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| The final chapter of The Life and Times of Liberty Falls Wednesday, July 18, 2012 Laurie Moseley Last week, we wondered why Herman and Emmanuel open their shop. In The Life and Times of Liberty Falls, it says, “When business is slow, Herman and Emmanuel like to reminisce about their decision to set up shop in Liberty Falls. It seems like it was meant to be somehow, although their first ambition was to establish the finest men’s clothing store in Denver.
“Their Denver-bound train broke down in Liberty Falls, however, and the two men (with Herman’s wife Susan) were obliged to spend three days here until the engine could be repaired. By then, they were so comfortable with this town that they decided to stay and build their business – and Susan even planned to open a ladies’ millinery section! The Ross clan rented a storefront with an apartment on the second floor, and Herman and Susan moved in. Before long, they added two sons to their family, while brother Emmanuel became one of Mrs. Applegate’s favorite permanent boarders. “That Emmanuel: what a creature of habit! Every evening at exactly 5:35 p. m. he strolls past the window of the Daily News and taps his cane on the glass to say ‘good evening’ to me. He’s on his way to Mrs. Applegate’s table for one of her delicious meals, so I can’t blame him for wanting to be on time.
“Between you and me, I’ll admit that I use Emmanuel’s ‘tap’ as a reminder to pull my head out of my writing and quit for the evening: by then all the papers are delivered and the next day’s issue should be well underway – so I can set out for home, too! I’m still living with my parents, but as soon as my sweetheart and I are married by Reverend Watkins, we’re planning to take over the apartment above the General Store where Mr. and Mrs. Tully used to live. That way we can economize and – maybe someday – build our own Victorian cottage with white picket fence and garden just like the Tullys themselves! “Meantime, I’d better get to my writing. I’ve got a few unusual notes for tomorrow’s issue. “For instance, it seems a cougar weighing about 125 pounds wandered into The Gold Nugget Tavern this afternoon. Snake Eye Jake let out such a screech that the cougar turned tail and ran. That should make for a good story. Oh, and I need to write an obituary for Samuel Quinn, that poor gent who perished in the rock slide outside of town. A rock about the size of a bread oven came rolling down out of nowhere and crashed on his head! HINTS FOR OBITUARY WRITER This is done in order to provide the family “with a measure of comfort in harmony with their personal religious beliefs. Here are some of my most effective ways of describing an individual’s ‘passing’: He fell asleep in Jesus.
She retired on Monday evening to awaken on Tuesday morning in the beautiful land where there is no sickness or suffering. Her loved ones will meet her again in the land where there is not tears or sadness. Death relieved her (or delivered her) of her suffering. Three sons have preceded him into the spirit world. He went to be with Jesus on Thursday last. The Lord called her home. They surrendered from their arms a loving husband and father. Laurie Moseley is an author, archeologist and historian who lives in Springtown. He is the director of Springtown’s Legends Museum. |