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

concentrating tOue saw yoh give! "a
ton the go-by. You're kind-eh hard
on him, amt yeh?"
The girl flung her soft hat on the
counter and plunged into chair.
"Oh!" she said, ''pappy!-I've just
been down to see the new boat land.
They sent an order to him for some.
thing they'd run out Of. Ican't stand
it'll l won't!-that man coming down
here and taking everything and doing
you out OF your rights and-oh!'
She gasped little, tossing her hair
with an excited hand, her eyes strange
w blue in the darkness Of her vivid
little face.
Fields jaw assumed an amiable
laxity.
Don't take on so,' he said. 81
nain't got nobody but you. and l
reckon got enough laid by to keepus.
I'd kindah like to quit business any
how, and hev q garden and raise
things. Course l s'pise to see my
old friends a-chasing into Paxton's
store, but l amt a. comp Amin He
keeps ez good a grade O. tobacco ez
ever smoked after, and sells it reason
able"
His daughter flashed round start
ling glance.
Il am going to stop all this she
said, "ies, pappy, l am not going
to stand it. l won't see you tramped
on. He may be 'smart'-that Pax
ton. So am l. I've got us much nat
ural wit as he any day of the world.
l will show HIM" She held out q rig
id little hand. "Do you know the
last mean trick he's been upto? He's
had his name painted along all the
pike fences and cliffs. Come to Pax
toms for new goods That's what
he's put up. It's an insu|t!-it means
that our goods are DIP
Fields looked around.
"Well," he said, "our stuff is pooty
tol'able seasoned, Louisa NJ She
wheeled about.
"We'll get new. Well paint the
store and order q whole stock Of ev-
erythins. I'll 20 to the city myself
and order what is necessary. won't
hev no one get ahead OF you, pappy."
Fields looked misera lie, but it never
occurred to him to make head against
Louisa NJ. Ruin would doubtless be
the issue of the reckless enterprise,
but Fields was helpless.
I'li show him how to do business
said Louisa NJ. standing erect, her
nostrils dilated. Fields shook his
head. He continued to shake it sol
EMMY at intervals in the days that
followed, when boxes and bales to his
direction began to tumble off the
boats which carried the Southern
roads freight down the river.
"Gittin' move on yourself, hur
Uncle Jimmy?" suggested the village
oilers. observing these signs OF trade
But Fields jaw only elongated the
more, while his brow became q net
work OF conflicting wrinkles.
1t was remarked in open council al
! Paxton's store "that Uncle Jimmy
Fields warn't lookin' jest up to the
! notoh'
"Mebb: he misses that girl O. his N
suggested some one. She's away
son'ers. He sets everythin' by thai
, err Louisa NJ. Say, Paxton, l lik
+ to died that night at Wilson,
,, dance when you asst fer cudrlle
and she jest sized you up and say
she's engaged fer every set! Lord, tn
, look she gave yeh, doubled-barrelet
and self-lodin! But, say, Paxton, yo'
ought'nt OF give her the comfort O
seem you makea home-sneak on &C
: count of it.
Paxton's cheek Redeemed. He wa
slight and tall and his shoulder
twitched a little.
"She has II lit to pick her friends,
: he said. The other man strapped OF
a spur, lis foot on his knee.
, "tlelds is paintin' his house." h
5 said. "They ell that he's tixin' W
inside, too. Reckon Louisa NJ
ben stirrin' him up"
, After l. )uisa NJ. 9 return the change
became more marked. Two shades Q
, pea green illuminated the house wit
out. Inside new stove and a complet
stock of dry goods invited the vii
} layers. Even the window underwear
t a startling metamorphose from gray
ness and CRIME togaudiness. When
/ was found that prices were happily i
accord with all this enliving prospect
: town sages remarked that ''Uncle jim
my, when it comes to rale tradin,' XII
: whip any young dozen o. Paxton
> sort with one hand tied behind him.
+ Matters began to look dark 10
: Paxton. Public favor Is an uncel
: tain thing, impermanent as the sue
{ den rush of bloom on an apple bong
: in spring. Paxtons hour OF blossom
: ing seemed past. He thought ofte
Of removing to another town, but h
t had a certain sense OF surrender in d.
/ parture. He knew we'll enough tina
, she was at the bottom Of his owe
! throw-that daughter OF Field 's-tha
little g,psy-faced creatu with he
/ black silk locks. He could see tt
: memory in her oddly blue eyes, tt
!. scorn OF her lips when she should hea
# that he had given up the battle.
il She never spoke to him now. Sint
e he painted advertisements on tt
fences she had not as much as locke
J, at him in passing. But she could
d gentle enough. Paxton remembers
n how pleasant she had been when
first came to Town, the year be or
: looking for place to establish hin
il self. When he decided to stay it ha
@ been with more thought OF Fields
e daughter than of Fields. He had NJ