The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-06-18

Is Iney Tell neC heS 1Xln up inside,
too. Reckon Louisa MS been stirrin
him up"
After Louisa Ms return the changes
became more marked Two Shades Of
pea green Illuminated the house with
out. Inside a new stove and COM
plete stock Of dry goods invited the vii
layers. Even the window underwent a
startling metamorphosis from grave
ness and CRIME to gaudiness. When it
was found that prices were happily in
accord with all this enlivening pros
pect town sages remarked that ''Uncle
Jimmy, when it comes to rale tradin',
kin whip any young dozen o Paxton's
sort with one hand tied behind him.,
Matters began to look dark for Pax
ton. Public favor is an uncertain thing,
impermanent as the sudden rush of
bloom on an apple bough in spring.
PaxtOn's hour of blOssoming seemed
past: He thought often Of removing to
another town, but he had a certain
sense of surrender in departure. He
knew well enough that she was at the
bottom of his overthrow-that daughter
OF Fields. He could see the mockery
in her oddly blue eyes, the scorn on her
lips when she should hear that he had
given up the battle.
She nev er spoke to him now. Since
he painted advertiser ants on his fences
she bad not so much as looked at him
Ill passing. But she could be gentle
enough. Paxton remembered how
pleasant she had been whea he first
came to town the year before looking
for place to establish himself. When
he decided to stay it had baan with
more thought of Fields daughter than
OF Fields. He had not thought Of com
petition, but this had been thrust upon
him before he considered what it
meant
One. morning in May Fields, sur1 ey-
ing from his door the rocky hills, no
longer rugged, but rounding with spring
greenery to a virginia. softness of curve,
fetched a big sigh.
"Mebby it's only the time O. year."
he specialized, 'but somehow I don't
feel jess right-'spech'ly when I git
to studyin' bout young Paxton
Louisa M. gave the back Of his gray
head a glance of challenge.
''Why?" she exclaimed
We've run him too hard" said
Fields, uncomfortably. "A friend O.
his named it to me yistiddy that he
couldn't hold out much longer. I feel
this ways: I had my chance and he
ought to hev his. He hadn't no ILL
will to'des me. He was gittin' trade
far and squar', and he could o. KEEP
it if I hedn't ondersold him clar be-
low cost prices. I feel ex mean and
or'nry ez dog that sucks eggs. I
hain't treated him white.''
Business is business said Louisa
NJ, shaking back her hair. She was
in -,
but she looked to Fields as immutable
as the austere justice on coin Of the
realm. Perhaps, after all, she was
right, and he himself was swayed from
judgment by a sort of limp tendency
to see other folk comfortable
Though Paxton might be, as Louisa
NJ. declared him, the evilest of Adams
brood, it hurt Fields to see the hand
some young fellow going about the
village with drawn face and downcast
eyes.
'1'm a-losin' fesh,' he complained to
his daughter: 'That Teller has got
away with my appetite. I'd rather go
ragged as a picked bllzzard than keep
this up. I'd feel a heap better, Louisa
M, to mark tibet last lot O. calicoes up
little" But under his daughters
chastising eye he drew a tagging
breath.
"You leave things to me-" command
ed Louisa M. You don't know any thing
about business, papa. We're only turn
ing his own blade against Paxton. He
deserves to fail. He came here year
back, honeying round and never say
ing he was looking for place to To-
cate. I was nice to him. I used to
talk to him free as, air, never suspicion
ing he was aiming to do my father up"
Her voice choked. She had paled I'M
der her coppery skin and her wet eyes
were like violets that tremble open in
a swart March bank.
Finally along toward summer the
end came. Paxton assigned for the
good of his creditors. A lawyer from
huntsville came to take charge of
things and the steamboat landing was
deserted, as men gathered in Fields
store to discuss the happening.
"Wa'al, he peared a likely young
rooster
'Yaas. Erthough I'm jest ez willin'
he busted. K'ntucky fer K'ntuckians,
says I. I'm a pertectionis' every time
dom keer nothin' bout the plat
form" -na-
Fields, listening to this acute phi1os-
Opuy, Suuueuly CuC III, Ills DfOdu Lace
curiously sunken. e.
"Confound it, I say, a far chance
fer every one" He stopped to pad his
brow with punched red handkerchief,
his views shortened by two circum-
stances. He had remembered that LOU
lisa M. was somewhere in the back of
the store, and just then, too, the throng
of men had opened to admit a young
fellow, who came across the porch at
a run, his hat off.
"Say!" he painted, the eNhilaration Of
bad news in his face, "why, say! did
amy of We hear about Paxton? He's
! went to work and shot hisse'f. That
teller from huntsville was talkin' to a
raft of us outside Paxton's store, and
we heard a rifle go off up steers in
| Paxton's room, and he tore up thar and
busted in the door, and-Lord! wait till
I get my BREATH got it from Smith
| thet-"
In front of the molasses barrel in an
overturned quart measure and a long
nosed funnel suddenly rolled on the
bare floor in lessening arcs. Near by in
the gloom Of the inner apartment some
thing had failed, something which look
|. cd Iilo a linn hcan of mink calico and