The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-07-05

and lighted by apair of sparklin!
real blue eyes. Nose aquiline, mus
tache to match the hair, mouth large
and not very ugly, and the chin-wei
perhaps it the chin had been Il trifi,
more prominent, and the hair s. shade
less auburn, Rufus might have pos
-sessed more hopefulness and bet
ter temper.
That very evening-such is the in.
consistency Of man-in spite of his as
sertion that that sort of thing don't
pay Rufus bought at the neares!
florists two madeira vines. smilax
and a spicy carnation pink, and the
next morning there they were sweetly
blooming in his window, when the
tall, rather rough looking young man
who had been overseeing the carman
the day before came briskly in.
'Mr. Lynde ? said he.
Rufus bowed stif1iy.
Called to see il you'd let me take a
look at the arrangement of your win
dow from the inside-cspital effect
outside. How do you manage? /
don't know much about such things
myself
What cool impertinence! 7 thought
Rufus. And then he said in all ICY
manner and in an icy tone: "Pm
afraid you won't be taught here, sir.
1t cost me time, thought and patience
to produce the capital effect of which
you speak. You must use your own
brains. Mine are not at your SERVICE.
'Ohl is that the way you feel ? said
the young man, with chnckle. Well.
1 guess Bright & CO. can get along
without you,' and he disap,. feared as
suddenly as he came.
And apparently Bright u Co. could,
for in two or three hours the shop
window of that enterprising firm
burst upon the admir.mg gaze of the
passers-by like whole garden OF
flowers.
Such a delicate mingling of shades
and sk:lltul combination OF colors had
never been seen in shop window be-
tore-at least not in that avenue. Dark
purple scarfs and ribbons prcttiiy en-
twined with those of pale yellow ;
smoking caps gay in crimson and gold
and blues and bntfs, and scarets and
green; bows of every hue, looking
like flock of gigantic butterflies
clinging TO carpet OF dark brown
velvet beautifully embroidered slip
pers; silken and satin watch fobs of
many fantastic shapes; pipe-holders,
quaint and graceful i'll design; and
fifty other things Rufus had never
thought of before. but. which women
will be just fools enough to buy and
give to men, he said to himself, bitter
ly-shone from his .neighbor's win
dow.
Poor fellow! That gorgeous win
dow completely eclipsed his own, and
he saw with heartache, the people
pass his door day after day, and enter
the more attractive store OF Bright &
Co.
A week went by, during which MIR.
Lynde refused the loan of hammer
they had mislaid theirs-.to his neigh
bors, kicked their cat Git was a very
gentle kick, and intended more for
hint than anything else) when she
chased flying rat into his store and
under his counter, and Fred had
rough and tumble fight with their BOY
cause he swept all the dirt off his own
sidewalk onto ourn.'
Then, one uncommonly bright and
pleasant Monday morning. as Rufus,
refreshed by the Sabbath rest, was
down the street, humming all
old hymn tune which his mother
good old Methodist-wasf fond of sing
ing, and happily forgetful for the mo-
ment of all life's cares and vexations,
his eye was caught by an unusual
glare at the very top of Bright Sc Co.'S
A mammoth sign had been
placed there, calling attention in enor-
fat letters of the giltiest gilt
large enough to be seen at least half
q mile away-to the business of that
and aggravatingly go
ahead firm; and that sign trespassed
at least two or three inches on his own
premises.
Rufus ceased humming, scowled,
quickened his steps, entered his store.
seated himself at his desk, flung his
hat on the floor, ran his fingers
through his sanguinary locks. until
Ihey stood up like an sureoie around
his head, seized pen, paper and ink,
and dashed off the following note:
MIR. Lynde's compliments to Bright
Il Co, and begs to cali their attention
10 the fact that their last and bigges,
sign exceeds the limits allowed them
by law.
This, with a snort of delight, as
War-horae that scenteih the battle aisr,
did Fred receive and hasten to deliver
next door, to return with an answer
equally concise, written in a large,
bold, but rather scrawly hand:
Bright & Go. are sorry that the Sign
maker shorl have natie such a mis-
take; but unless Mr. Lynde wishes 10
II up a similar sign they are at q loss
to see how SO slight an infringement
can interfere with him.
'Oh, indeed = said Rufus, his face al
most as fiery as his hair. 'What re-
markable cOolness the fellow has d! But
I'll let him see he can't completely
his humble uei.hbor,
and forthwith dispatched another
note:
Mr.. Lynde demands the instsnt re-
moval of the before mentioned sign,
Or Mr.. Lyndc's lawyer will wait on