The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-10-11

Fields gave croupy chucl1le. She had
passed young Paxton without returning
his bow. There could be no doubt of it,
for Fields had seen the whole proceeding,
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 t1clds,
coming i'll sight against the tall Culnper,,
land cliffs. 1t seemed to him that she had
been smiling. but he surmised this from 1he
change which struck across her lace upon
passing PaXton'S store. Her very coat COZ,
lar stood about her ears aSSrcSslveiF, anu
though Fields was not commonly gwen ~
humorous perceptions of things, he sd" III ~
his daughters small human assumption Oh
arrogance Il certain incongruity with the
bleak hills hedging the town, their TOPS
tlas as if they crouched to keep their bald
heads from striking the hard autumhal
sky. r,
Look like thar's some things that fel-
Ter amt Citing, if trade IS Whooplhs ms
PaXton's store, which occupied the river
corner Just above the landing, at which
Nashville boats stopped on their way 10
the head of nav gation. 1t was 4 new bulld-
ing. that store, which in ElAdss 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 dignit'- its clean WIN
dow gay with pyramids of tomato cans,
festooned in bright prints and cotton laceS.
With so many, ODDS IN MS favor 1t was
natural enough that things should be gong
P;kton's way. His way indeed meant
radicalism and reform, and all the rash
ventures of young blood and ;:ulicked ideas.
The village at first blush had fought very
shy of Paxton. He was from up no, th;
he advertised; he was good looking, a
yellowish mustache barring his face like
u streak of sunshine. The town decided
against taking stock in so insidious com
bination.
Paxton, however, kept right on. 1t was
a good point for country and river TRACE.
Fields had made money, apparently by
strictly natural methods and without inc
YagueSt effort.
His store included the postoliice and stood
some forty PAGES above IaXtons. lime
had brcathed long and automatically upon
the window panes of Fields's store, cover
ing them with IL veil of gray which effect
ually concealed the fact OF dust on the
commodities behind it. Inside We're some
boxes and barrels, an odor OF tobacco, Il
pCt-belliecs stove, and Fields hlnsell,
SLOW man in his tifties.
With these superannuated attractions
Paxton felt he could scarcely fail of sue
cessfully competing, If only he could hold
ont long enough 10 win the towns CONN
dence. Bat confidence is not an easy thing
&, win in Kentucky town ia which the
ly dscussabl
1t took Paxton several months to down
the native conservatism, but once the first
wariness of the burshers was overborne,
they gave way on a sudden to the delight
of getting better things for less money
than Fields had charged, and Paxton found
an unexpected victory in his pumes
Fields took his defeat calmly. He took
everything, even his whisky and water in
that sort. He seemed to lack capacity for
any kind of action, and it was common
wonder as to where that girl of HIS that
Louisa NJ. got her spirit.
For her spirit commanded instant recog-
milton. Fields himself stood in awe of it,
and rs Louisa NJ. rushed up the store steps,
he drew back with a sense of impending IN
pleasanness.
Say, Louisa M he broke out in CON
ciliating tone. II saw yeh give Paxton the
go-by. You're kind-eh hard on him, amt
yeh?"
The girl flung her soft hat on the counter
and plunged into Il chair.
oh" she said, 'Pappy!-I'ye Just been
down to see the new boat land.
They sent an order 10 him for something
they'd run out of. | can't stand it! ]
won't!-that man coming down here and
taking everything and doing You out OF
your rights and-oh." She gasped q little
tossing her hair with an excited hand. her
eyes strangely blue in the darkness of her
vivid little face.
Fields's jaw assumed an amiable anxiety
Don't take on so,' he aid. II hain't
got nobody but you aud [ reckon | got
enough laid up to keep us. ia kin,!ah like
to quit business anyhow and hav a Syarden
and raise things. Course | 'spi>e to see my
old friends a-chasing into PaV.cn's store,
but | amt a-complainin'. He keeps ez