Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-08-18

Nome 70 FaxtoD's Tor new goods, thaf'l
what he's put up. Its an insult--il
means that our goods are old"
Fields looked around.
WELL he said, 'sour stuff Il poot,
tolable seasoned. Louisa NJ" Shs
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. won't hev NJ
one get ahead Of you, pappy." Field,
looked miserable, but II never occurred
to him to make head against Louisa NJ
Ruin would doubtless be the issue ol
the reckless enterprise. but Fields wa,
helpless.
''I'Il show him how 10 do business,
ssid Louisa NJ. standing erect. her nos
trils dila9d. Fields shook his head
He continued to shake II solemnly at In
tervals in the days that followed, wher
boxes and bales to his direction began T.
tumble OF the boats which carried the
Southern roads freight down the river
'Gittin a move ON yourself. eh. Un
Gle JIMMY" suggested the village idlers
observing these signs OF trade. But
Fields jaw only elongated the more
while his brow became . network OF con
fiicting wrinkles.
II was remarked In open council q,
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. sShe's away som.
'ers. He sets everythin by that 81
Louisa n. Say, Paxton, like to died
that night at Wilson's dance when YOU
ast fer cudrille. and she Jest sized you
up and says she's engaged fer every setl
Lord. the look she give yehi double bar
relied and self losdini But say, Paxton,
You oughtn't Of give her the comfort of
seein you make home sneak on nc.
count Of il.
Paxton's cheeks Redeemed. He was
slight and tall, and his shoulders
twitched little.
'.She has q 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 thet he's fixin mp inside too.
Reckon Louisa M. 8 been stirrin him up. -
After Louisa Ms return the changes
became more marked. Two shades Of
pea green illuminated the house with
put Inside new stove and a complete
stock Of dry goods invited tho villagers.
Even the window underwent a startling
from graveness and CRIME
10 gaudiness. When It was found that
prices were happily In accord with all
this enlivening prospect town sages re-
marked that "Uncle Jimmy, when IL
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
pa an apple bough in spring. Paxton's
hour OF blossorning seemed past. He
thought often of removing to another
town. but he had 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.
Try in her oddly blue eyes, the scorn on
ier lips when she should hear that he
nad given MP the battle.
She never spoke to him now. Since
he painted advertisements ON the fences
The had not so much as looked at him In
passing. But she could be gentle enough.
Paxton remembered how pleasant she
mad been when he frat came to town
he year before looking for a place to
establish himself. When he decided to
'tay ii had been with more thought of
Fields daughter than OF Fields. He had
rot thought Of competition, but this had
been thrust npon him before he consid-
sred what 1t meant. 1t meant every
hing adverse, and after Paxton read
his In the open disdain Of Louisa M. he
'elt there was nothing for him but to 20
IN and be successful, though success
low bad bitter dregs and broke In sharp,
'piteful sparkles at his lips.
One morning in May, Fields, survey
ng from his door the rocky hills, no
onger rugged. but rounding with spring
etched a big sigh.
"Mebby it's only the time o. year. he
peculated, ''but somehow don't feel
est right-'spech'ly when git TO study
n bout young Paxton"
Louisa NJ. gave the back Of his gray
read glance Of challenge. She was
citing things to rights In the showcase,
md she thrust bone hairpin rather
Ingrily into bolt of ribbon.
'swhyy she exclaimed.
We've run him too hard, :" said Fields
lncomfortably. "a friend o. his named
to me yistiddy that he couldn't holt
mt much longer. l feel this ways: Il
lad my chance and he ought TO hay
lad his. He hadn't no III will to'des
ne. He was gittin trade far and
quar-, and he could of KEEP 1t ef hedn't
lndersold him clar below cost prices.
feel ex mean and or'nry ez O fice dog
hat sucks eggs. Ihain't treated him
White"
Business Is business said Louisa
H., shaking back her hair. She was q
title thing in gathered pink frock,
'ut she looked to Fields rs immutable as
he austere justice on coin OF the realm.
Perhaps after all she was right, and he
Iimself was swayed from Judgment by
ort Of limp tendency to see other folks
Fields resignedly modelled
'is big clay conceptions upon the tiny
marble models OF Louisa Ms ideas, but
though, his unwieldy notions
we're grotesquely like the pattern; they
we're soft and unstable, and required
CONSTANT bolstering into shape.