The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-06-14
An Ernc,BLE HoARDrNG-pLAeE.

swered his friend, LucluS w arueil,
with the subdued triumph of one
who announces a startling fact.
Il never heard of a such q thing
in my lifel" said Payne.
Nor ! either" screne'y remarked
Warden.
.'But how DO you account for il
demanded the would-be tourist, smit-
ing his forehead in despair.
Il don't account for il atall, said
Mr. Warden, surveying the nails
which be had just been carefully
trimming with pen-kniie, except
that nobody knows anything about
the place as vet. There's a factory
wall paper ] believe. or something
of that sort-and a cigar shop, and
q beer shop, and twothread and nee
die stores, and a post office where
the mails come twice a week and
there's the Malloway River, all car
peted with water lilies, and half a
dozen little trout streams running
into it. and a bit of the finest scene
nv you ever saw. But-there's 40
hotel.
But where's q fellow to stay ?"
helplessly demanded Payne.
''Get an outfit and camp out, as l
did" said Warden. cheerfully. "A
blanket, a canvas tent with pegs and
hoops, little smudge of bran or
pine needles, to keep the mosqui-
toes off at night, and"
But l don't enjoy camping out, "
vehemently demonstrated Payne.
Il like good walls, a feather pillow,
and regular meals served three times
a day."
We'll, then, look here" said War
den, 60 to the Widow Bucks.
She takes boarders now and then. "
"Who is the Widow Buck?" ask
ed Payne
THAT ] don't know" replied his
friend.
"And where does she live ?"
There you have me again"
Man alive, are you crazy = de-
spairingly questioned Payne How
am [ to find her."
Inquire" " calmly responded Mr..
Warden, as he shut up his kt;;r
and replaced it in his vest pocket.
"Goto Mailzie Ford-eleven a. m.
train-stage coach-through in one
dav. Ask for the Widow Buck
Bless my heart nothing in the
world could be easier. | always
heard that people got good fare
there and comfortable beds. And
Mailzie Ford is a perfect little Par
adise, when once YOU get there y
We'll" said Payne, dejectedly
1t seems a wild goose chase, but I've
a mind TO try it. A man can but
come back again.
1t was rather early in the season
FOR the conventional operation
known TO the American public as
"summering," but Percival Payne,
being a bachelor of independent for
tune and cultivated tastes, felt that
he could do as he pleased. And it
was rather a luxury to anticipate
the first mad rush of travel, when
all the seats are engaged, the coy
corners taken, and the most desira-
ble points of observation usurped.
SO he packed his valise, did up
his fishing tackle, laid in 4 great
store of crayons and sketching pa
per, and started for the far northern
wilderness of Mailzie Ford.
OF course. the train was late
trains alwrys are late-and it was
four o'clock in the afternoon when
Mr. Payne found himself perched
up in an open box wagon behind
two trunks, package of salt Goldfish,
a mail bag. and pretty girl, with
eyes as soft rs black pools of water.
and one of those odd, fringy hats of
black straw, all covered with loops
and ribbon that make people look
so picturesque.
Where do we meet the
stage ?" said Mr.. Payne, as he set
tied himself so as to inconvenience
mis- pretty neighbor as little as pos
sible.
The driver stared at him.
This 'eres the stage" said he
Cit up Sorrel !"
Mr.. Payne stared.
But stages have tops" said he.
This ere stage DOM" " said the
driver.
1t was rather 4 trying situation
steep uphill part Of the way, and
steep down bill the rest, with the
Goldfish and the mail bag alternately
tumbling into Mr.. Payneis lap, and
the pretty girl laughing in her sleeve
at his embarrassment.
I'm rude / know" said she, .but
if you d Just tie that Goldfish TO the
back of the wagon, with your fishing
line, it would not trouble you so
much"
a good idean' said Payne, brisk
ly. Thanks, very much for sug-
gesting it."
I've travelled over this road be-
fore" said the pretty girl, laughing.
Are you going to Mailzie Ford ?n 1
said Mr.. Payne, with a sudden
gleam of animation.
No" said the pretty girl. "to Cat I
lev's DAM"
Perhaps you know something
about Mailzie Ford?' hazarded our
hero.
"oh, yes /" said the nymph with
the dark eyes. Its lovely place. /
l used to live there before / went in
TO the factory at Catley's."
''Do you know tie Widow Buck ,"
asked Payne, with interest.
VERY well" nodded the pretty
girl.
And then they began to talk
about the tall, blue crested mount
aims, which were beginning TO close
in around them.
The dewy-eyed damsel had read I
i.ongfellow she knew all about
Thereau sue was even "up" in
Ruskin. and she expressed herself
with grace and spirit. which set Mr.. .
Payne 70 wondering if all the Maine
girls were equally cultivated and 1
beautiful.
And then the goldfish tumbled /
down again and had to be tightened /