The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-09-29


Come 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, tour stuff is pooty
tolable seasoned, Louisa NJ" She
wheeled about.
well get new. Wen paint the
store, and order whole stock of every
thing. I'll go to the city myself and or
der what is necessary. | won't hev no
one get ahead Of you, pappy." Fields
looked miserable, but it never occurred
10 him to make head against Louisa NJ.
Ruin would doubtless be the issue of
the reckless enterprise, but Fields was
helpless
"I'll show him how TO do business"
said Louisa NJ, standing erect, her nos
trils dilaod. 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 a move on yourself, Ell, I'm
Gle jimmy" suggested the village idlers,
observing these signs of trade. But
Fields jaw only elongated the more,
while his brow became a network Of con
fiicting wrinkles.
II 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,"
ttGhafu
'ers. He sets everythin by that er
Louisa M. Say, Paxton, 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 setl
Lord, the look she give yehl 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 &C.
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 fixin up inside too
Reckon Louisa M. s been stirrin him up"
After Louisa M'sreturn 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 We're 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-thatd daughter of Fields
that little gypsy faced creature, with hei
black silk locks. He could see the mock
cry in her oddly blue eyes, the scorn Oh
her lips when she should hear that Inc
had given up the battle.
She never spoke to him now. Since
he painted advertisements on the fence.
she had not so much as looked at him il
passing But she could be gentle enough
Paxton remembered how pleasant sh,
had been when he first came to tow
the year before looking for a place tC
establish himself. When he decided L
stay it had been with more thought o.
Fields daughter than of Fields. He hat
not thought of competition, but this hat
been thrust upon him before he consid
cred what it meant 1t meant every
thing adverse, and after Paxton rea(
this in the open disdain of Louisa NJ. h,
felt there was nothing for him but to e
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, NJ
greenery TO virginia. softness of curve
fetched big sigh.
"Mebby it's only the time o. year" h
speculated. "but somehow don't fee
jest right-'spechly when git to study
in bout young Paxton"
LOUISA M. gave the back of his gra,
head a glance of challenge. She wa
setting things to rights in the showcase
and she thrust a bone hairpin rathe
angrily into bolt of ribbon.
"Whyg she exclaimed.
We've run him too hard" said Field
uncomfortably. "A friend o his nance
it TO me yistiddy that he couldn't hol
out much longer. feel this ways:
had my chance and he ought to he
had his. He hadn't no i'll will to'de
me. He was gittin trade far an
squar', and he could of KEEP it eff hedn'
undersold him clar below cost prices
I feel ez mean and or'nry ez a fee do
that sucks eggs. hain't treated hir
white"
business is business" said Louis
NJ, shaking back her hair. She was
! little thing in a gathered pink froch
but she looked TO Fields as immutable a
} the austere justice on coin of the realm
Perhaps after all she was right, and h
himself was swayed acknowledgement by
. sort of limp tendency TO see other folk
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