The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-05-23

half-past eight there were more than
hundred. and the place was packed.
The whole affair was q surprise.
Weston did not know what to do, wheth-
er To applaud or laugh--or cry. II was
not . lunch, for not thing was offered;
Il was not a party, for there were neither
cards nor dancing; nor q reception, for
nobody received. Maxwell welcomed
every body politely, and babe them ex-
anime freely.
They did. They did more; they COM
mented with most refreshing freedom.
Some said it was joke; nay, it Is an
occasion for grave remonstrance. The
poor young man had lost his mind. A
few older heads said it might be good
speculation, but not one said single
word Of approval, Or even encourage
ment.
At 10 o'clock Tom Maxwell closed up
the place and went home. He would
not exactly describe 1t, but he felt it-an
indefinable something, shadow, as II
be had passed under cloud. The next
day it was clear enough. He had step
ped into social cold bath.
In ruder civilizations peoples showed
their disapproval by quietly burning the
offending party, or they tore down his
house or exiled him, or, in the modern
English fashion, they broke his win
dows. Nothing of this happened to
Maxwell. None the less sharp and ef-
fectual were the arms used against the
social offender.
They spoke to him when they must,
but No need to describe it in detail.
He had totally lost position. Days and
nights passed. There was reception
on Walnut Street; he was not invited.
There was German on the hill; he re-
ceived no card. At church they nodded
distantly; no more. He sat in his pew,
pale, with compressed lips, and an I'M
spoken prayer on bis tongue. The
preacher said, "Forgive your enemies"
and he resolved he would.
Day by day it grew worse Acquaint-
ances became strangers; friends be-
came acquaintance. The Object pass
ed him in the way as one would total
stranger. He had become-what? In
the bitterness OF his heart he cried out
that all men were cruel, all women SELF
i>A atia n1ka VI uCokt- AAS bit MS ~ ~
to repress the mingled tears and morti-
fication. What had he done? Was he
not man doing mans work?
Work! All! that was the thing. He
would work and forget these creatures.
The first day the store was open the
entire sales amounted TO $3.50. A car
rage from Poltham had stopped at the
door. Two ladies had entered the store
strangers and ladies. They were lost
in admiration. II is a better Regent
Street, an improved Broadway, very
Palais Royal. They emptied their
pocket-books on the counter. Such ex-
cellent goods, and reasonable prices!
They would call again, and bring all
their friends.
Not SINCE resident Of the village en-
tered the place all day. The following
day was Saturday. II rained hard, and
in the afternoon three people came in
for sundry goods. One lady made out
quite an order, and asked that it be put
on the books. Maxw II respectfully de-
clined. His dealings were for cash
alone. The lady-otherwis person
gave him whitening look, and declared
she had never been so insulted in her
life, and marched out, leaving the goods
behind her. The Others paid cash, and
went away more than pleased at the
prices asked. They had never obtained
such bargains before.
The next day fourteen carriages came
from Poltham. Two came from Ro-
burndale, and one from MELVILLE. The
cash business done amounted to s215.50
for the week. The next week it doubled.
The week after 1t doubled again. The
fourth week Maxwell had to consider
the purchase OF q new team to deliver
the goods.
Six months passed, and the business
of the store exceeded the business Of all
the other stores combined. One of them
had failed, and the other had actually
been scrubbed and painted. Such Is
the force Of example. And still the
wonder grew. Weston has thrifty
mind. II can see q cent in q bargain
with Hollandish clearness. The Max
well system was accepted fully. 1t was
delightful TO visit drawing-room, to
have pretty girl make cup Of tea for
you Ay, twenty cups II you wished;
and having tasted, you could buy with
knowledge. Did you wish olives, figs,
sugars, cheese or bread? Sit down and
try them. This is so much, that 50
much. These are the samples. Eat,
test, ponder, and select. You can not
see the goods; food in the mass is essen
tally vulgar. This Is all. Select and
pay. The goods will be delivered &C
cording to sample. No one was ever
permitted to pass beyond the parlor.
Within the interior rooms the packers
filed the orders with neatness, dispatch,
and silence.
Did the purchaser wish flourP The
pretty girl brought tray full Of sam
pies, with plates and water. One could
make q dough, and even try II in gas