The Republican journal., 1877-10-25
BRIGHT Il co.

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store) was after much thought and expert
menting, arranged to his satisfaction; the
bright colored scarts aud cravats and
neckties forming A sort Of rainbow against
the Sombre back ground of black ones
the packages Of kid gloves, showing the
tips Of their many -hued fingers at the
ends Of their gilt and white wrappers
the @audiest silk handkerciiets flying like
Jolly Young ttag5 about the dozen or two
other articles pertaining to the masculine
wardrobe. which, in admirable taste and
order, were grouped below them when
his one clerk, who was also prrand boy
and several other things in fact, en-
gagged t"r general utility ,t5 they say
IN he dramatic profession rushed in,
with a face every feature of which said
as plainly rs words. "important news
Rufus looked at him a moment "What
is it, Fred ,' he asked, at last.
zone hundred and thirty -siN is taken"
said Fred, pausin4 to give due effect to
whatever further communication he had
to make.
'Well ;" queIied his employer.
Same business rs ourn, gents far
niahng" continued Fred
i''ll HtN 'Nl II; IIl' 'i'il say gtlllN,
said Rufus in his surprise relapsing for a
moment into his old role OF teacher.
'Well, It's said Fred sulkiIy.
The deuce ii is ;" exclaimed Rufus.
resumlng the character of the man OF
business, as he threw down the collars he
had been asserting and walked muolily
tu The door
Before the neAt store, which had been
vacant for Il long time, stood Il heavily
laden cart. Two men We're unloading
and carrying in boxes and cases the same
shape and size as those which had con
tanned his own goods. A tail, rather
rough looking young man Was Sllperin-
tending, and Il boy evidently general
utility" like Fred was darting hither and
thither with 4 great pretencc of rendel-
ing valuable assistance.
kafus stepped out on the sidewalk.
Whistling careessly, and becoming at
once Very much interested in an over
worked horse that had fallen across the
ear track but as the horse was helped
to his feet by Il sympathlzlng crowd, he
slowly turned and came in again, giving
as he passed comprehensive glance at
the neghhoring establishment.
Every pane in the window also had
only one window Shone like IN over
grown diamond and in each corner was
already placed, on !; pretty walnut stand,
Il pot Of ivy. the dark green vines climb
ing the gray papcred WALL while the
scarlet flowers OF tlourishng geranium
smiled gayly in the sunshine,
\ sign above the door, beside which
the modest one bearing his name looked
like a dwarf beside 4 giant, bore in great
glitterng letters the inscription, '-Bright
4 Co."
Going IN for combining poetry with
business. 'IWon't pay" said Rufus, re
ttrring to the ivy und geraniuln, us he
slammed his own door behind him, and
seating himself at his desk, took up the
morning paper, but not to read. He had
all he did was to gaze Vacantly at the
printed sheet and think about his rivals
to be Bright <. CO..
This ncighborhocd won't support us
both, that's sure" he said. i 1t must be
a hand to- hand fight until one is left vie
tor. TOO bad too bad Here's sister
Fan nicely married. and mother Us COM
lortahly and happy as can be in her little
rooms around the corner, and thought
saw smooth sailing before me al last.
After teaching school five long years out
West, besides keeping books ior people
and copying law documents far into the
night, to say nothing Of living like a mlstl
ali the time, on purpose to save money
enough To start in business in my native
city to have a fellow set up right next
door in The very same business it's toe
much :" and Rufus shook his head Ut the
tr0WninG face that looked at him from the
mirror that hung opposite.
\ Young face, and not Il disagrtrablt
one ton 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
pain Of sparkling blue eyes. Nose aqui-
line, mustacle to match the hair, mouth
large and not 50 very ugly, and the chin
well perhaps if the chin had been Il
tritie more prominent, and the hair a
shade less auburn, Rufus might have
possessed more hupttulnesS and a better
temper.
That very evening such is the incon-
@Strncy of man in spite OF his assertion
that that sort OF thing didn't pay" Ru
fus bought ut the nearest florists two
MADEIRA vines, Il smilaX, and a spicy car
nation pink, and the next morning there
they were sWeetly blooming in his Win
dow, when the tall, rather rough looking
Young man who had been o\ \eraeeing the
carmen the day before, came brskly in
MIR LNnde :" said he
Rufus bowed StiI11N.
Called to see if you'd let me take Il
look at the arrangement Of Your window
from the inside capital effect outside.
How do you manage | don't know
much about such things myself"
What cool impertnence thought
Rufus. And then he said, in an icy man
ner and in an icy tone, "Im afraid YOU
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"
'Oh is that the way you feel y said
the young man with chuckle. ''Well,
guess Bright Il Co. can do without you y
and he disappeared as suddenly as he
came.
And apparently "Bright q Co." could,
for in two or three hours the shop win
dow of that enterprising firm burst upon
the admring gaze Of the passer by like a
whole garden Of flowers.
Such delicate mingling Of shades and
skillful combination of colOrs had never
been seen in "a shop window before at
least, not in that avenue. Dark purple
scarts and ribbons prettily entwined with
those of pale yellow smoking caps gay
in crims0ns and Colds, and blues and
bluffs, and scarlets and green's; bows of
every hue, looking like a flock Of gigantic
butterflies clinging to carpet of dark
brown velvet; beautifully embroidered
SINNERS. silk and satin watch fObS of