The Portland daily press., 1892-12-03
A BUSINESS WOMAN.

Ing his DOW. LuoIo COulu D6 uO uOuUu
of it, for Fields had seen the whole pro-
ceeding from the moment when she
turned the corner, the stiff river breeze
blowing about her face certain stray
locks Of the soft, short hair under her
beaver hat
She had looked very sweet to Fields,
coming in sight against the tall Cumber-
land cliffs. 1t seemed to him that she
had been smiling, but he surmised this
from the change which struck across
her face upon passing Paxton's store.
Her very coat collar stood about her
ears aggressively, and though Fields was
not commonly given to humorous per-
ceptions of things, he saw in his daugh-
ter's small human assumption of AFRO
gance certain incongruity with the
bleak hills hedging the town, their tops
fat, as if they had crouched to keep
their bald heads from striking the hard
autumnal sky.
"Look like thar's some things that fell
Ter amt gittin, if trade is whoopin
his way" considered Fields, staring
toward Paxton's store, which occupied
the river corner just above the landing
at which Nashville boats stopped on
their way to the head of navigation. 1t
was a new building, that store, which
in Fields old age had risen to place his
own commercial merits in the eye of
scorn. Among the weathered cottages
of the town its yellow walls rose with
great dignity, its clean window gay
with pyramids of tomato cans festooned
in bright prints and cotton laces.
With so many odds in his favor it was
natural enough that things should be
going Paxton's way. His way, indeed,
meant radicalism and reform, and all
the rash ventures of young blood and
unlocked ideas. The village at first
blush had fought very shy of Paxton.
He was from ''up o'th;" he advertised;
he was good looking, yellowish mus
tache barring his face like streak of
sunshine. The town decided against
taking stock in so insidious combina-
ion.
Paxton, however, kept right on. 1t
was good point for country and river
trade. Fields had made money, appar-
emily by strictly natural methods and
without the vaguest effort.
His store included the postofice and
stood some forty PAGES above Paxton's.
Time had breathed long and asthmatic-
ally upon the window panes of Fields
store, covering them with veil of gray
which effectually concealed the fact of
dust on the commodities behind it. In
side were some boxes and barrels, an
odor Of tobacco, potbellied stove and
Fields himself, a slow man in his 6fties.
With these superannuated attractions
Paxton felt that he could scarcely fail of
successful competing, if only he could
hold out long enough to win the towns
confidence. But confidence is not an
easy thing to win in Kentucky town in
which the war is considered as barely
over and freshly discussable.
1t took Paxton several months to down
the native conservatism, but once the
first WEAKNESS of the burgers was over
come, they gave way on sudden to the
delight of getting better things for less
money than Fields had charged, and
Paxton found an unexpected victory in
his plumes.
Fields took his defeat calmly. He
took everything, even his whisky and
water, in that way. He seemed to lack
capacity Of any kind Of action, and it
was common wonder as to where that
girl of his, that Louisa M, got her spirit.
For her spirit commanded instant rec
ognition. Fields hisnself stood in awe
of it, and as Louisa M. rushed up the
store steps he drew back with a sense of
impending uapleasantness.
"Say, Louisa MI" he broke out in a
conciliating tone, II saw yeh give Pax
ton the go by. You're kindeh hard on
him, amt yeh2"
The girl flung her soft hat on the coun-
ter and plunged into chair.
"Oh," she said, "pappy-Tve just been
down to see the new boat land. They
sent an order to him for something
they'd run out of. I can't stand it. l
.won't-that man coming down here and
taking everything and doing you out of
your rights, and-ohr' She gasped a
little, tossing her hair with an excited
hand, her eyes strangely blue in the
darkness of her vivid little face.
Fields jaw assumed an amiable laxity.
Don't take on So" he said. 81 haint
got nobody but you. and I reckon I got
enough laid by to keep us. I'd kindah
like to quit business anyhow and hev
gyarden and raise things. Course l
'spise to see my old friends a-chasin into
Paxton's store, but amt a-complainin.
He keeps ez good grade O. tobaccer ez
ever smoked after, and sells it reason
able"
His daughter flashed around star
Ting glance.
81 am going to stop all this" she said.
"Yes, pappy, am not going to stand
it. I won't see you trampled on. He
may be 'smart'-that Paxton. So am
/. I've got as much natural wit az
he any day of the world. ! will show
himl" She held out rigid little hand.