The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-27

gaudiness. When it was found that prices
were happily in accord with all this enliv-
ening prospect, town sages remarked that
''Uncle jimmy, when it comes to rale
tradin, kin whip any young dozen O. Pax
toms sort with one hand tied behind
him."
Matters began to look dark for Paxton
Public favor is an uncertain thing, imper-
manent as the sudden rush of bloom or
an apple bough i'll spring. Paxton's hour
of biossoming seemed past. He thought
often of removing to another town, but he
had certain sense of surrender in de-
parture. He knew well enough that she
was at the bottom of his overthrow-that
daughter of Fields'-that little gypsy
faced creature with her black silk locks.
He could see the mockery in her oddly
blue eyes, the scorn on her lips when she
should hear that he had given up the
battle.
She never spoke to him now. Since he
painted advertisements on the fences she
had not SO much as looked at him in
passing. But she could be gentle enough.
Paxton remembered how pleasant she
had been when he first came to town, the
year before, looking for place to estab-
lish himself. When he decided to stay it
had been with more thought Of Fields
daughter than of Fields. He had not
thought of competition. but this had been
thrust upon him before he considered
what II meant. 1t meant everything adj
verse. and after Paxton read this in the
open disdain of Louisa NJ, he felt there
was nothing for him but to go on and be
successful though success now had bitter
dregs. and broke in sharp, spiteful sparkles
at his lips.
One morning in May, Fields, surveying
from his door the rocky hills, no longer
rugged, but rounding with spring green
cry to virginia. soitness of curve, fetched
a big sigh.
.Mebby it's only the time o year" he
specialized, "but somehow don't feel Jest
right-'spech'lv when l get to studyin'
bout young Paxton"
Louisa NJ. gave the back of his gray
head a glance of challenge. She was set.
| ting things to rights III the show case, and
she thrust a bone hairpin rather angrily
into Il bolt of ribbon.
"Why?" she exclaimed.
'We've run him too hard" said Fields
uncomfortable "A friend O. his named II
10 me yistiddy that he couldn't holt out
much longer. | feel this ways, had my
! chance and he ought to hev had his. He
! hadn't no i'll will to'des me. He was
! gitiin' trade far and squar'. and he could
/ of kep'it eff hedn't ondcrsold him cl'ar
below cost prices. l feel ez mean and
! or'nry eZ \ ice dog that sucks eggs.
/ hain't treated him white"
| business is business" said Louisa NJ,
| shaking back her hair. She was n little
| thing in 4 gathered pink frock, but she
| looked TO Fields as immutable as the aus
! tere Justice on coin of the realm. Per-
! haps. after all, she was right, and he HIM
! self was swayed from judgment by sort
| of limp tendency 10 see other folk COM
! Portable. Field resignedly modelled his
! big clay conceptions upon the tiny marble
models of Louisa Ms ideas, but somehow
/ though his unwieldy notions were gro
tesquely like the pattern, they were soft
! and unstable and required constant boil
/ STEERING into shape.
| Though Paxton might be, rs Louisa NJ.
! declared him, the eyilist ~ Adams brood
/ j; hurt Fields 10 see the handsome young
! fellow going about the village With drawn
face and downcast eyes.
I'm a losin' ,leshr' he complained 10
/ his daughter. Tibet feller hes got away
! with my appetite Ia rather go ragged ez
/ picked buzzard than keep this up. Ia
I feel a heep better. Louisa NJ. 10 mark thet
! last lot o calicoes mp little'-but under
his daughters chastising eye drew dag
| cinl' breath.
! You leave things to me-" commanded
| Louisa NJ You don't know anything
| about business. pappyi We're only turn
/ ing his own blade against Paxton. He de-
| serves TO fall He came here year back
/ hoReYiug around and never saying he was
| looking for place 10 locate. | was nice
10 him. ! used to talk 20 him free as air.
! never susplCicning he was aiming TO do
| my own father up" Her voice chosed.
! She had pa.ei under her coppery skin,
ami her We, eyes were like yio!ets that
| tremhle open in a swart March bank.
Finally along toward summer the end
! camc. Paxton assigned for the good OF
1 his creditors. \ lawyer from Burksviiie
| came - take charge OF things, and the
| steamboat landing was deserted, as men
! gathered in Feds store ~ discuss the
/ happening. The river was sinking and
/ traffic was nearly suspended. Cows gazed
( on the sunourned pasturage of the lower
! hills. Tan-colored hogs idied about the
! payeless streets and children OF q CORE
/ spending tint ofcomplexion played shEilly
on the peTlious river slope.