of grle so th
statement said
Richard Harold, or as his real nam,
was, Richard owne, met his uncle, Ed
ward Downe, in Liverpool, whence b,
r Intended to embark TOR the New World
in search Of the boy, who, in the mean
, time had become heir to an earldom an
immense estates Edward Downe, be
Ing an upright person, and declining
; appropriate the wealth aud title of al
D other while hope remained OF his e1
g istence, was delighted to meet with ou
r hero, whom he recognized by his stron
resemblance to his (Riehard's) fathe