The Portland daily press., 1892-12-03

been up to? He's had his name painted
along all the pike fences and cliffs.
Cone to Paxton's for new goods, that's
what he's put up. It's an INSULT
means that our goods are old"
Fields looked around.
"Well." he said, ''our stuff is poorly
torable seasoned, Louisa M" She
wheeled, about.
..We'll get new. Well paint the
store, and order whole stock of every
thing. I'll go to the city myself and or
der what is necessary. l won't hev no
one get ahead of you, pappy." Fields
to him to make head against Louisa M.
Ruin would doubtless be the issue of
the reckless enterprise, but Fields was
helpless.
sI'll show him how to do business"
said Louisa NJ, standing erect, her nos
trils dilated. Fields shook his head.
He continued to shake it solemnly at in
tervals 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, eh, I'm
Gle Jimmy" suggested the village idlers,
observing these signs of trade. But
Fields jaw only elongated the more,
while his brow became anetwork of con-
ficting wrinkles.
1t was remarked in open council at
Paxton's store ''that Uncle Jimmy
Fields warn't lookin jest up to the
notch"
"Mebby he misses that girl O his'n,
suggested some one. ''She's away SOM
'ers. He sets everythin by that er
Louisa M. Say, Paxton, l like to died
that night at Wilson's dance when you
asst fer cudrille, and she jest sized you
up and says she's engaged fer every set!
Lord, the look she give yeh! double bar
relied and self loadinl But say, Paxton,
you oughtn't Of give her the comfort of
seein you make a home sneak on ac-
count of it,"
Paxton's cheeks Redeemed. He was
slight and tall, and his shoulders
twitched little.
..She has right to pick her friends"
he said. The other man strapped on a
spur, his foot on his knee.
"Fields is paintin his house, he said.
"They tell tibet he's fxin up inside too.
Reckon Louisa NJ IS been stirrin him up"
After Louisa M. IS return the changes
became more marked. Two shades of
pea green illuminated the house with
out Inside new stove and complete
stock of dry goods invited the villagers.
Even the window underwent a startling
metamorphose from graveness and CRIME
to gaudiness. When it was found that
prices were happily in accord with all
this enlivening prospect town sages re-
marked that "Uncle Jimmy, when it
comes to rale tradin, can whip any
young dozen O. Paxton's sort with one
hand tied behind him."
Matters began to look dark for Paxton.
Public favor is an uncertain thing, i'm
permanent as the sudden rush of bloom
on an apple bough in spring. Paxton's
hour of poisoning seemed past. He
Thought often of removing to another
town, but he had a certain sense Of sur
render in departure. 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 mock
cry 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 a place to
establish himself When he decided to
stay it had been with more thought of
Fields daughter than Of Fields. He h
not thought of competition, but this
been thrust upon him before he consi,
cred what it meant. 1t meant every
thing adverse, and after Paxton read
this in the open disdain of Louisa M. 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, survey
ing from his door the rocky hills, no
longer rugged, but rounding with spring
greenery to virginia. softness of curve,
fetched a big sigh
'sMebby it's only the time O year," he
specialized, .but somehow don't feel
jest right-'spech'ly when git to study
in bout young Paxton"
LOUISA M. gave the back of his gray
head a glance of challenge. She was
setting things to rights in the showcase,
and she thrust bone hairpin rather
angri1y into bolt of ribbon.
s.Why?" she exclaimed.
sWe've run him too hard" said Fields
uncomfortably. "a friend O. his named
it to me yistiddy that he couldn't holt
out much longer. feel this ways: l
had my chance and he ought to hev
had his. He hadn't no ill will to'des
me. He was gittin trade far and
squar', and he could of KEEP it eff hedn't
undersold him clar below cost prices.
I feel ez mean and or'nry ez a fee dog
that sucks eggs. hain't treated him
white"
Business is business" said Louisa
NJ, shaking back her hair. She was a