Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-11-10

still 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 Cum
berland 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 coatcollar stood
about her ears aggressively, and
though Fields WAS not commonly
given to humorous perceptions OF
things, he saw in his daughters small
human assumption OF ignorance a
certain incongruity with the bleak
hills hedging the town. their tops flat,
as if they crouched to keep their bald
heads from striking the hard autumn
nal sky.
"Look like thar's something that
teller amt Citing, if trade is a whoop-
ing his way" considered Fields, star.
ing toward Paxton's store, which &C.
cupied 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
it's yellow walls rosew thgreat dignity
it's clear windows gay with pyramids
oe tomato cans, festooned in bright
prints and cotton laces.
With so many odds in his favor it
was natural enough hat things should
be going Paxton's way. His way in
deed meant raiicalism 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 cup No'th;" he ad-
vertis~d he was good-looking, q yell
lowisl mustache barring his face like
II streak OF sunshine. The town de-
cided against taking stock in SO in
sidious combination.
Paxton, however, kept right on. 1t
was Il good point for country and
river trade Fields had made money,
apparently by natural methods and
without the vaguest effort.
His store included the postoffice and
stood some forty PAGES above Pax
toms. Time had breathed long and as
dramatically upon the window panes of
Fields's store, covering them with veil
of gray which effectually concealed the
fact of dust on the commodities behind
it. Inside were some boxes and barrels,
an odor of tobacco, q pot-bellied
stove, and Fields himself a slow man
in his ffties.
With these superannuated attrac-
tions Paxton felt he could scarcely fail
of successful competing, If only he
could hold out long enough to win the
towns confidence. But confidence is
rot an easy thin. to win in a Ken.
lucky town in which the war is con.
sidered as barely over and freshly dis.
cussabl-.
1t took Paxton several months to
down the native conservatism, but
once the first wariness Of the burgers
was oyerborne, the gave way on q
sudden to the delight of getting better
things for less money than Fields had
charged, aud Paxton found an unex
pected victoryFin his plumes.
Fields took his defeat calmly. HI
took everything, even his whisky anG
water, in that sort CT way. HI
seemed to lack a capacity for any
kind OF action, and it was a common
wonder as to where that girl of his
that Louisa NJ, got her spirit.
For her spirit commanded instan
recognition. Fields himself stood il
awe Of it, and as Louisa NJ. rushed VI
the store steps, he drew back with |
sense OF impending unpleasantness.
:'Say, Louisa NJ" he broke out in