Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-04-12
CFrom Saturday Might.
AN ELIGIBLE BOARDING PLACE.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


"No hotel?" said Mr.. Percival Payne.
"Nothing in the shape of one," an
swered his friend, Lucius Warden, with
the subdued triumph of one who an
nounces startling fact.
81 never heard of such a thing In my
life p said Payne.
"Nor / neither" serenely remarked
| Warden.
But how do you account for it % de-
handed the would-be tourist, shifting
his forehead in despair.
81 don't account for it all, 4" said Mr..
Warden, surveying the nails which he
had just been carefully trimming with
his pen-knife, ''except that nobody
knows anything about the place as yet.
There's Il factory-wall paper, believe,
or something of that sort-and a cigar
shop, and beer shop, and two thread
and needle stores, and postofice where
the mails come twice a week; and there's
the Magalloway River, all carpeted over
with water lilies, and half dozen glori-
GUS little trout streams running into it,
and the finest bit of scenery you ever
saw. Rut-there's no hotel I"
But where's fellow to stay ?" help
lessly demanded Payne.
Get an outfit and camp out, as I
did" said Warden, cheerfully. GA
blanket, a canvas tent, with pegs and
loops, little smudge of bran, or pine
needles, to keep the mosquitoes off at
night, and"
"But don't enjoy camping out" We
hemently demonstrated Payne. eft is
all very well for those that like it, but
Tn not one of that sort. like four
good walls, q feather pillow, and regular
meals served three times day."
"Well, then, look here, said Warden.
$50 to the Widow Bucks. She takes
boarders now and then"
"Who is the Widow Buck ?" asked
Payne.
"That I do not know" replied his
friend.
"And where docs she ive?"
"There you have me again.
"Man alive are you crazy?" despair
ingly questioned Payne. s'How am I
to find her?"
Enquire calmly responded Mr..
Warden, as he shut up his knife and re-
placed it in his vest pocket. eco to
Mailzle Ford-11 A. M. train-stage
coach-through In one day. Ask for the
Widow Buek'sl Bless nay heart moth
ing in the wide world could be easier.
/ always heard that people got good
fare there and comfortable beds. And
Mailzie Ford is perfect little paradise,
when once you get there!"
"WeD, said Payne, dejectedly, " it
seems wild goose chase, but I've 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 Sc summerlng," but
Percival Payne, being bachelor of in
dependent fortune and cultivated tastes.
felt that he could do as he pleased. And
it was rather luxury to anticipate the
first mad rush of travel, when all the
seats are engaged, the cozy corners
taken, and the most desirable points of
observation usurped.
So he packed his valise, did up his
fishing tackle, laid In great store of
crayons and sketching paper, and started
for the far northern wilderness of
Mailzie Ford.
! Of course, the train was late-trains
always are late-and it was o'clock in
the afternoon when Mr.. Payne found
himself perched up in an open box
wagon alongside of two trunks, pack
age of salt Goldfish, mail bag, and o.
pretty girl, with eyes as soft as black
pools of water, and one of those odd,
fringy hats of black straw, all covered
with loops and ribbon, that made people
look so picturesque.
"Where do we meet the stage ?" said
Mr.. Payne, as he settled himself 80 as to
inconvenience his pretty neighbor as lit
tie as possible.
The driver stared at him.
"This 'ere's the stage!'' said he.
"Git up, Sorrel p
Mr.. Payne stared.
"But stages have tops, said he.
"This ERE stage DON'T" said the
driver.
1t was rather trying situation-step
up hill part of the way, and step down
hill the rest, with the Goldfish and the
mail bag alternately tumbling into Mr..
Payne's lap, and the pretty girl laugh
ing in her sleeve at his embarrassment.
Sim very rude, know" said she;
''but if you'd tie that Goldfish to the
back of the wagon with your fishing line
it wouldn't trouble you SO much. "
GA good idea," said Payne, briskly.
"Thanks very much for suggesting It'll"
GIVE travelled over this road before. :"
sold the nrattv 0irI Ian CHINO