Litchfield enquirer., 1877-06-07
From Harper's Bazaar.l BRIGHT a. co.

their many-hued fingers at the ends Q their white wrappers; the gaudiest sill handkercheifs flying like jolly young flag above the dozen or two other article pertaining to the masculine wardrobe which, in admirable taste and order wal grouped below them-whep his one clerk who was also errand boy, and several oth CT. things-in fact engaged for genera utillty," as they say in the dramatic pro fession-rushed i'll, with face every fea- ture of which said as plainly as-w0rds I sTmpprtant news ]" A I Rufus looked at him a moment "Wha is it. Fred?" he asked at last.
 One hundred and thlrtY-slx IS taken, said Fred, pausing to give due effect te whatever further communication he haG to make.
 w ell ?" queriad his employer.
 Same business as ourn-gents' fur nishing" continued Fred.
 "Dont say ''ourn, and don't say gents'" said Rufus, in his surprise re' lapslng for moment into his old role of teacher.
 :Well, 'tis," said Fred, sulkily.
 ''The deuce it IS !' exclaimed Rufus, mess. as he threw down the collars he
  l to the door. -.
 Before the next store which had been 1 vacant for long time, stood a heavily laden cart. Two men were unloading and sers nssino i'm hnxas and cases the same e~..sp e shape and size as those which had Ing. ing and boy~evidently general utility" like Fred-was darting hither and thither with a great pretense of rendering valuable assistance.
 Rufus stepped out on the sidewalk. wh,stling carelessly, and becoming at once very much intererested in an over- worked horse that was helped to his feet by sympathizing crowd, he slowly turn ed and came in again, giving as he passed | 6 comprehensive glance at the nelghbor- ing establishment. Every pane in the window-it also had only one window-it shone like an over. grown diamond, and in each corner was placed. on 8 pretty walnut stand, a pot of ivy, the dark-gray papered wall, while the scarlet flowers of fiourishing gera. nium smiled gayly in the sunshine. A slgn above the door, beside which the modest one bearing his name looked like dwarf. beside giant, bore in great glittering letters the inscription, Bright & Go"
 "Goiug in for combining poetry with business. Twon't pay" said Rufus, re- ferring to the ivy and geranium, as he slammed his own door behind him, and seating himself at his desk. took up the morning paper, but not to read. He had lost all interest in the political situation; all he did was to gaze vacantly at the printed sheet, and think abont his rivals to be Bright X Go.
 "rhis neighborhood won't support us both, that's snre, he sad. It must be hard fight until one is left victor. Too bad Too bad Here's sister Fan nicely married, and mother as comforta. ble and happy as can be in her little room around the corner. and I thought I saw smooth sailing before me at last. After teaching school for five long years away out West, besides keeping books for peo. pie and copying law-documents far into the night, to say nothing of living like a miser all the time. on purpose to save money enough to start in buslness in my native city, to have fellow set right up in the very same business next door, it's toe bad;" and Rufus shook his head at the frowning face in the mirror that hung op. posite.
 A young face and not disagreeable one (on the contrary, quite an agreeable one when minus the scowl), surmounted by waves of bright auburn-some people called them red-and frightened by pail of sparkling, real blue eyes. Nose aqui line, mustache 10 match the hair, mouth large, and not so very ugly. If the chin had been trifie moro prominent, and the hair a shade less-aubnrn, Rufu! might. have possessed more hopefnlness and better temper.
 That very evening-such is the incon. sistency of man-in spite of his assertion that 'that sort of thing didn't pay" Ru | fus bought at the nearest florists two Ma deira vines, 8 smilax, and g. spicy carna ton pink, and the next morning there they were sweetly blooming in his window when the tall. rather gh-looking young man who been overseeing the carmen thu day before, came briskly in.
 "Mr. Lynde ?" said he.
 Ruins bowed stiffiY.
 "Called to see if you let me take lool at the arrangement of the window from the inside-capital effect from the out side. How do you manage? I don't know much about such things myself.
 What cool impertinence though | ner and in an ICY tone. "I'm afraid 70, won't be taught here. Sir. It cost m. time, thought and patience to produce tn, capital effect" of which you speak. To, must use your own bra ms. Mine are no at your service"
 "Oh, that. is the way you feel, is it?" sai, the young man with chuckle. "WeIl, guess Bright X Go. can do without you: and he disappeared as suddenly as h came.
 And apparently "Bright & Go. could for in two or three hours the shop win dow of that enterprislng firm bnist upol the admiring gaze of the passers-by lik a whole garden of flowers.
 Such delicate mingling of shades ant skillful combination of scolors had neve been seen in shop window before.-a least not in that avenue. Dark purpl scarfs and ribbons prettily entwined wit those of pale yellow; smoklng.caps gay ii crimsons and golds. and blues and buffs and scarlets and green; bows ofg- ever. hue, looking like a flock of gigantic but terfiies clipging to carpet of dark brow velvet; beautifully embroidered slippers silken and satin watch -fobs of many fan tastic shapes; pipe-holders quaint an l graceful in design; and fifty other thing Rufus had never thought of, "but whic women will be just fools enough to bu
 and give to men, he said to himself, bi, terly-shone from his neighbor's window
 Poor fellow that gorgeous windo completely 'eclipsed his own, and he sa' with a -sheaftache,a the people pass h door day after day and enter the mol 8 attractive store. of Bright & Co.," T 4 week went by during which NJ . Lynde refused the loan of hammer- y they had mislaid theirs ito his neighbo
 kicked their cat --fit was very gent !. kick, and intended more for . hint tha i anything, ,eiseD when she chased . hgif
 rat into his store and under his connte
 and Fred had arough and tumble Iigl V with their boyi *'cause he swept all q 7 dirt of his own sidewalk onto our n. -. Then, one suncommoniy bright an pleasant Monday morning. as Rufus, II 1 freshed hy the Sabbath rest. was comiI E down the, st. eets humming an, old hyn tune ~h:ch his m0ther-go good old Meth !. dist--was fond of singIngy and happily fu