Litchfield enquirer., 1877-06-07

ana gfk sign trespassed at least two inch
 es on his own premises.
 Rufus ceased humming. scowled, quick. ened his steps, entered his store, seated himself at bis desk, flung his hat on the floor. ran his fingers through his sanguin. ary locks until they stood up like an aure. ole around his head, seized pen, paper, and ink, and dashed of the following < note:
 l "Mr Lynde's compliments to Bright < Co, and begs to call their attention to the fact that their last and biggest sign ex- ceeds the limits allowed them by law" I This. with snort of delight, as a war horse that scenteth the battle afar, dld Fred receive and hasten to deliver next door, to return with an answer equally concise, written in large, bold. but rath- | CT scra uly hund.
 ] Bright X Go. are sorry that the sign maker s10ald have made such a mistake :; but unless Mir. Lynde wishes to put up a Esimilas sign, they are at a loss to see how so slight an infringement can interfere with him"
 ooh, indeed!" said Ruins. his face al- most as fiery as his hair. 'sWhat re mark able coolness the fellow has But I'll let him see he can't completely overshad- ow his humble neighbour and forthwith another note:
 ''Mr. Lynde demands the instant re- moval of the before mentioned sign, or Mir Lynde's lawyer will waIt on Bright & Go. this afternoon. -
 To which came the short but pertinent reply:
 1 Bright < Go. as soon as MT. Lynde l chooses" sseazs..se. ,,.,.... l But if happened that Rufus couldn't ] get away from. the store that day. Some oTh yof6gf gfhHslaitS hgla i take place that evening sities and adornments, and the overflow from Bright & Co.'S. alone was sufficient | to keep Rufus and his only assistant extremely busy. But as soon as night set in and the rush was over, he sent Fred delighted messenger-with a communication to a young lawyer friend, i and with resolution and defiance written l on his brow, and hands firmly clasped be- hind him he began slowly pacing back ward and forward, his determination to l fight it out with his neighbor, growing stronger and stronger every moment; for, ..in the first place, it was downright shab- l by to set up in the same line, next door, !" he repeated for the twentieth time. ''I couldn't and wouldn't have done it; but no5doubt, this Bright is some selfish, and grasping, cold.hearted, unpleasant fellow, l not caring who he shoulders out of the way, as long as he" when suddenly the door flew open, and the roundest, plump est, prettlest tot of a woman flew in.
 She wore dainty white apron, with a bewitchlng bib and two charming pock- cts; and the pockets were adorned with scarlet bows. and the bib had bit of l scarlet geranium pinned at the left corner, 1 and saucy small hat, turned up one side and trimmed with scarlet berries and green-leaves, was perched insecurely on top of her satin-smooth black head. Mfr. Lynde ?" said she, in voice that implied s'I am not to be contradicted un- der any circumstances whatever" as she cepfronted Rufus.
 Rufus replied, ''At your service" with 8 smile. He'd have been more than mor- | tai ifihe could have looked at that bright face, with its frank, fearless gray eyes, cunning pug-nose. dear little mouth, and general air of cheerful independence, with out smiling.
 "I am Bright & Co.," l ''And rightly named," flashed through Rufus's mind and then his face betrayed the great astonishment he felt, but he bowed and said nothing.
 ''You look surprised," said the little woman.
 "I oni," said Rufus. 'I thought l mean-I was sure-that is I supposed"
 No matter what you supposed, in- terrupted Bright & Go" lin manner that in any. one else would have been rude, but in her was decidedly charming. "I am Bright X Co.,, and want to know what in the name of pins and needles you're so awfnl hateful about that sign?" It can't hurt your house-if it is yours-or you. extending only that far, :" (holding out two siny forefngers. uith nails like wee pink shells. about half an inch from each other) 'beyond my house-it is my house-and you know, if you nave one grain of common sense, it can't"
 She paused, but Rufus said never 8 word.
 I "I suppose" the little woman went on, shaking her head so emphatically that the saucy hat nearly slipped off, just hanging op her back hair in a manner that suggested to Rufus the days of his boyhood and the Sailors Hornpipe. '' "you think have mi ured your business. If have didn't mean to. The building 1 next door was left to me by an old aunt, Land the store was stocked from whole sale establishment of my old uncle. Now couldn't have set up millinery shop, or flower store, or confectionery, with shirts and socks and collars and cravats and suspenders and such things could I?'' +. "Of course not" replied Rufus
 II see no way in which they could be con- yerted into bonnets. boque' ,or candy"
 "Just so" said Bright < Co.,, putting her right hand into her pocket, and drum I ming softly on the counter with the fin. gers of her left. ''I took the goods and thanked my lucky stars and my uncle, I took the house and thanked my lucky stars and my auntie. l placed Bright over the door without any Miss, (Ru- fus couldn't have told for the life of him x why he was so relieved to find it wasn't
 nMrs.') 'tor christian name, because il looks more business like, and added the Co because 1t sounds we'll. and my small brother (the one your Fred tried to thrash the other day) is my general assistant, and my big cousin (to whom you refused
 aaook at your window) helps me in ev.
 cry way he can, though that isn't much,
 because he has his own business to attend
 tO""---sz
 ''Glad of it." thought Rufus. "'And ]
 have pair of lovely twin sisters, only six , years old. and dear mother and grand
 mother to take care of-and oh! how cor II you be so hateful about that sign ?" 's1Good gracious!'' exclaimed Rufus.
 running his fingers wildly through his red [ --that ia. -his auburn-curls, and causing : the aareole to arise again. Don't say
 another word about it. Cover the whole ' of your house, and mine also-though il isn't mine; there too you have the advan Itage of me, as you have Tn every thing else-with signs if you will. can make
 living for my mother and myself some where else, if not here. l have no larg' family depending upon me, like 'Brigh !. IA& Co.," .-.E ,-s
 a ''Oh dear no, Mr. Lynde. that wouldn' please me at all" said the little woman ''the Somewhere else, you know. Sta, \ right here. There1l be room for us botl after while, I'm sure.of it" Q F Rufus looked into the rosy. earnest fac with an almost loyer-like smile, as Free burst into the store. shouting, '.The law