The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-10-11
THE RIVAL FIRMS.
Ichicnro Inter-ocean.1 l

IChicago Inter-ocean.1
Rufus Lynde had Just got comfortably
settled in his new store. The window (ft
had only one, being-well, not large
store) was, after much thought and ex-
perimenting, arranged to his satisfaction !;
the bright-colored searfs and cravats and
neck-ties forming a sort of rainbow
against the somber background of black
ones; the packages of kid gloves, show
ing the tips of their many-hued fingers
at the ends of their gilt and white wrap
pers; the gaudiest silk handkerchiefs
flying like jolly young flags about the
dozen or two other articles pertaining to
the masculine wardrobe which, in ad-
mirable taste and order, were grouped
below them when his one clerk, who
was also errand-boy, and several other
things-in fact, engaged for general
utility" as they say in the dramatic
profession-rushed in, with face every
feature of which said as plainly as
words, important newsF
Rufus looked at him a moment.
"What is it, Fred ?'' he asked, at last.
"One hundred and thirty-siK is taken,"
said Fred, pausing to give due effect to
whatever further communication he had
to make.
"Wellp queried his employer.
"Same business as ourn-gents
furnishing continued Fred.
"Don't say 'ourn,' and don't say
gents" said Rufus, in his surprise re-
lapsing for moment into his old role of
teacher.
"Well, it's" said Fred, sulkily.
"The deuce it isW exclaimed Rufus,
resuming the character of the man of
business, as he threw down the collars
he had been asserting and walked
moodily to the door.
Before the next store, which had been
vacant for long time, stood heavily
laden cart. Two men were unloading
and carrying in boxes and cases, the
same shape and size as those which had
contained his own goods. A tall, rather
rough-looking young man was superin-
tending, and boy--eyidently general
utility" like Fred--was darting hither
and thither, with great pretense of
rendering valuable assistance.
Rufus stepped out on the sidewalk,
whistling carelessly: and becoming at
once very much interested in an over
worked horse that had fallen across the
car-track; but as the horse was helped to
his feet by sympathizing crowd. he
slowly turned and came in again, giving
as he passed comprehensive glance at
the neighboring establishment.
Every pane in the window--it also had
only one window--shone like an over
grown diamond, and in each corner was
already placed, on a pretty walnut
stand, pot of ivy, the dark green
vines climbing the gray papered wall,
while the scarlet flowers of fourishing
geranium smiled gaily in the sunshine.
A sign above the door, beside which
the modest one bearing his name looked
like a dwarf beside a giant, bore, in
great glittering letters, the inscription,
q Bright & Co."
Going in for combining poetry with
business. 'Twon't pay" said Rufus,
referring 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 about his
rivals to be-" Bright & Co."
"This neighborhood won't support us
both, that's sure" he said. 1t must
be a hand-to-hand fight until one is left
victor. Too bad too bad Here's sister
Fan nicely married, and mother as
comfortable and happy as can be in the
little rooms around the corner, and l
thought saw smooth sailing before me
at last. After teaching school five long
years away out West, besides keeping
books for people and copying law docu-
ments far into the night, to say nothing
of living like miser all the time, on
purpose to save money enough to start
into business in my native city--to have
a fellow set up right next door in the
very same business, it's too much"
And Rufus shook his head at the
frowning face that looked at him from
the mirror that hung opposite.
A young face, and not disagreeable
one ION the contrary, quite an agreeable
one when minus the scowl), surmounted
by waving locks of bright auburn
some people call them red-and lighted
by a pair of sparkling real blue eyes.
Nose aquiline, mustache to match the
hair, mouth large and not so very ugly,
and the chin-well, perhaps if the chin
had been trife more prominent, and
the hair a shade less--auburn, Rufus
might have possessed more hopefulness
and better temper.
That very evening-such is the con-
sistency of man-in spite of his assertion
that that sort of things didn't pay"
Rufus bought at the nearest florists two
Madeira vines, smilax, and a spicy
carnation pink. The nextmorning there
they were sweetly blooming in his win
dow, when the tall, rather rough-looking
young man who had been overseeing the
carman of the day before, came
briskly in.
"Mr. Lynde I" said he.
. Rufus bowed stiff1y.
"Called to see if you'd let me take a
look at the arrangement of your window
from the inside-capital effect outside.
How do yeu manage? l don't know
much about such things myself"
What cool impertinencep thought
Rufus. And then he said, in an icy
manner, and in an icy tone, "Pm afraid
you won't be taught here, sir. 1t costs
me time, thought and patience to pro-
duce the capital effect of which you