Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-12-14
came across ,ne porcn at run, MS ma,

~~>~ 49,
off.
"Say" he painted, the exhilaration OF
bad news in his face, "why, say!-did
any of ye hear about Paxton? He's went
to work and shot hisse'f. That feller
from Burksville was talkin to a raft of
us outside Paxton's store and we heerd
a rifle go off up steers in Paxton's room:
and he tore up thar and busted in the
door, .and-Lord! wait till l get my
breath!-I got it from Smith, the"-
There was little sound behind the
huddle of men-a sound like a SHARP
breath, and clatter of tin and heavier
resonance.
In front of the molasses barrel all
overturned quart measure and long
nosed funnel rolled on the bare floor in
lessening arcs. Near by in the gloom Of
the inner apartment something had
fallen, something which looked like a
limp heap of pink calico and which, as
Fields lifted it, trailed faccid arms, its
little neck letting the head back in
sickening way of lifelessness.
Outside the sunshine lacquered the
river with a milky CLEAN. A delicious
blueness misted distant hills, and near
by Fields store a bluejay flashed its
wings, uttering rasping cries. Two men
coming up the road were laughing as
they sauntered along-one, an elderly
person, mopping his fcce.
You scared me out Of a years growth,
just the sane!' he said 81 knew you
were down in the mouth, and when that
shot rang out-I-well, naturally
thought you had done for yourself. l
went up those stairs four steps at time,
shouting to those fellows below to run
for DOCTOR"
Paxton gave rather grim smile.
81 believe you're disappointed that it
was only chicken hawk was firing
at!' he said. "Mrs. Wick had just
called to me from the back yard to shoot
it. She's been missing pullets lately"
$50 you let go. Say, Paxton, some
thing must be the matter down at Fields.
Look! Isn't that Fields crossing the
road! He's carrying-it looks like
womanv'
Fields lived opposite his store in
white cottage. Paxton, staring ahead,
caught vanishing glimpse of the old
mans clumsy figure, his arms overflow
ing with the springlike freshness of
Louisa M. sgown.
''Hellor' said fellow on the skirts of
the little group of men at the store steps
as Paxton strobe forward. "Yeh amt
hurted, then? What's thet? Oh, about
Fields-why it's Louisa M. She's lit
tie fainty, believe. Some O. them fool
boys KEN in and blurted out about you
bein-waal the boy unly told what he
heerd-I don't blame him-but Louisa
NJ, she jest swounded agin the mer-
lasses bar1, and Uncle Jimmy he'-
But Paxton was not listening any longer.
He had crossed the road and gone up
the little path to Fields front door, and
he had gone with SO vague premedita-
ton that when Fields himself numbered
toward the threshold, look Of relief on
his stolid face, the younger man could
only stammer at the reason of his pres
ence.
''T They were telling me-of her-of
your daughter-I wanted to ask"-after
all he stopped feebly enough and let
Fields fill out the sentence as he might.
'She's all right now, thanky, Mr..
Paxton" said Fields. 1--WE got word az
they wasn't no truth in them reports"
He waved his hand behind him. "She's
in thar"
Paxton had already seen her, the
stern young foiler of his commercial
prowess, sitting back in rocking chair,
her lips rather white, her eyelids droop-
ing.
She managed to lift them as Paxton
came into the room. She even held her
hand out and glanced up at him just
once. 1t was the merest half glance,
but Fields, who CHANGED to be looking,
had a queer unwonted sense of being
startled.
He went out. his jaw speculatively let
down.
81 wouldn't of believed" he pendered,
'she could of looked that sugartied at
the Angel Gabriel! l reckon kin hev
gyarden now! They won't need me in
the store. She's business, Louisa NJ ISL
Eva Wilder McGlesson in Washing
ton Post.